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It’s easy to get caught up in the things we want and forget to appreciate the things we have. Learn how to be grateful for what you have for more happiness.
Do you spend a lot of your time wishing you had more? More time, more money, more holidays? It’s easy to get so caught up in the things we want that we forget to appreciate the things we have.
When you are able to appreciate what you have in your life right now, in this moment, it will make you much happier. The question is, how can you start appreciating and being happy with what you have?
Below, you’ll discover some great tips to get you started.
Write a List of Everything You’re Grateful For
Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways you can start appreciating what you have. Experts suggest starting a gratitude journal, where you write a list of the things you’re grateful for each day.
The goal is to start focusing the mind on more positive things. Rather than obsessing over the things you don’t have, you’re instead identifying and appreciating the things you do have in your life.
You can find a journal or notebook or even the notepad on your phone and commit to writing down at least two things you’re grateful for. It takes just a couple of minutes each day and can have a huge impact on your overall happiness.
Volunteer
Another thing that can help put your life into perspective is to become a volunteer. This allows you to see that there are people in a much worse position than you are.
You could volunteer at a homeless shelter, for example. Giving your time to those who are less fortunate can help you to realize just how lucky you are to have the things that you do.
If you like being outside, volunteer to help keep nature areas clean. If you like spending time with the elderly, volunteer at a nursing home. Anything that will give you joy while you’re giving back is a good choice.
Live in the Moment
This is probably the most difficult tip to follow for most people. However, when you learn to live in the moment, it can have a powerful impact on your happiness.
When you focus your mind on the past, you probably find yourself stressing out or making yourself unhappy over something that you cannot change.
When you focus your mind on the future, you probably find that you worry about things that haven’t even happened yet, and which may never even happen. That doesn’t mean you ignore the future, you just don’t focus all of your worries on it.
Instead, focus on the moment you’re in right now. By living in the moment, you will find that you start to appreciate life a lot more. You aren’t weighed down by anxiety or regret. It’s a very freeing experience, but it does take a lot of time and practice to develop this level of mindfulness.
Downsize Your Life
This one may sound a little extreme for some people, but it’s a great tip for those who have tried other strategies and failed. Downsizing your life means taking something away that you rely upon emotionally, but won’t destroy your life if you let it go for a little while.
The item you downsize could be your phone, your Netflix subscription, your favorite toy, eating out every week or that expensive holiday you take each year.
The goal is to take something away that you’d miss, so when you get it back, you’ll appreciate it more.
It’s not always easy learning to appreciate what you have. However, the tips above can help you make a start in the right direction. As with everything, the more effort you put in, the more you’ll get back.
