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The only rule to develop a gratitude list is to find things, actions, and people that matter most to you! There are several lists available on the internet, but the best one for you can only be created by you!
Take in thoughts from your friends and family, from this article, and go back and create your own list. The more personalized the gratitude list, the more effective it will be. You reinforce and power up your gratitude list by writing it down, saying it out loud, and sharing it with others. Whether it is a short or a long list, what matters is your belief in the things you have put down and being truly, sincerely grateful for them.
38 Tips to Create a Gratitude List
Don’t worry if you can’t really find many things to be grateful for in the beginning. Over time, you will realize that every moment is a moment of gratitude. When you start thanking life as you have right now, you will have a multiplier effect on what you can have in the future.
Here are some tips for creating your own Gratitude List. Remember that our suggestions aren’t all-inclusive, and they shouldn’t be as we encourage you to draft your own.
Be Grateful for the kind, wonderful people around you
1. Life: The fact that you and your loved ones are alive in this moment! In case you never bothered to check, more than 106 people die every minute. Be grateful for the moment you have right now!
2. Friends: Thank the friend who always listens to you and stands by your side.
3. Family: A significant part of what you are has a deep-rooted connection to your childhood, parents, and siblings. Grab the phone and thank them today.
4. Love: For the love you received from your current or ex-partner. If you have had a bitter relationship(s), practice forgiveness, remember the good, and be thankful for that.
5. Farmers: For the nourishing food you eat every day, there is a whole group of hard-working, incredible people. Thank the farmers, the shopkeepers, and the transport guys who bring food to your plate.
6. Cleaners: Garbage collectors are your health supporters, keeping your vicinity clean.
7. Teachers: We just don’t mean the teachers from school or mentors at work, but those you meet every day. People who inspire you, teach you, and believe in you! That can be your child teaching you how to live every moment and enjoy splashing the water or running on grass barefoot.
8. Colleagues: You spend the vast majority of your time at work. Thank your colleagues for making your job a little more easy, fun, and manageable.
9. The person who smiled at you today: According to some theories, each one of us, on average meet 80,000 people in their entire lifespan! That’s a lot of people. However, in the midst of the crowd, you would meet someone who gives you a warm smile, or have an unexpectedly pleasant conversation on a movie, or someone helped you manage your luggage. Thank them for their kindness and if possible, do that to others.
10. Chef of your favorite restaurant: Remember the taste of the delicious food you last had? Remember and thank the person who made it as well.
11. Everyone at the Gym: Ever felt inspired by someone who rigorously works out in the gym? Be grateful for their inspiration and the gym instructor dedicated to making you healthier.
12. The common friend: Did you meet the love of your life through a common friend? Ever come across a lost old friend at a random party? Universe has its ways to connect with the people you need in life. Thank that common friend and all the beautiful coincidences.
Be Grateful for what went ‘wrong’
13. Critics: Your critics are your best well-wishers. Why you may ask? They help you grow and learn much more than you can without them.
14. Unfulfilled dreams and manifestations: While it is good if something happens by your will or wish, it is for the best if it hasn’t happened by your plan. Because, in that case, it wasn’t God’s will. When things don’t work out as planned, know there may be better plans in store for you. So, be grateful.
15. Relationships that didn’t work out: Did you know we move on from people who do not fit our lives anymore or the ones we have outgrown? Know that when someone moves out, it is a new beginning and probably a better one.
16. Change that doesn’t fit in: Change of any sort can make anyone anxious- joining a new challenging job, shifting to a new city, or simply changing a habit. However, change is inevitable.
Embracing change, external or internal, has the potential to open a plethora of opportunities to learn and grow. Embrace the beautiful transformation.
17. Conflict: While conflict, particularly the ugly ones can seem bad, when responded to consciously, it opens doors for honest, transparent conversations and deep insights.
Be Grateful for what you have
18. Hobbies: Your love for art, swimming, or garnering are your stress busters. Be grateful for those hobbies.
19. Skills: Your gratitude list is incomplete without adding your inherent strength. Are you an incredible public speaker or a great writer? Or are you someone with a witty sense of humor? Whatever it is, be grateful for these skills.
20. Personality: The universal balance requires each one of us, with all the diversity and uniqueness. Be grateful for all that you have, including all the good and bad.
21. Five senses: Wonderful things to be grateful for include your sense of touch, visibility, smell, hearing, and feeling. All of this makes you experience life more.
22. Holiday plan: Excited for the next holiday plan? Add it to your gratitude list.
23. Values: Believe us that the values of honesty, kindness, forgiveness, gratitude, etc., are rare. Whichever you have, cherish it and be grateful.
24. House and all the necessities: Thank your beautiful house, the place that makes you comfortable every day. Add access to water and clean air to your gratitude list.
25. Books: As Margaret Fuller said, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” Thank your books for opening the world of knowledge.
26. Money: Be grateful for your money to have given you all the comfort of life.
27. Communication tools: It is impossible to imagine life without wifi, phones, and laptops! What else will you add from your favorite tools and technologies?
28. Clothes, footwear, and things that make you look good must definitely be part of that gratitude list.
29. Medicine and health supplements you don’t want to miss.
30. Nourishing food: Can’t thank that enough!
31. Body functioning: While some of us may have a range of health issues, have you ever focused on your incredible physical abilities?
32. Meditation practice: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14.2% of US adults said that they have practiced meditation at least once. Are you one of them? Add your action to the list of things to be grateful for.
33. The park you go out to for a walk: For keeping you healthy and bringing health, peace, and a smile to your face.
Be Grateful for the Positive Energies
34. Sun and moon: Without the energy of the sun and moon, life will not be possible on Earth. You can’t possibly miss these imperatives on your gratitude list!
35. Five elements of life: Did you know that your physical and energetic body is made of water, fire, air, earth, and space?
36. Your spiritual guides, the universe: All souls are believed to have spiritual guides or your higher self guiding you and protecting you all along. Trust us, you can’t ever thank them enough!
37. Intent to practice gratitude: Thank yourself for the intent to begin a gratitude practice.
38. Healing and growth: We are on a continuous journey of healing from all that has harmed us in the past, growing and learning to attain the purpose of this lifetime. Congratulate yourself for the journey so far, and add it to the things to be grateful for.
