At this time of year, it’s really easy to get caught up in everything we don’t have, especially as we compare ourselves to other people in the mad rush to outperform our gift-giving and having a picture-perfect Christmas (or festive season, depending on your beliefs).

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It’s also supposed to be a time of gratitude, but with the state of the world at the moment, that can sometimes be pushed to the wayside, even unintentionally.

I’ve been trying to change the way I think about things and the way I perceive my life for a long time, and over the past year, I think it has started to work. In this post, I’m going to share some small ways you can express and practice gratitude in everyday life.

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Thank someone for something specific.

I think it’s sometimes overlooked, but saying thank you for something specific can give a positive boost to anyone. I don’t mean a thank you that feels like autopilot – like when stepping off a bus and thanking the driver, or thanking the person that just held the door open for you. In this instance, I’m talking about something very specific.

I remember being taken aback when, during a camping trip with a large group, someone was leaving. I had met them before, but didn’t speak with them on that occasion; over the campfire, however, we had a lengthy chat about our connections to music. As he left, he specifically thanked me for this discussion. Even six months later, it stands out to me as an incredibly positive interaction.

It’s now something I’ve tried to do with everyone I meet. I’ve thanked friends for sharing space with me, for having honest discussions with me, for eating food that I’ve cooked. I think when you thank someone in this way, you’re showing them that they’re appreciated, and it makes you appreciate these small interactions more too.

Compliment someone.

I love complimenting people – I just think it’s a nice thing to do. At my last festival of the season this year, I told someone on the dancefloor he was “incredibly beautiful”. He told me he had been feeling very self-conscious all day and really needed to hear it.

It’s important to give this kind of positive attention to yourself, too. Although it can be all-to-easy to think negatively about yourself, you should start compiling a list of things you like about yourself. You could mention physical traits, achievements, or personality traits – it doesn’t matter. Most people have at least one redeeming quality, and you should recognise that in yourself.

Spend more time engaging with nature.

I engage with nature as much as possible, and it’s given me so much to be thankful for. I’ve discussed using nature for wellness at length in previous posts, but I think the more you spend time in it, the more you appreciate little things. This is also something I try to express in my photography.

A woodland reserve may not be accessible for you, but getting a house plant could be! I’m endlessly fascinated by my house plants (although they’re starting to overrun my house). I also adore growing things from seeds and re-growing kitchen scraps. Although not everyone seems to find it interesting, I’m endlessly fascinated by how plants grow. Every new leaf, bud, and root invokes a sense of wonder in me and makes me excited to be part of such a fascinating world.

Re-frame the way you think about negatives.

You can start viewing trivial negatives in a different way by changing the language you use to speak about them. Replacing “I have to” with “I get to” reframes a negative obligation – such as getting out of bed – into a positive opportunity, a chance to do something – is one suggestion I’ve come across a lot in discussions with other people.

I don’t think this is always appropriate, but can certainly help us express more gratitude when mundane realities are beating us down.

Share a gift with someone.

You can interpret a gift in multiple ways, so I’ll be clear that I’m not necessarily talking about a trinket or traditional present. One of my favourite ways to share a gift is to cook for people – in doing this, I’m celebrating the fact that I am in a position to share resources with others. One of my favourite “gifts” was a friend sending me a picture of a rock they saw and thought I would like. It doesn’t have to be anything huge or cost any money.

It could also be something less tangible. Perhaps you’re well-versed on something and have valuable insight; maybe you bring a unique perspective to things; you possibly have some musical talent and can share that with someone else. A gift can really be anything, and sharing it with others – no matter how small – can be a beautiful way to thank them just for being themselves and being present in your life.

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As a side note, I am very aware of the existence of toxic positivity. Sometimes things aren’t great, and it’s perfectly healthy – in fact, necessary – to acknowledge this and to not ignore when things aren’t going well. But I do think that changing the way we frame smaller difficulties in life, and trying to be optimistic, can be helpful in building our overall resilience and outlook on life. I’m trying to focus on finding little things to be grateful for, not to ignore problems and negative experiences when they arise.

I’d love to hear about the little ways you express and share gratitude in your everyday life!

If you’re looking for structured writing prompts to support your self-discovery, I have several reflective eBooks available via Ko-Fi and Etsy for digital download 🙂