The Ripple Effect of Gratitude

Can you imagine a world where everyone showed gratitude?

If someone did something kind for you, you’d probably give them a warm smile and say thank you.

And if you were having a bad day, someone else might take time out of his or her life to comfort you, making you feel better.

It’s these acts of kindness that prompt people to show their gratitude by doing something similar for someone else.

Like a skipping stone in a pond, acts of gratitude have the potential to create a ripple effect.

Have you said thank you to someone today – to show how grateful you are for them? It seems like a small thing, but it can have a huge impact on your life and the life of the person you’re thanking.

Here are a few ways you can express your gratitude (either to yourself or to someone else):

1. Maintain a gratitude journal – List five things that you are grateful for every day.
2. Send a thank-you note – Either to yourself or someone else. It’s nice to get a little note thanking you for something you did, so why not send one to yourself? Perhaps you can thank your body for being in good health or thank yourself for being in a happy mood. ~ And for someone else – send a thank you card, a little note, or an email expressing your thanks. It can go a long way (remember the ripple effect)!
3. Give someone a smile or a hug – When you’re in the grocery store, smile at the cashier. When you see a friend or loved one, greet them with a hug.
4. Do someone a favor – Without expecting anything in return, do something nice for someone. Actions speak louder than words – and doing something nice is a wonderful way to show gratitude.
5. Give someone a list of all they’ve done that you’re grateful for – Take five minutes and make a list of 10 (or more) things you love about someone – or things they’ve done for you that you appreciate.
6. Acknowledge someone publicly – Who doesn’t love public praise? Find a way to acknowledge the contributions of someone by showing your gratitude in a public way. Perhaps you can write about them on your blog or write a special “letter to the editor” of a local newspaper or newsletter – or make a special public announcement of some kind.
7. Say thanks, even for the negative things in your life – When things go wrong, when we’re not happy, when people are mean to us, when we are worn down by the million slings and arrows of everyday life – we don’t want to say thank you. But in truth, this is the time when it matters most. ~ Take a moment to stop and close your eyes, and find things to be thankful for – your health, your family, your job, the roof over your head, the fact that you’ll have a next meal, the beauty of the world around you, the good people in your life, your new computer. Whatever you can think of, be thankful for them and express that gratitude somehow. Realize that all is not bad in this world – and be happy for that.

If you’d like to explore the benefits of gratitude on a deeper, more personal level, please join me for my special e-course: Gratitude Journaling: Being Thankful for Everyday Gifts

This 30-day e-course begins with an introduction to gratitude journal writing and the many practical benefits that you can apply to your day-to-day life. You’ll also learn about intention-setting and how a special dedication in your journal can support your intentions. This will be followed by 21 days of journaling prompts designed to highlight the many good things in your life.

And the more you journal with gratitude, the more you’ll have to be grateful for and the more abundant you will feel.

Here’s to a rich and beautiful spring season filled with abundant blessings!