“Gratitude is when memories are stored in the heart and not in the head.”
Lionel Hampton

“Let us be grateful for the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls bloom.”
Marcel Proust

Perhaps the simplest and most effortless habit for living a happier life is to take a few minutes each day to focus on what is already in your life and what you can be grateful for.

It may help you to…

Improves your mood and increases your motivation in no time.
Discover the things in your life that you want to spend more time and energy on.
Don't take everything for granted and find joy even in difficult times.

It's just a great habit to develop that requires little but pays off big.

This week I'd like to share with you 5 little tips that you can use to create more gratitude and happiness in your life.

1. Take a moment and look around you.

A simple first step in developing the habit of gratitude is to pause for a moment in your daily life and ask yourself questions like:

What can I be grateful for in my life today?
Which 3 people can I be grateful for having in my life and why?

If you can't think of multiple things or people every day, that's okay. If you can think of one thing or one person, that's okay too. Don't get stuck on the numbers.

Take a few minutes and see what comes of it.

Try not to repeat the same things too often. Instead, try to think of more things and people to be grateful for in your life.

2. Look at yourself.

Don't just look outside.

Also, take a look at yourself. A habit of appreciation and gratitude for yourself is a simple way to improve self-confidence and self-confidence.

Ask yourself:

What can I be thankful for?

You may have been a good parent/friend in a crisis this week. You may have finally finished that task you've been putting off.

Your self-gratitude doesn't have to be all about performance at work or school, for example.

You can simply be grateful for your good sense of humor or for the fact that you help people by being a good listener every now and then.

3. Take a good look at the very small things or what you take for granted.

Don't just focus on the big and obvious things to be grateful for.

Think about the little things you can be grateful for.

Like the plant right in front of my laptop where I'm writing these words.

It is not a remarkable plant. But its simple beauty in the vibrant green color, how it keeps growing on just a little water and sunshine and the faint scent of nature is something simple that I am grateful for.

Another thing I’m thankful for today – and that I sometimes maybe take for granted – was my lunch. It was a few potatoes with some grilled chicken and a dollop of sauce. It was delicious.

And most importantly, I don't have to go hungry. I'm in the very fortunate position of being able to eat lunch every day.

Ask yourself:

What can I be very grateful for today?
What is something that I generally take for granted and can be grateful for?

When you open your eyes to the small, everyday things you can appreciate, you see more of the simple beauty in life.

4. Do it early or late in the day.

But how do you ensure that gratitude remains a habit and does not become something that you forget or abandon after a few days?

Two things I have found effective are:

Take 1 minute each morning to start your day right by thinking of 3 small or big things in your life that you are grateful for.
Every evening, take 1-2 minutes to write down in a journal 3-5 things you are grateful for in your day, in your life, or in yourself.

Try making one of these small time investments every day for a week and see how it impacts your thoughts, feelings, and life.

5. Show your gratitude.

Don’t just hold your gratitude in. Express it.

Make other people happier too – and perhaps help them pass this on later – by expressing how grateful you are to have them in your life.

Plus, their smiles and the joy in their eyes when you tell them this will make you happier too.

Now that gratitude can be just a small sentence. But it can sometimes have a huge impact on someone's day, week, or even life.

So tell the people in your life.

Tell them in person tonight. Or write an email or a letter to someone who is a bit further away in the world. Or send a quick text message right now.