“And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”Ralph Waldo EmersonFeeling grateful especially during times of great trial can be challenging. It would definitely be easier to respond in spite and anger. But we all know that hate never solved anything. This is why, today, I want to share with you 10 simple ways that I’ve been practicing gratitude every day and hope that it will help you appreciate life a little more, too.

10 Simple Ways to Feel More Grateful About Life

You need to slow down and find the time to really concentrate on the things that matter and the things that make your life better.Starting a gratitude journal forces you to stop and think about all the things that are going right in your life. Having food, a warm bed to sleep in, a safe place to call home. Not to mention friends and family who are willing to support you no matter what! These are all things to be grateful for.

Start a gratitude journal.

Events are objective. <a href="https://www.thepandanook.com/its-time-to-let-go/">How you interpret them is up to you. </a>The more you label things as “good” or “bad” the more unsatisfied you’ll feel about the way you’re living.

Stop labeling things/experiences as “good” or “bad.”

This isn’t some ploy to get you to convert to some religion. But there is a freeing feeling that comes with surrendering yourself to a “higher power.” It doesn’t necessarily even have to be a god.Since I’m catholic, I of course pray to the god Christians acknowledge. But over the years, I’ve also developed a habit of talking to and praying to the universe.So, separate yourself from your pride for a little bit and pray to all things great and small.

Pray.

If there’s anything that 2020 has taught me, it’s that communication and connection are two of the most important things a person has in life. Take care of your friendships, old AND new, because you never know when you’ll need them or when they’ll need you.

Nurture the friendships you have — good friends don’t just fall out of trees.

Follow your curiosities. Seek out adventure. There’s so much that life has to give.

Do something new every day.

I’ve found this especially effective. There’s a sort of comfort in watching other people succeed in life. It makes you realize that you really can be everything that you think you are. You just have to believe in it enough and work with consistent effort and enthusiasm, no matter what happens along the way.

Watch/read an inspiring video/book/blog.

Don’t let yourself get sucked into a world of baseless hatred and disease.Saying good things about people to other people make you feel more trustworthy. Trust is a huge component of being happy. Have you heard anyone complain about being trustworthy??? NO!Be someone people can rely on.

Don’t gossip or speak badly about other people.

This.Have you ever gotten into a fight with someone at the mall, and 4 days after, you’re still thinking about “witty” things you could have said had you been feeling more up to it that time?This is damaging behavior and you have to stop it.Action takes energy. Focus takes energy. So, it only makes sense that <a href="https://www.thepandanook.com/how-you-can-use-the-ancient-hindu-practice-of-vasana-daha-tantra-to-deal-with-complex-emotions-and-past-hurt/">every thought that we dwell on takes energy </a>.

Stop having mental debates with other people about useless topics/issues.

There are so many things you can see, so many people you can interact with. Plus, you get good exercise.<a href="https://www.thepandanook.com/honestly-go-for-a-walk-a-lesson-on-peace-and-mindfulness-from-soren-kierkegaard/">There is no problem too big that a good, long walk can’t fix. </a>Look around and appreciate the beauty you find around you.

Go for a walk (breathe in fresh air).

Take a chair, a bench, or a blanket outside and watch the stars. Listen to what they have to say.

Look at the stars.

mindfulness

Mindfulness

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

writing

Reading & Writing

travel

Travel

meditation

Meditation

10 Simple Ways to Feel More Grateful About Life - The Panda Nook

Books are reliable sources of information and insight. They contain essential wisdom that we as humans can use in our everyday lives — making books the best teachers a person can have. There’s a book about absolutely anything and (probably) everything you could ever think of! When I read books, there was no need for me to fear judgment or criticism. (Pages are a lot kinder than human tongues.) There certainly wasn’t much reason to worry about what I would have to contribute to a conversation, either. I could just keep all my thoughts to myself and not have to share it with anyone else (save for a select few of my friends and family that I trust and love). Not trying to encourage self-isolation and non-conversation, here. I just want to show that, for people who are less keen on sharing ideas and speaking their thoughts, books are the perfect companion. They can both excite your imagination and <a href="https://www.thepandanook.com/honestly-go-for-a-walk-a-lesson-on-peace-and-mindfulness-from-soren-kierkegaard/">soothe your fears </a>. Reading more books can give you an entirely new perspective on plenty of topics and situations. For example; I love love. Which is why it’s no surprise that my favorite genre in terms of books is Romance. The reason why I like reading about it so much, is…well, I had so little love in my life when I was younger that I wanted to know how it felt to love and be loved. Reading books allowed me a peek into the world of love. Not just romantic love but also parental love. Platonic love. All kinds of love! And it helped me make more sense of the feeling and how it functioned in different settings with different characters of society. It introduced me to different concepts, to different sides of love that I would otherwise still be oblivious to had I not started reading! This phenomenon is referred to as “The Theory of Mind” which is the intuitive ability to see what a person is thinking or going through just by looking at their actions and expressions. Reading books can train you to be more observant and more present/in the moment. It’s good to have something to guide you through the twists and turns of society.

Why Everyone Should Start Reading More Books

It’s a common notion among many people that reading books — especially works of fiction — is a waste of time. (I can certainly remember my grandfather telling me this when I was younger.) And that is why, today, I’m going to talk about why I think everyone should start reading more books and give you five creative ways to go about it.

Why Everyone Should Start Reading More Books and 5 Creative Ways to Do it

Books are reliable sources of information and insight. They contain essential wisdom that we as humans can use in our everyday lives — making books the best teachers a person can have. Choosing the right book can give you all the information you need — plus more! — and all you need access to a public library or a good bookstore.

Well of Wisdom

When I read books, there was no need for me to fear judgment or criticism. There certainly wasn’t much reason to worry about what I would have to contribute to a conversation, either. For people who are less keen on sharing ideas and speaking their thoughts, books are the perfect companion. They can both excite your imagination and <a href="https://www.thepandanook.com/honestly-go-for-a-walk-a-lesson-on-peace-and-mindfulness-from-soren-kierkegaard/">soothe your fears </a>.

The Perfect Companion

There is comfort in knowing that other people — people who existed way before your time — went through similar things that you’re going through and came out okay.

Reading more books can give you an entirely new perspective on plenty of topics and situations.This phenomenon is referred to as “The Theory of Mind” which is the intuitive ability to see what a person is thinking or going through just by looking at their actions and expressions.Reading books can train you to be more observant and more present/in the moment.It’s good to have something to guide you through the twists and turns of society.

Change in Perspective

“…your brain needs a workout as much as your body. And reading fiction seems to be one of the best workouts you can get.” — Rita Carter

Tere’s no exact way for any person to do this. But, here are some ideas you can try out. <ol><li>Make time for reading. </li><li>Bring books with you everywhere.</li><li>Read two at the same time.</li><li>Don't be scared to jump ship.</li><li>Skim the contents.</li></ol>

How to Read More Books

Almost everyone living nowadays is either busy with work or social media. Slap me if I’m wrong, but people spend more time scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube than they do flipping through book pages! (Myself included.) If you really want to start reading more books, you’ve got to set aside a good amount of time to do it. Even 15 – 30 minutes is enough to finish 2 or 3 chapters.

Make Time for Reading

One book is enough. And it doesn’t have to be anything serious, either.It can be a short anthology of stories or a collection of poetry by a writer you like. Anything that you can easily read while outside of the comforts of your home.

Bring Books with You Everywhere

There are a lot of wonderful benefits to reading two books at the same time.To summarize:<ul><li>It lets you balance your pleasure reading with your required reading.</li><li>It can give you an opportunity to balance emotional reads with more lighthearted books.</li><li>It can reveal unexpected connections between unrelated titles.</li><li>It allows you to take advantage of all of the benefits of reading.</li><li>It allows you to enjoy books’ many mediums.</li><li>Variety is the spice of life, especially everyday life.</li></ul>

Read Two at the Same Time

Abandon the idea that you have to finish all the books that you start to read, even if you find it incredibly boring and unfulfilling. Reading books is meant to teach, not torture! So, as soon as you feel like there nothing of value to gain from the books that you’re reading, abandon ship. Move on to the next book and continue with your life. Make it easier for you to start and continue. You can always go back to that particular book when you need to.

Don’t Be Scared to Jump Ship

Skimming through the contents of your book helps you gauge which chapters will be of most use to you and, therefore, you can skip to when time calls for it. Going back to the previous tip, it’s not necessary for you to read your book cover-to-cover (unless it’s fiction) so, you can try to only read the chapters that you need.

Skim the Contents

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10 Simple Ways to Feel More Grateful About Life - The Panda Nook

Why Everyone Should Start Reading More Books and 5 Creative Ways to Do it - The Panda Nook

Alexandrea Alix