Gratitude affirmations? I’m a positive person but I confess that it sometimes seems a little woowoo to run around parroting singsong-y “hurrahs”. Other times it can seem entirely beside the point. As in, “How can I be grateful when THIS is going on in my life?” But science shows affirmations actually can improve our wellbeing and our lives.
Research shows that positive affirmations can “decrease stress, increase well-being, improve academic performance and make people more open to behaviour change”, as reported in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, a peer-reviewed journal. Affirmations, or positive self-talk, can provide a broader view of ourselves and buoy feelings of integrity and competence. And in the case of gratitude affirmations, they can keep us from getting into doom spirals, where we focus only on what’s going wrong. Instead they help us see both the shade and the light, even during the most trying times.
That said, here at NOON, we know all gratitude affirmations aren’t equal. Here are some of the ones that most inspire us – and don’t feel like mass-produced greeting cards.
Short affirmations
These are good for meditation and those quick moments when you need to recentre yourself. (I find they’re perfect while waiting for the kettle to boil.)
- I welcome abundance
- I honour this moment
- I choose gratitude today
- I am thankful for today
- My life is abundant
- I am grateful for love
- Gratitude gives me peace
- I celebrate small joys
- Gratitude is my power
- Things aren’t perfect but some things are good
- I’m grateful I have [person] in my life
How to create your own gratitude affirmations
Another way I like to practice gratitude is to write down the things I really love or am enjoying in the moment, acknowledging that my life contains wonderful elements. These can be as large as being thankful for a loved one and their health or as fleeting as the way the sun is slanting through the window.
Expressing gratitude for our physical self
We’ve probably all had those moments when we’re ill, lying in bed barely able to move, that we vow we’ll really appreciate just feeling OK once it’s over. Then a few days later, up and around, our promise is easily forgotten.
Taking a few moments every day to appreciate what your body and mind do for you can bring focus to the physical self in a positive way. It might mean allowing yourself to admire the things you like about yourself or noticing how strong your legs are or how your feet ground you to the earth.
If you’re battling illness or disability, acknowledging what’s going right with your physical self can be a welcome break from worry or fear. Some experts even recommend saying these affirmations in a mirror, looking yourself in the eye and feeling good about yourself.
My own gratitude case study
During one particularly dark moment of my life, when I felt hopeless, I was cajoled into a game of tennis by a friend. One time I returned the ball, the ball sailed long…and stuck in the one of the squares of the chain link fence. Ever since I was a girl I’ve found that so enjoyable and satisfying. At that moment on the court, I took a breath and just felt that pleasure. Plus there was then pleasure part two: pulling it out with a –pop-!
That moment of extreme crisis has ended, but I think frequently about that day.
As strange as it may sound, I often conjure that moment of free-floating pleasure, a reminder of life’s simple joys, the importance of appreciating the small moments and that this period won’t last forever. It lets me know things will get better. How could they not, when such funny little moments exist?
Do you practice gratitude affirmations? What are they and do you find they help? Tell us in the comments
Good afternoon, and thank you for your advice on affirmations of gratitude. In my opinion, if you are optimistic, you can find the bright side in difficult times. Additionally, I walk past a hospital on my way to work every day, so I thank my life for the opportunity to go to work instead of being ill and staying there.
Hi Nadya, Thanks so much for your comment and this insight. It’s great to have affirmations built into your daily routine, especially on a walk, commute or with a daily errand or chore. Here’s to the bright side.
I’m since starting with gratitude and affirmation my life has changed for the better. I now advise my clients I coach to take a moment in Theta state (just before sleep or straight after waking up) to practice this and also imagine their best day ahead. Positivity breeds positivity.
Couldn’t agree more! Here’s to positivity.