Coffee Talk #159: 5 Ways to be More Grateful

It’s Tuesday! Grab your cup and let’s start chatting.

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, today’s chat centers on being [even more] grateful. A good place to start? Understanding the term itself. In short, gratitude is the quality of being thankful, a readiness to show appreciation for kindness, and the ability to return kindness. That’s pretty heavy! One of the themes of my (life) blog is the idea that you cannot pour from an empty cup. So gratitude, and the ability to have it, starts with you.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that I’m grateful for YOU. When I started this blog in 2010 as an attempt to track growing a backyard homestead (my has this changed), I had no idea what it would become, or that people would read it and reach out to me about posts. I love every single comment, like, love, giggle, etc. that you give. Thanks so much for reading and being witness to my growth!

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that I’m grateful for a fitness professional career of nearly 11 years with an amazing group of people. I’ve just passed 500 people on my weekly email list (!!!) and I know some people come and go, take seasons of rest or some other activity, but they also come back. And, I’m seeing new clients weekly, which is an amazing blessing. I had no idea when I started teaching Zumba in 2009 that I’d grow to 14 classes a week at some points, that I’d be licensed and certified to teach classes of my own design, or that I’d continue to get new certifications each year. I’m so excited for where we’ve been and where we’re going!

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that I’m grateful for the ability to travel and see the world. I’m stoked for our next trip – a cruise to Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel. We’ve planned some really awesome activities, and I can’t wait to go. I’m extra grateful for a husband who also values experiences, and who goes on lots of trips and adventures with me.

As I stand here and think about all of the amazing things I’m grateful for, I realize that being grateful is something to practice, something to always be better at doing. I’ve compiled a short list of ways to become even more grateful.

5 Ways to be More Grateful

1. Keep a journal. This is one of the best ways to call yourself on your shit. Seriously. I keep a daily journal – writing how I feel, anything that I did that day (major things, not always the mundane), and my reactions to situations. Over time, I can go back and notice patterns, see how I feel based on what has happened and how I react to similar situations. When you start to see these patterns, it becomes easier to make changes. And I end up being more grateful for the ability to make changes, and for those things that I have.

2. Take a breath. A slow breath. Even better, place your hand on your belly and the other on your heart. Feel the rise of the belly with a deep inhale and the rise of the chest with an exhale. Release the tension in your jaw, between your eyes, at your shoulders. Try 5 of these. It’s easier to see a situation more clearly after taking a deep breath. And, you might find yourself more relaxed, allowing you to tap into those being grateful skills!

3. Practice saying no. This might seem like a trick, but the fastest way to self-respect, the fastest way to knowing who and what you have in your life is to say NO to things that no longer serve you. You’ll be a lot less grumpy and a lot less stressed. Another way to look at this is in terms of buying things or spending money. The more you can concentrate on the things you need, saying no to the fleeting things you may want, the better. I find that a quick rummage through my closet produces more “new” clothes than an online shopping spree. I’ll start by seeing what I already have before pressing “purchase.” I end up being grateful for what I already have, but might have forgotten was in my closet.

4. Try an affirmation. Or two. You can actually train your brain (which is also called brain plasticity, #ThanksMBRT). Start with “I am grateful.” The more you say it, the more it’s likely to resonate and become real. Repeat daily.

5. Keep a list of what you do today. Then approach it the tomorrow with a playful mindset. Am I |drinking coffee| or am I sweetly sipping the end product of roasted 100% Arabica coffee beans, prepared lovingly for my taste buds? It may seem like just words, but stopping to savor the ordinary is a pretty sweet activity. Try to treat each task you complete like a mini-adventure. This is how the Coffee Talk series was born! I stopped to think about my coffee experience, and how I’d love to write about it as though I’m having a conversation with you.

What would you add to this list?