It is easy for me to find something to be thankful for in each situation I encounter. My blessings overflow and fill my heart with gratitude. Being able to say thanks for so many things encourages me to share love and kindness with others. 

Even when times are difficult, I meditate on the things that make them more bearable. I focus on the smiling faces of toddlers and the couple holding hands in the park. Seeing joy around me makes me thankful for being able to experience it. 

I receive kindness from others even when I least expect it. The thoughtfulness extended to me reminds me of the goodness of the world. 

When a friend calls to wish me happy birthday, I feel special. Those who take the time to consider me deserve my love. I give it to them freely. Sharing my last meal with them is worth the sacrifice. 

The strangers I meet all have a part to play in my life. Although I am unaware of their exact role, I embrace the miracles that they are likely to bring my way. 

Today, I spend my days expressing gratitude for the goodness bestowed upon me. Giving back some of my blessings to those whose lives require it is my way of showing love. I am happy to have so much love to share with the world. 

Self-Reflection Questions: 

1. In what ways am I able to show love to others?
   
2. In what ways do I express my gratitude to those who help me?
   
3. How do I handle situations in which my sincerity is questioned by others?
   

The post My Heart is Filled With Love and Gratitude appeared first on DuckboardsAndStilts.com.

I relish in victory whenever I am fortunate to have it. Although it is natural to celebrate winning, I take time out to be thankful. Each success that I experience reminds me that I am blessed. 

My ability to be successful at business ventures means I have the skills to do it. Each morning, I give thanks for my natural talents and skills. 

I sharpen the skills that keep me in winning mode. The more time I spend refining my abilities the greater the likelihood of ongoing success in my life. 

I avoid overlooking the support I get from loved ones in my quest for personal accomplishment. Their emotional support and encouragement help to quell my fears. Family members are a blessing because they give me confidence to persevere. 

It is a blessing to be able to push through challenges with resolve. Whenever I feel my tenacity waning, I take a moment to refocus on the goal at hand and get back on track 

Today, I am grateful for each blessing that comes my way. The pride that I feel when I achieve greatness is quickly replaced with gratitude for the opportunity. 

Self-Reflection Questions: 

1. How do I respond when I am unable to attain something that I work hard for?
   
2. What are some of the blessings that I am most thankful for?
   
3. How often do I say thanks to others for their help?
   

The post Winning Reminds Me That I Am Blessed appeared first on DuckboardsAndStilts.com.

My days are filled with endless blessings which increase when I take the time to acknowledge them. I consciously make note of the things that I am grateful for and am rewarded with a positive mindset that lasts all day. 

The blessing of family is a gift that I give thanks for each day. 

Acknowledging the support of loved ones gives me confidence to pursue difficult goals. Knowing that I have their encouragement and guidance is enough to nudge me forward. It helps to know that there are people who believe in me. 

I make note of each chance I get to help others. I am thankful that I am in a position to impact their lives. 

When I see how much of a difference my assistance makes, I feel heartened. It reminds me that even the smallest blessings are worth being thankful for. Being a helper of others allows me to focus on being grateful for what I have. 

Having a job is a blessing that is often overlooked. Each day I write down how thankful I am for work. It allows me make the most of the financial value it gives me. 

Today, my mindset is constantly positive because I focus on the good things in life. Making a conscious effort to note my blessings is a great way to maintain gratitude. 

Self-Reflection Questions: 

1. What are some of the blessings that are less obvious in my life?
   
2. How does discussing my blessings help in my ability to stay positive?
   
3. What other techniques can I use to keep my mindset optimistic?
   

The post Taking Note of the Things I Am Grateful for Keeps Me Positive appeared first on DuckboardsAndStilts.com.

Gratitude isn’t a common habit, but without gratitude, life is more challenging than it needs to be. Feeling grateful resets your perspective, and this is a gift you can give yourself each day. If you find yourself feeling pessimistic or overwhelmed, a little gratitude can get your attitude back on the right track. 

Gratitude is free, enjoyable, and effective. 

Practice gratitude each day with these actions: 

1. Write it down. Make a daily habit of writing down a few things that you can be grateful about. Ideally, you’ll do this early and late in the day. It gets your day off on the right foot and sets you up for a good night of sleep. 

2. Be grateful for the little things. There are plenty of small things you can be grateful for each day. A great cup of coffee, the sound of birds in the morning, or the fact that you have a new set of tires on your car can all uplift your mood. 

3. Go for a gratitude walk. This is a great way to get out of your head. Go for a walk and look for things that you can be grateful for. A beautiful tree, a child playing in her yard, a friendly dog, or a nice, cool breeze are all things you could choose to feel gratitude about. 

4. Avoid making comparisons. When you compare one thing to another, you demean it. Be grateful for something exactly as it is. This applies to people and things. 

5. Tell people you’re thankful. Show people that you’re grateful for thanking them. Whether it’s your neighbor for keeping his yard so nice or the cashier at the store. Be thankful and let them know about it. 

6. Enjoy your pet. Pets give us plenty of reasons to feel gratitude. Give your pet some extra attention. You’ll both feel great. 

7. Donate your time or money. Give your resources to something that you think is valuable to the world. It could be a charity or other organization. Time and money can have a great impact. 

8. Make a list of things that impress you about yourself. Have a little gratitude for yourself, too. What are you impressed by when you take a long, hard look at yourself? You’ll not only be expressing gratitude, but you’ll also be doing wonders for your self-esteem. 

9. Write a positive review for a business you appreciate. Business owners love positive reviews. It makes them feel good and can boost their business. Be supportive and express your gratitude. 

10. Meditate on the things that you’re grateful for. Put your focus and attention on those things you’re most grateful for. You might develop an even greater appreciation for them. 

11. Minimize judging and complaining. Judging and complaining are the opposite of gratitude. People that do this aren’t enjoyable to be around, either. Keep your negative thoughts and opinions to yourself. Avoid judging others and you’ll find that you’re happier and less stressed. 

12. Be thankful at meal times. Since you eat at least one meal each day, this a great way to develop a habit of expressing gratitude. Be grateful for your food and the people sharing it with you. 

Be grateful for everything you have. Even if you’re struggling to survive below the poverty level, you’re still living better than the vast majority of the world’s population. That doesn’t mean you have to be satisfied with your current situation, but you can still be grateful for what you do have. 

Practice gratitude. Your mood and perspective will be lifted. Your opportunities for success will increase. And you’ll receive even more good things to be grateful for! 

The post 12 Practical Ways to Practice Gratitude appeared first on DuckboardsAndStilts.com.

You might not have your own jet, a Mercedes, or the body you had at age 18, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have plenty of things in your life to be thankful for. It’s easy to be frustrated by all the things you don’t have. The cure is to appreciate all the things you do have. And, you have a lot more than you think. 

Follow these tips to remember how fortunate you are: 

1. When you first wake up. This is a perfect way to get your day off to a good start. Before you move a muscle, think about all the things in your life that are good. Consider your health, job, friends, family, and anything else that makes you feel grateful. 

2. When you shower. This is another good time to practice being thankful. It’s the perfect time to be grateful for the fact that you have fingers and toes. You have access to clean water. You can even be thankful that you have hot water. 

3. When you eat. Take advantage of this time to further develop the habit of thankfulness. Be thankful for your food, even if it doesn’t taste as good as you’d like. At least you have food! Many people in the world don’t. 

• Be thankful for the people around you. 
• Be thankful for the day’s events before your meal and what’s yet to come. 
• Be thankful for your table and other furniture in your home. 

4. When you use the restroom. Instead of using the spare time to worry, use it to boost your mood by feeling thankful. 

5. When you look in the mirror. Take a good look at yourself and be thankful for what you have. You might not look like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, but you can be thankful for the parts of your body that work reasonably well. 

6. When you speak to someone. Each time you speak to someone, be thankful that you’re able to communicate with others. And be thankful for the other person. It would be pretty lonely if you were the only person on Earth. 

7. When you go to bed. End the day the same way you started, by being thankful. This is great way to end the day and will help you to have a good night of rest. By starting and ending your day this way, thankfulness will become your default attitude. 

8. Keep a journal. While thinking about and reminding yourself of all the wonderful things in your life is very effective, you can boost the effectiveness by writing in a journal each day. 

• Spend just a few minutes each day listing the things that make you feel the most grateful. Add to the list every single day, and you’ll be amazed by how much better you feel. 

Remember to be thankful each day, and you’ll spend more time smiling. Your life is better than you realize, and you have a lot to be thankful for. Make a habit of being thankful and keep a journal. A little bit of time spent on gratitude each day will have a lasting effect on your life. 

The post How to Always be Thankful for What You Have appeared first on DuckboardsAndStilts.com.

How do you show your gratitude to those you love in a unique way? Simply saying thank you is not enough. A spoken or written thank you note is not the only option.

Show your loved ones how much you care in unique and unusual ways that will surprise them:

1. Create a social media post online. Instead of writing a traditional thank you note to show your gratitude, you can use the internet.

• A social media post is a public way to express your gratitude.
• It can be shared with hundreds or thousands of people, so your message will spread. Your loved ones will see that you truly care.
• Before you make a public social media post, ensure your family is comfortable with being tagged in the post. Also, avoid sharing too much personal information or photos that can be used by scammers or hackers.

2. Offer to do a chore for them. Actions always speak louder than words, and no one likes to do chores. Offer to do a boring or annoying chore for them.

• Do they hate to do the dishes after dinner every night? Do they despise using the vacuum cleaner and dragging it upstairs? You can offer to do these chores and give them the gift of time or relaxation.
• This shows that you truly care about them and want them to be happy.

3. Make them a special gift. Use your own hands to make a gift instead of simply buying a present online or in a store.

• A handmade gift conveys your thank you message while also showing that you took the time and effort to make something yourself.
• It’s easy to pick up a bath set, chocolate, or a card at a store. However, it takes time to make a birdhouse, toy, box, or other useful item. You may want to consider making them something they can use every day, such as a storage bin for their keys or a jewelry box.

4. Put a letter in their lunch. If you pack their lunch, this is a great opportunity to show your gratitude. Add a handwritten letter or note to their lunch.

• Hide it, so they find it at work or school and are surprised. This type of letter can make their day and brighten a boring lunchtime.

5. Make their favorite food from childhood. Instead of picking up a cake or doughnuts at a store, make their favorite comfort food. Cooking and baking are easy ways to show your gratitude.

• You may have to contact family members to discover their all-time favorite foods. Avoid making assumptions! You certainly don’t want to cook something they don’t like.
• You can make this experience unique by trying to recreate their favorite meals and getting appropriate utensils and dishes from that era.
• Spend some time exploring different meal options and presentation choices, so the entire experience is special.

Gratitude isn’t always easy to express, but these unique ideas will help you. The next time you need to say thank you to a loved one, consider using these tips.

The post Creative Ways to Show Your Gratitude to Loved Ones appeared first on DuckboardsAndStilts.com.