There was a time when gratitude was part of my everyday routine.

During a period when I was really dedicating time to my own healing. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay was one of the books that helped inspire me to start creating intentional time for myself. Rhonda Byrne's The Secret also inspired a lot of the gratitude practice I eventually created.

Overtime, I made it my own. I wanted something simple enough that I would actually stick with it, so I created a short morning practice that only takes a few minutes.

And when I was consistent with it, I noticed something:

My perspective started to change.

I began finding more things to be grateful for––not just the obvious things but the little things I might have normally overlooked. I even started finding gratitude in situations that weren't necessarily positive.

I wasn't changing everything happening around me. I was changing the way I was looking at it.

My Morning Gratitude Practice

Before starting your day, take a moment to get quiet.

💡 Pro Tip: Try doing this before you check your phone, email, or social media so your mind is clear and present.

Close your eyes and think of a memory that genuinely makes you smile or laugh. Hold that thought for a moment and notice how it makes you feel. Let yourself sit in that feeling of joy.

Then, write down five things you're grateful for.

You can start each one with:

I am so happy and grateful for...

1. I am so happy and grateful for ____________________________

2. I am so happy and grateful for ____________________________

3. I am so happy and grateful for ____________________________

4. I am so happy and grateful for ____________________________

5. I am so happy and grateful for ____________________________

They don't have to be big things. Maybe you're grateful for your morning coffee, a good conversation, your child making you laugh, getting outside, a great workout, or simply having a moment to yourself.

The little things count.

Feel It

Once you've written all five, read each one back to yourself out loud.

Place one hand over your heart and the other just below it, and really let yourself feel what you're saying.

After each one, say:

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Don't rush through it just to check it off your list. Take a moment to actually feel the gratitude behind your words.

Try It for 21 Days

I challenge you to try this every morning for 21 days.

Five things. A few intentional minutes. That's it!

📌 Key Takeaway: Consistency matters more than perfection. Let this be a gentle practice, not another pressure.

You don't have to do it perfectly. If you miss a day, don't beat yourself up. Just start again the next morning.

And while you're doing it, pay attention to what changes.

Do you notice yourself looking for the good more often? Do the little things start making you happier? Do you find yourself seeing frustrating situations differently?

For me, that's what gratitude did.

It didn't make everything in my life perfect. It changed my perspective.

And honestly, this is something I need to get back into myself.

Sometimes we don't need another complicated routine or something else to add to our already busy lives.

Sometimes we just need a few quiet minutes to pause and remember:

There is still so much good here.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.