Summarize:

A gratitude journal is useful for cultivating gratitude on a daily basis. Write in your journal each day, either morning or night (or both!).  Start with 5 things that you are grateful for each day. The activity of using a journal makes the practice of gratitude intentional and conscious each day. It's also a great way to look back on your life and see where you were at during different points in your life.  Waking up in the morning and writing in your gratitude journal can jumpstart your day and keep you in joyful anticipation, or combat feelings of dread. Journaling at the end of the day can close out your day with feelings of contentment as you go to bed. For more information, check out How to Start a Gratitude Journal. Maybe keeping a journal sounds like too much work or effort. Instead, you can find time throughout the day to acknowledge the things you are grateful for. Silently acknowledge the big and little things in your life daily.  For example, think of one thing in the morning, another at lunch, and one at bedtime. Wear a bracelet every day and remind yourself that each time you see it, you think of something you are grateful for. While this sounds counter-intuitive, think back to a difficult period in your life. Perhaps you went through a difficult breakup, a traumatic event, or the death of a loved one. Now reflect on the fact there here you are, able to look back on that as a memory. You successfully overcame that difficult period of life and you have what it takes to get through dark moments.   Write in your journal about a challenging time you went through. Recall what it felt like, and what got you through the difficult time. Note the strengths and personal attributes you utilized to get through it. Perhaps you're going through another even darker time now. By looking back on difficult situations, you can reflect that you found your way out of the dark then, and you can do it again. While depression can make you feel like everything is in a negative light, expressing gratitude can help you see the silver lining. Think about three good things that have happened in the last week. Then, explain why those things happened. This practice can help you change that negative fog into a more positive approach.  For example, one good thing could be, “My dog greeted me at the door every day this week.” For the explanation, you can say, “My dog loves me and he is excited to see me every day when I get home. This fills me with happiness, even when I feel down.” Another example: “I was nervous about making my deadline, but I made it on time. I put in a lot of work and even though I felt stressed, I finished on time. This made me feel good and accomplished.” . Mindfulness meditation often involves focusing your attention on one thing (such as “peace” or “calm”). While practicing meditation, tune your focus onto gratitude. Let any thoughts you have float out of your awareness and bring your attention back to gratitude.   Choose one thing that you feel grateful for and meditate on it. This can be a warm sunny day, a delicious meal, a hug from a child, or a beautiful painting. Practice feeling gratitude for your relationships. Focus on one person at a time, like your mother, father, grandparent, partner or spouse, or child. Focus on the feeling of gratitude you have for this person being in your life.
Write a gratitude journal. Count your blessings. Remember challenging moments. List three good things. Meditate