7 Easy Ways Practising Gratitude Can Help With Parenting
Gratitude is a significant part of my life now. It never used to be. I started incorporating gratitude into my daily practice when I decided enough was enough just before my sixty-fifth birthday. At the time, I was suffering from anxiety and bouts of depression. I heard and times than I care to remember to be grateful for everything, which means negative and positive. It’s hard to be thankful when angry at your spouse or youngsters or when life doesn’t go your way. However, I persevered, sometimes writing in my gratitude journal or being grateful in moments such as seeing an eagle soaring above me. 
Today, I want to delve into gratitude and its potential to transform your family environment. By reducing stress, enhancing mental wellness, and fostering a sense of contentment, gratitude can significantly improve your family's well-being, making your lives less stressful and joyful. 
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is like a treasure map: It leads you to discover hidden gems in your everyday life, revealing the riches of happiness and contentment.
Whether it's a sunny day, a kind friend, a delicious meal, or a cozy bed, gratitude helps us recognize and cherish these moments. It's like saying a big "thank you" to life for all the little and big gifts it gives us.
Gratitude isn't just about saying 'thank you' when someone does something nice for you. It's a tool we can use to navigate life's challenges. Have you ever had one of those days where everything seems wrong? I certainly have. Just this week, I had a day like that. No matter what I did, there was a hitch. I needed something from the grocery store, which they didn’t have. So, I had to go to two others. Then it started raining, and I  didn’t have a rain jacket. When I got home, my dog had an accident on the carpet. 
Was I grateful, then? Heck no, at least not at that very moment. But I also have a mantra, “everything works out for my highest good.” It helps me to change the lens of what happens.
Here is how I changed my perspective of my day: If I hadn’t gone to the second grocery store, I wouldn’t have bumped into a friend who needed a hug. Since I didn’t have a raincoat, a kind person shared their umbrella as we walked into the store together. Cleaning up after my dog caused me to vacuum the whole house and tend to his needs, slowing me down to just breathe. 
Gratitude isn’t always easy, but practice and believing everything works out for you reduces stress and improves mental well-being.
Moreover, gratitude is about being thankful for things we often take for granted. Clean water to drink, a safe home to live in, and the freedom to learn and play are all things many people in the world don't have. Recognizing these blessings can help us feel more content with what we have and less focused on what we don't.
So, gratitude isn't just an excellent idea; it's a transformative tool that can profoundly impact our lives. It helps us see the world through a different lens, appreciate the people around us, and find joy in the simple things. And the best part? With consistent practice, gratitude becomes an effortless habit.
7 Ways to Teach Gratitude to Your Youngsters
Teaching gratitude to your youngsters is a beautiful way to help them grow into kind and happy individuals.

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