Gratitude. That’s a word – a word you’re probably quite familiar with, but did you know that gratitude is more than just a nice thing to express? It’s actually has quite a few uses. Here are some of the ways you can use gratitude:

Use gratitude to combat a bad mood. Whenever you’re feeling upset or angry or frustrated or down, think about the things you’re grateful for and you’ll feel more positive about your life. No matter how deep the funk you’re in, focusing your attention on thankfulness is a great way to counteract a bad mood.

Use gratitude to live in the moment. When you’re struggling to live in the moment (and who isn’t sometimes!), use grateful thoughts to bring yourself back to the present. It’s easy to get caught up thinking about the past or worrying about the future, but when you take note of all the things you have to be grateful for, it’s easier to stay present.

Use gratitude to enhance relationships. Nothing makes a relationship better than when you are truly grateful for the other person. All relationships have ups and downs, but if you act and speak with gratitude in mind, you’ll be more appreciative of others and strengthen your relationships with them.

Use gratitude to motivate yourself. You might face moments when you find it extremely hard to stay motivated. Those tough spots are great times to gravitate toward gratitude. Once you start thinking about all of the things you’re thankful for—including your own abilities—you’ll find yourself feeling more inspired.

Use gratitude to overcome hurdles. No matter what you’re facing, when you focus on what you’re grateful for, difficulties have a way of becoming more manageable. Gratitude isn’t a cure-all, but it truly does help to put problems in perspective.

Use gratitude to improve your health. Being grateful can actually improve your physical health. Thankful thoughts can offset stress by making you feel more positive and more present. And the less stressed you are, the healthier you’ll be.


Dani DiPirro
AUTHOR BIO Dani DiPirro is an author, blogger, and designer living in a suburb of Washington, DC. In 2009, she launched the website PositivelyPresent.com with the intention of sharing her insights about living a positive and present life. Dani is the author of Stay Positive, The Positively Present Guide to Life, and a variety of e-books. She is also the founder of Twenty3, a design studio focused on promoting positive, modern graphic design and illustration.