Gratitude is something that doesn’t usually appear in an average person’s set of values or even their daily vocabulary. But the truth is that gratitude needs to be a part of everyone’s lives. From the small things to the big successes, if you don’t celebrate them, you won’t grow and be happy as a person.
Gratitude is more than having a positive outlook on life. It is scientifically proven to make you happier, healthier, and sleep better!
And since we live in such a technologically inclined world, here are 5 fun and spectacular ways for you to show your gratitude and reap the benefits of doing so.
1. Make a gratitude video or slide show
This is a great way to express gratitude and fun to watch and show off too. Using iMovie or even PowerPoint or KeyNote to make a slideshow, you can compile pictures and videos of all the things you’re grateful for.
Think about all the things that make your life complete and joyful. What drives you? Your friends, family, pets, your job, your house, etc. You get the idea. Once you’ve finished you can watch it in the mornings to pump you up for the rest of the day. And every time you think of something new that you’re grateful for, add it into the video or slide show.
2. Send notes of appreciation to your loved ones using the internet
Who doesn’t like to feel appreciated? By doing this you’ll reinforce the bond between you and your friends and family and show them just how much you care about them. On top of that, people will start to see you for who you really are: a kind and caring person who doesn’t take anyone for granted.
You can do this through social networking sites like MySpace or FaceBook, through an e-card, or even just an old-fashioned email.
3. Send yourself a list of things you’re grateful for via e-mail
This one’s a fun one. Before you go to bed, write down a list of things you’re grateful for in the course of your day into an email. After you’re done just send it to your work email or even to the same email address you’re writing from.
When the next day comes and you check your email you’ll have a list of things you’re grateful for to give you an extra reminder of all the amazing things you have in your life. And if you’re at work, this’ll definitely give you a boost in happiness all day.
4. Set up electronic reminders of what you’re grateful for.
We’re an extremely connected society. Either through our mobile phones, our email accounts, our social networks, or our calendars, it’s just so hard to get away from it all. So why not turn that into a good thing?
Set up reminders in Outlook or in another email application to send you quick reminders of what you’re grateful for. You can set up reminders for every 2 hours or just every morning when you go onto your computer. It’s nice to have a little pop-up reminder with something you’re grateful for instead of a deadline.
5. Use social networking sites to show the world what you’re grateful for
Who doesn’t have a FaceBook, MySpace, or Twitter account these days? Almost everyone, so why don’t you use it as a method to express your gratitude. Either through your FaceBook status or in your tweets in your Twitter account, it’s easier than you could imagine.
In fact there’s even a cool FireFox add-on, which turns your address bar into an automatic twitter tool. Just type in what you’re grateful in the address bar and click a tiny button and voila! You have just expressed some gratitude.
One of the best sites I’ve seen is one that’s specifically set up for expressions of gratitude. It’s called GratitudeLog.com and it’s where thousands of people express their gratitude everyday. On top of that, you can send people signed up on GratitudeLog notes of appreciation along with a little gift. You can even make your expressions of gratitude private so that only you can see them.
Well, these are just a few of the many things you can do using technology to show your gratitude. So it's time to be creative and get happy!
