If you're thinking about starting a gratitude habit, there are a few things could benefit from knowing about. Many people make the same mistake when they start out, which can lead to them feeling overwhelmed or discouraged. In this post, we'll share eight of the most common mistakes when trying to develop a gratitude habit.
A gratitude practice can be life-changing—so give yourself a good head start. Far too often, people make avoidable mistakes that sabotage their own success. If you're having trouble getting your gratitude habit off the ground, read on to find out if you're making one of these eight common mistakes.
1. Not Having a Specific Goal in Mind
When you first start out, it's important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your gratitude practice. Do you want to improve your mental health? Strengthen your relationships? Draw more abundance into your life? Once you've pinpointed your goal, you can tailor your gratitude habit to help you achieve it.
2. Focusing on the Negative
A lot of people mistakenly believe that the whole point of a gratitude practice is to wallow in negativity and then feel grateful for not being in that negative situation anymore. This could not be further from the truth! The whole point of gratitude is to focus on the positive aspects of your life and let go of the negative. So instead of thinking about all the bad things that have happened to you and then feeling grateful that they're over, focus on all the good things that are happening right now.
3. Trying to Be Perfect
Another common mistake is thinking that your gratitude practice has to be perfect in order to be effective. This couldn't be further from the truth! The whole point of a gratitude practice is to help you learn to appreciate the imperfections and messiness of life. So don't worry if you miss a day here or there, or if your entries are less than poetic—just keep showing up for yourself and doing the best you can.
4. Comparing Yourself to Others
One of the quickest ways to sabotage your own happiness is by comparing yourself to others—and this also applies to gratitude practices! It's important to remember that everyone's journey is unique, and what works for someone else might not work for you. So instead of beating yourself up for not being as "grateful" as someone else, focus on finding a practice that feels good for you and stick with it.
5. Not knowing what to be grateful for
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they start practicing gratitude is not knowing what to focus on. It can be easy to get caught up in all the negative things happening in your life and forget about the good. Make a list of things you're grateful for, both big and small. This can include your health, your family and friends, your home, your job, your pets, nature, etc. Refer to this list when you're feeling down and struggling to find something to be grateful for.
6. Forgetting to practice gratitude regularly
Another common mistake is forgetting to practice gratitude on a regular basis. Gratitude is a habit that needs to be cultivated over time; it's not something you can just do once and expect to see results. Set aside sometime each day—even if it's just a few minutes—to sit down and reflect on what you're grateful for. Consider keeping a gratitude journal where you can jot down a few things you're thankful for each day.
7 . Focusing only on the big things
Yes, it's important to be grateful for the major blessings in your life such as your health, your family, and your home. But don't forget to appreciate the smaller things as well! These could include simple pleasures like a tasty cup of coffee in the morning or being able to take a walk outdoors. Paying attention to the little things will help you appreciate all the good in your life—not just the major accomplishments.
8 .Not being specific enough
When you're listing things you're grateful for, it's important to be specific rather than general. For example, instead of just saying "my family," try thinking of specific things like "my mom's cooking" or "my sister's sense of humor." The more specific you are, the more meaningful your gratitude practice will be.
If you're having trouble getting started with a gratitude practice, chances are you're making one of these four common mistakes. But now that you know what they are, it's time to correct course and get back on track! Remember: There's no "right" way to do gratitude, so long as it feels good for you and helps you achieve your desired goal. Happy practicing!
