Southern Hospitality: Expressing Gratitude

Have you ever felt unsatisfied or spent time thinking more about things you don’t have rather than what you do have? That’ll leave you feeling unhappy and frustrated. If there’s one thing the South can teach you it’s always to strive to become the best version of yourself and to do that, you need to feel content and thankful.

There’s no better way to find that place than by expressing gratitude. Here are 4 ways to express gratitude:

1. Be Thankful

Expressing gratitude is a quality or condition of being thankful, and is an indication of the tendency to return kindness. An expression of gratitude can be as simple as saying "thank you," or offering sympathy or an apology.

Many parents teach their children to say "thank you" in response to an action. Everyone feels appreciated when they are thanked! This polite expression has a meaningful result and is one of the easiest ways to express gratitude.

Or you may think about offering sympathy or an apology, but don’t know how to and therefore, say nothing at all. Consider saying a simple "I'm sorry" and know it will have a profound effect on your expression of gratitude.

2. Be Content

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation. Expressing gratitude for your life (and the people and things in your life) is one of the first steps in achieving inner peace. When you learn to express gratitude for the things you have, rather than worrying about the things you do not have, you will begin to live a happier life.

Learning how to express gratitude brings contentment, happiness, and fulfillment. Many people are not content with what they have but rather, are always trying to find a way to get the things they want. Regardless of how worried you are about your future, feeling and expressing gratitude allows you to rejoice and appreciate living in the moment. Happiness and fulfillment always follow contentment.

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3. Count Those Blessings

Count your blessings and be truly thankful for everything you have. Practice random acts of kindness every day to show an expression of gratitude. You can make a list of the reasons you are grateful and when you are feeling discontentment, read your list! You can also post inspirational quotes to read when you are feeling discouraged.

4. Slow Down and Find Peace

You’ll know you’re truly grateful when you start feeling peace and begin to appreciate some of the things you took for granted. You might have heard the saying, "Stop and smell the roses." You can take this literally and if given an opportunity to stop and smell the roses, do it.

Take the time to enjoy a beautiful sunrise. On your way to work, rather than focusing on traffic, take a moment to look around and appreciate nature's beauty. The adage of stopping and smelling the roses can also be interpreted as slowing down and taking the time to appreciate the smaller things in life. Gratitude is something you can experience. When you experience gratitude, you will be happier, forgiving, helpful, positive, and enjoy a better life.