It is crucial that we all practice gratitude in trying times, if we don’t want to make our circumstances worse. Think about it…a person gets some not-so-great news, and then he starts down a slippery slope of negative thoughts. Oh great! Now, it’s just my luck that something else goes terribly wrong, and I’ll end up dealing with ______.” Sound familiar?

Most people do this without even thinking about it, but what they don’t understand is that they are creating more negative experiences for themselves. We’ve talked about speaking things into existence before. What you say is what manifests itself in your life. So, remember to practice gratitude in trying times, the next time things aren’t exactly going your way.

How to Practice Gratitude In Trying Times

I believe practicing gratitude is the easiest thing to do. In fact, it is the best and quickest way to elevate your thinking, and before you know it, you’ll feel much better and stronger in your current situation. To practice gratitude in trying times, you just need to start listing all of the things that you are thankful for at the moment. Think about all of the things that are going right in your life. Feel free to start small.

Did you wake up today? Do you have a home? Do you have your health? Is your family doing well? Are your basic needs met? If so, list them. I like to speak out loud, saying the things that I am grateful for. Sometimes, I prefer to list them in my journal. Sometimes, I like to type them. Whatever your preference, do that. I am willing to bet there are way more things that you have to be grateful for than you realize.

Also Read: Why Your Prayers Go Unanswered

I play a game with myself sometimes where I set a timer for 5 minutes, and I write as many things as I can think up to be grateful for. Sometimes, my husband and I play the game, and we take turns naming things that we are grateful for.

Expressing gratitude is a great habit to pick up. Eventually, when things go awry, you will automatically start thinking of things that are going right, and you’ll find that you come out of your situation a lot sooner. Gratitude gives us perspective, and sometimes allows us to clearly see a way out of our problems, rather than being swallowed up by the darkness of negative thinking.

How often do you practice gratitude?