This 10-Minute Gratitude Practice Will Change Your Life

Do you ever roll out of bed in the morning and instantly feel stressed and overwhelmed?

A few years ago, my every morning was a blur of the alarm going off, throwing on yoga pants and a ball cap, grabbing coffee, getting the kids ready, taking the dog out, and rushing out the door so that I could finally “get to work.”

Sound familiar?

My “morning routine” was not only exhausting but the stress that I was picking up in the morning was also trickling into my work.

So I decided to reshape my “frantic” mornings.

Did you know that Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, Tony Robbins, and many other mega-successful business owners have grounding practices that they do every morning? They know that before they can give 100% to their work, they need to focus on themselves and being present. 

They know that becoming a successful leader takes a lot of self-awareness and intention. 

There are so many different practices that you can incorporate into your routine to help you start the day out right by already feeling grounded, inspired, and focused (e.g., yoga, journaling, meditating, reading, running, etc.). 

One of my favorites is a simple ten-minute gratitude practice. 

They say that gratitude is the best attitude. And I’ve found that staying present and grateful — not only for the work that I get to do but also for everything and everyone that has led me to where I am (and made me who I am) — makes a huge difference in my day and in my life.

Taking a few minutes each day to focus on the good in your life and the things you are thankful for is beneficial on so many levels. When our mind is set on the positive, it leaves less room for those stress hormones that literally increase the inflammation in our body (no thanks!). 

So in this season of gratefulness, I’d love to invite you to do this exercise with me and take a moment to truly feel gratitude. 

Use these steps to guide you. 

Take a couple of minutes to really lean into each prompt:

1. Show gratitude for someone in your life.

Think of someone in your life — a family member, friend, mentor, etc. Close your eyes and picture them. Think about how they’ve supported you and all they’ve done for you. Can you see their smile, hear their voice, or feel them hug you close?

Bonus points: Take a minute out of your day to write them a letter telling them how much they mean to you and how they have impacted your life.

2. Show gratitude for a place.

Maybe it’s a place with a particular meaning or memory associated with it, or maybe it’s simply a place that calms you, where you feel the most at peace. That place for me is the forest, but for you, this might be a quiet field, a secluded beach, or a cabin in the mountains. Picture yourself there. Hear the wind, the sound of the waves, the nature around you. 

Bonus Tip: Keep an image or framed photo of this special place nearby so you can be reminded of it throughout the day or revisit it when you need a moment to reset. 

3. Show gratitude for a time in your life when you felt deeply loved.

Close your eyes and think of this time or memory. Put yourself back in that moment. How did you feel? How did you breathe? Feel that embrace… Revisit that memory and be present in it. 

Bonus Tip: Keep a memento on your bedside table or in your office that reminds you of this time.

4. Show gratitude for who you are becoming.

Thank your body for supporting you. Thank your mind for its creativity and strength. Thank God, or the universe, for giving you the journey you’ve walked (even the hardest parts) because it’s helped you get to where you are right now, in this very moment. Thank your younger self for persevering, for being brave, for being real and authentic, etc. 

Bonus Tip: Grab a picture of your younger self (yes, that dorky 6th-grade picture of you with braces), and speak love and gratitude over what that person went through to become who they are now!

I hope this simple but powerful practice helps to give you a fresh perspective, fills your heart with light, and helps you to see the overwhelming evidence around you that YOU are so loved. 

Around here we talk a lot about business tools and strategy, but at the end of the day, ALL of the hustle and drive will only take you so far — if you want to be an extraordinary leader, it also takes self-awareness and a healthy, grounded mindset.

Cheers to growth and gratitude.