Gratitude: The Grass is Greener Where You Water It

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “the grass is always greener on the other side.” Well, we may often think that the grass is greener on the other side, but in reality, the grass is greener where you water it. The more maintenance and care you put into yourself and your life, the greener your grass will be.

One way to water the grass you have is to express gratitude for the things in your life. Gratitude helps combat negative thoughts. The more you practice gratitude, the more you will train your mind to look at the positives in every situation. Gratitude can be practiced through the lens of the past, present or future. For example, remembering positive memories of the past, not taking good fortunes for granted as they come to you in the present and remaining positive and hopeful for what’s to come.

Acknowledging the good things in your life has proven benefits, both mentally and physically. Mental health benefits include increased self-confidence, improved mood and a decreased risk of developing anxiety and depression. Gratitude also gives us a greater ability to forgive ourselves and others. Physical benefits of gratitude include improved immunity and sleep quality, a decrease in chronic pain and a decrease in the risk of developing diabetes and some cancers.

Sometimes, adding another task to our everyday lives may feel daunting. Here are some easy ways you can start to cultivate gratitude in your life:

• Incorporate gratitude into something you already do, like brushing your teeth or making your bed.
• Look for glimmers: Be mindful of little things that you can be grateful for throughout your day.
• Go for a mindful walk and notice the beauty of nature. Take it one step further and go for a color walk. Pick a color and find as many things as you can that have that color.
• Reward the efforts of others at work and let them know they are doing a good job.
• Write a gratitude letter to someone you appreciate, or if you are short on time, send a text or even just thank them mentally.
• Start a gratitude jar: Write down anything you are feeling grateful for and add it to a jar to open after a certain period (e.g., at the end of the month or year).
• Gratitude through the senses: When we appreciate the gift of what our bodies can do for us, it serves as a reminder of how lucky we are to be alive.
• Use visual reminders: Pick a few items in your home or at work that remind you to take a minute for gratitude when you see those items.
• Keep a gratitude journal in the morning or at night by writing a few things down that you’re grateful for, or choose one of the journal prompts below.
  • Think of gratitude affirmations like “I appreciate all the wonderful things this day brought forth.”
  • Take a moment to visualize the coziest part of your home. What do you love most about it?
  • Think of a time when you were really brave. What do you most appreciate about that experience?
  • Think of your most loyal friends. What do you love most about them?
  • What do you love most about your community?
  • Take a moment to appreciate the ways in which you take care of yourself physically and mentally.
  • What is your favorite grocery store? What do you love about it?
  • What is one thing that you often take for granted?
  • What made you smile today?
  • What is a happy memory from your childhood?
  • What is something you are grateful to have learned?
  • What are three things you appreciate about nature?
  • What are three reasons you are glad to be alive?
  • What is a talent or skill that you are grateful to possess?
  • Write about a time when you laughed uncontrollably.
  • What is the best gift you have ever received?

Gratitude gives us the chance to cultivate a more positive and full life. Try taking a few minutes out of your day to practice one of these strategies. Remember, the more you water your grass, the greener it will be!

About the author

Megan DiPietro

Ms. Megan DiPietro is a part-time team member on the Slainte Fitness team at USLI. She graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Psychology. At WCU, Ms. DiPietro was involved in a health and wellness club called CHAARG which developed her passion for fitness. She got into weight lifting in 2020 which has grown her love for wellness even more.