3 Challenges to Attempt When Starting a Gratitude Routine
#3 Try a social media challenge
Gratitude increases contentment, lowers stress, deepens relationships and brings increased happiness.
It helps us to be more mindful of the good moments and helps us to begin to see the light in dark situations.
It also works into the concept of simplicity well, as it is one habit that keeps us centered and is life changing for those who practice it.
Although starting a new routine is difficult, there are always ways to work around the hesitation to start and ways to challenge ourselves to do more than we had once thought.
Last fall, a lady from my church decided to challenge everyone on facebook to avoid complaining and to post at least one thing they were grateful for every day. The challenge was set to last for 21 days.
It changed my morning routine and I found that as I was working through the challenge, I became happier and less resentful toward a few people who I had been angry with. I also found that I started each day with a bit more joy.
I loved the interaction of the challenge and the built in accountability it provided for me.
There are many ways to start a challenge to incorporate a helpful behavior into our lives. For gratitude, here are a few to consider:
The Three Good Things Challenge
This challenge is commonly recommended in books about positive psychology, and for good reason. It’s a good starting point.
The Challenge: Each day, write down three good things that happened to you that day, from the very small to the large. “My boyfriend cooked that pizza I love” is as valid as “I got a raise”. The three things are things that you are glad happened to you that day.
Amp it Up: Do this challenge for at least 30 days, with a friend or partner. Share your three good things every evening. Allow yourself to find the good and embrace when someone else is able to find it as well.
The Road to 1,000
The same friend who challenged me to do the social media challenge also gave me the idea to write down 1,000 good things that happened to me throughout the year.
The Premise: Start to write down things that happen in life that you’re grateful for. Strive for each thing to be unique.
This is a challenge that can be started at any point during the year but might be especially fun if done at the beginning of the year, allowing for a scrapbook of sorts.
Amp It Up: Keep rereading the things that you’ve written before as they will provide good memories. Also, challenge someone to take the challenge with you as there is strength in accountability.
Create a Social Media Challenge
My friend choose to create the challenge on facebook, which is her primary platform. The challenge she created was for 21 days, and in speaking with others who attempted the challenge, they also noticed positive changes in their lives as well.
The Premise: Create a gratitude challenge on the platform that you prefer. Select a goal for how many days you’ll challenge yourself and others to post and if you just want to post on your wall or create a group for the challenge.
We all see enough negativity and things that we don’t care about on each platform, let’s change the conversation and infuse some positivity.
Amp It Up: Actually talk to others who are taking on the challenge or one that is similar- respond, like, and talk to them outside of social media if at all possible. Connect over gratitude.
Conclusion
These three challenges are easy to start and require only a little bit of your time per day. They allow you to practice a habit that will encourage a lot of growth and positive benefits in your life.
What is awesome about each is the sense of accountability inheritant in each one- whether that is the goal of certain number, your partner or an entire community. There is also a potential to see relationships grow by sharing with one another and talking through the process.
Trying one method does not mean that you’re stuck with it past the goal point, and each might spark ideas for futher ways to practice gratitude. Find one or more ways and get in rhythm with it. The rewards are worth it.
Rachella Barie is a wrier, dreamer and encourager. She received her BA in English Literature from Carlow University with a triple minor in Psychology, History and Poetry. She writes with a focus on encouraging others to live their best lives. She can be found on Twitter @BarieRachella.
