Gratitude - 8 steps on how to be grateful

We spend most of our times comparing ourselves to others. For example, when others have many achievements, we want to achieve the same things. When others have cars or houses, we want to have the same property, etc.We forget to realize that ALLAH has blessed us with so many other great things. However, because we are too preoccupied with comparing ourselves to others, we don't realize that. We often take things for granted!

Sooooo, what's the solution to that?!

Being grateful is a way to solve our lack of gratitude issue toward ALLAH. It will also result in internal happiness. (Aha, no wonder why we don't feel happy when ALLAH has showered us with so many blessings!)

Why do we need to be grateful?!

There are so many psychological and health benefits to being grateful. But, I'm only going to tell you from spiritual benefit, since it is the most important part.

ALLAH will increase your blessings.

"And remember when your Lord proclaimed, "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favour]; but if you deny, indeed My punishment is severe." (14:07)

Don't you want ALLAH to increase your blessings?!
I don't know about you, but I do! ;)

How to be grateful?

There are 8 steps on how to be grateful:

1. As soon as you wake up in the morning, ask yourself: "What am I most grateful about?!"
For example, you'll start by saying Alhamdulillah that you're still alive and get a chance to live for another day! List as many as you could think of.

2. Write down 10 things that you're most grateful on a poster board and stick it in your room. Please be specific!
Of course, you can write as many as you'd like to! This will help you remember of what are the things that you're grateful about. For example, you can write:
Alhamdulillah I'm still alive. Alhamdulillah I'm still healthy. I can see, I have two hands, my heart is still pumping, I can walk, etc. If you're busy counting ALLAH's blessings, then you won't have time to be ungrateful.

3. Shift your focus and reach out!
Whenever you find yourself ungrateful and start comparing yourself to others, shift your focus. Start by saying Alhamdulillah right away for the things that ALLAH has already given you.
Also, reach out! Help those who are in need. This is a great tool to remind you of ALLAH's blessings.

4. Be grateful, even for the pain!
ALLAH puts you a in any life-situations for reasons. If you're in a situation or meet people that you dislike, instead of being grumpy and hating the situation/people around you, ask these questions instead:"What can I learn from this situation? How will this situation make me a better person?". This will help you put things into perspective and be more grateful regardless of your conditions.

5. Get to know yourself!
We often compare ourselves to others because we don't really know what our values are. We tend to underestimate ourselves. The fact is, we are born with something! We just need to find what those things are. Remember, ALLAH created us perfectly! ;)
And ladies, please stand in the mirror and say, "I am beautiful because ALLAH has created me so"

6. Ask yourself, "What are 10 things I enjoy doing?"
These 10 things will be your hobbies! Write them down in a piece of paper. You don't have to be good at it, you just need to love doing it! Again, this is just minimum 10 things you enjoy doing. You're more than welcome to write as many as you like. And I'm sure you have more than 10 things! ;)

7. Try these simple exercises!
We don't appreciate what we have until we lose them. Also, we don't really know how it feels like until we experience it ourselves. Therefore, I challenge you to do these simple exercises :D

• Cover your both eyes with a scarf or a handkerchief, until things are not visible to you. Then try walking up and down the stairs for 30 minutes. See how you do without your precious eyes. Please don't try anything dangerous, because we don't want to lose them for real!

• Cover your nose, and try to breath. See how long you'd last!

• Imagine if you have no hands. And of course, you're more than welcome to try eating with your mouth :D

There are so many other simple exercises you can do. See how it feels like living without other parts of your body that ALLAH has given you.

8. Most importantly, ask ALLAH for help. 

There's a du'a that prophet Sulaiman made which is in surah An-Naml : 19

". . . My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for You Favours which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your Righteous slaves."

I'm not saying that we shouldn't have dreams and ambitions. It is very important that we aim for bigger things in our life. However, it is also important that we appreciate and thank ALLAH for the things He's already given us.

I'm sure there are so many other great ways out there on how to be grateful. These are just some strategies that are mentioned by my favourite psychologists who have inspired and helped me in many ways. I've also added some strategies that I've used it myself. You're more than welcome to follow. If you have some things to add, or suggestions, feel free to inform me.

Good luck guys! Hopefully we will be among the righteous slaves as Prophet Sulaiman had mentioned! ;)