50 Best Gratitude Quotes to Inspire a Thankful Outlook in Life
Now ask yourself, what are you thankful for?
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What is the first thing you do after you wake up in the morning? Some might say it's snoozing that annoying alarm clock about five times. Others prefer reaching for their phone to check the latest social media update. But what happens when you pay attention to the little things that make life precious?
Try this morning ritual: After waking up, take a deep breath and hold it for five seconds, release it with a sigh, then smile and give thanks to the air that nourishes your entire body. Be thankful for a brand-new day, as it can significantly impact how we perceive the world. By doing these easy morning steps, you are practicing the art of gratitude.
In What I Know for Sure, Oprah said, "Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive. It's the quickest, easiest, most powerful way to effect change in your life—this I know for sure." Oprah reminds us in her weekly intentions that being mindful is like generously filling up our happiness bank account where it can earn higher interest with each deposit we make.
According to the article "Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier," by Harvard Health Publishing (2014), studies have shown that being grateful can lead to a more optimistic lifestyle: "Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. And, although it may feel contrived at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice."
Finding meaning in things that keep us hopeful is where we find joy. So, if you're looking for motivation for a grateful life, these quotes about gratitude will open your heart and mind to live in the present moment and be thankful. Share it with someone you’re grateful for, and remember, an "attitude of gratitude" will get you far.
Helen Ellis
"There’s nothing nicer than unexpected appreciation. If you’re grateful, get a pen," Helen Ellis said in Southern Lady Code: Essays.
John Green
"What an astonishment to breathe on this breathing planet. What a blessing to be Earth loving Earth," John Green said in The Anthropocene Reviewed.
Rupi Kaur
"i thank the universe
for taking
everything it has taken
and giving to me
everything it is giving
—balance"
Poet Rupi Kaur wrote in her book Milk and Honey.
Roy T. Bennett
"Always remember people who have helped you along the way, and don't forget to lift someone up," words from Roy T. Bennett's book The Light in the Heart.
Mindy Kaling
In the book Why Not Me, actress Mindy Kaling wrote, "Gratitude is the closest thing to beauty manifested in an emotion."
Maya Angelou
Celebrations, Rituals of Peace and Prayer is a poetry collection by Maya Angelou, published by Random House in 2006. In it, she wrote, "Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good."
Arianna Huffington
"Living in a state of gratitude is the gateway to grace," Arianna Huffington shared on Twitter in 2014.
Eckhart Tolle
German-born spiritual teacher and self-help author Eckhart Tolle wrote, "Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance," in A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose.
Christopher Fowler
English thriller writer Christopher Fowler wrote, "Life is a very beautiful dream, he thought. I'm so glad I chose not to wake up from it just yet," in Bryant & May On the Loose.
Kyo Maclear
Canadian novelist and children's author Kyo Maclear wrote, "Each day brings new opportunities, allowing you to constantly live with love—be there for others—bring a little light into someone's day. Be grateful and live each day to the fullest," in Birds Art Life: A Year of Observation.
Oprah Winfrey
"Focusing on one thing that you are grateful for increases the energy of gratitude and rises the joy inside yourself," Lady O said on Oprah's Lifeclass in 2011.
A.A. Milne
English author A.A. Milne is known for his popular books and poetry. He wrote, "Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude," in Winnie-the-Pooh.
Amanda Kloots
"Gratitude is a posture of your heart. I believe that it has been a gatekeeper in my life and has brought on so many blessings," Amanda Kloots told Gayle King in an interview with Oprah Daily.
Jay Shetty
In an interview with Gayle King for Oprah Daily, Jay Shetty said, "There are so many things in the world that could be invisible to the material eye, and when you take a moment to stop, to pause, to be present and notice them—that’s gratitude."
Steve Maraboli
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love—then make that day count!" Steve Maraboli wrote in the book Life, the Truth, and Being Free.
Yann Martel
In his Man Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi, Canadian author Yann Martel wrote, "My gratitude to him is as boundless as the Pacific Ocean."
The Bible: Colossians 4:2
The Bible said, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful," in Colossians 4:2.
Chris Matakas
Jujitsu blackbelt Chris Matakas wrote, "In the modern world, we are surrounded by so much abundance that we cannot see it," in his book The Tao of Jiu Jitsu.
Benjamin W. Bass
Author Benjamin W. Bass wrote, "Life is strange, beautiful, and terrifying…and I am thankful for every minute of it that I have had. I am thankful for every minute yet to come," in Alone in the Light.
J.S. Mason
"The only thing you should feel entitled to is gratitude," J.S. Mason wrote in The Stork Ate My Brother...And Other Totally Believable Stories.
Riane Capalad is the Editorial Intern at Oprah Daily, where she covers a little bit of everything from culture to achieving your healthiest self. Riane is also the first to represent the Northern Mariana Islands as she joins the OD team. When she's not working, she's either running, journaling, or planning her next trip to who knows where! Follow her on Instagram.
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