Why Living a Life of Gratitude Leads to Simplicity
One of my favorite quotes about simple living is by Henry David Thoreau.
Goes like this:
“I make myself rich by making my wants few.”
Thoreau was talking about gratitude. And with November being National Gratitude Month and Thanksgiving a few days away, no better time exists than now to ponder this powerful one liner.
Truth is, when you’re content with who you are and what you have, life becomes a whole lot simpler. Contentment frees you from the snares of comparison and consumerism, shifting your focus from acquiring to enjoying.
Not only does being grateful allow you to recognize more of the good in your life, but it also changes your brain chemistry, which is especially valuable these days.
Our mental health is taking a hit because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a CDC survey, 1 in 4 people have experienced symptoms of depression this year, which is approximately 4 times greater than last year.
According to Owen Griffith in Gratitude: A Way of Teaching, being grateful activates areas of the brain that produce positive neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin (the neurotransmitter increased by antidepressants like Prozac or Zoloft). When you think of things you’re grateful for, you naturally focus on the positive aspects of your life. This thought pattern increases serotonin production in the anterior cingulate cortex.
A brain that’s wired to be grateful is not only healthier but also one that’s more likely to seek simplicity.
Here are 3 ways practicing gratitude leads to a simpler life:
1. Gratitude grounds you in the present moment
Author Ann Voskamp said, “Simplicity is ultimately a matter of focus.” We complicate our lives by creating needs for ourselves, focusing on what we perceive as lacking instead of resting in contentment.
If we’re constantly focused on our next purchase or wishing things were different, then it’s difficult to appreciate gifts that come with the present moment. Gratitude grounds you in the here and now as you notice what you have and feel thankful.
2. Gratitude erases comparison
Courtney Carver said, “The antidote to comparison is gratitude.” When we’re content with what we have and who we are, we stop striving to have what someone else does or be like someone else. The “grass is always greener” mentality is replaced with the realization that things are actually pretty good on our side of the fence.
When comparison ceases, kindness and peace abound. When we’re not trying to be like others or to own what they do, we begin living in line with our values. We’re able to rest in who we are and begin developing our God-given gifts to benefit others.
3. Gratitude makes decluttering easier
When we’re rooted in gratitude, it’s easier to let go of our possessions and change our purchasing habits. Did you see a new sweater you want online but already have two you love in your closet? Focusing on being deeply thankful for those two makes the desire for another go away. Do you have three coffee mugs you love but own ten more just because? Being grateful for your favorite three makes it easy to let the unloved ones go. Are you stuck with a sentimental item that you don’t love? Thanking that item for its service over the years will help you finally let it go.
So if gratitude is a prerequisite for simple living, then how do we arrive at this state of increased thankfulness?
In my experience, it takes commitment and action. I began practicing gratitude four years ago this month, and, without question, this practice facilitated my transition into a minimalist lifestyle a couple years later. I continue to practice gratitude daily to help maintain simplicity.
If you’re wanting to embrace gratitude, here are three steps to get started:
1. Find your “why”
Take some time to journal about why you want to be more grateful. This was an important first step for me. I figured out why I didn’t want to miss the little moments that made my heart happy. When our baby imitated my sneeze with an adorable “achoo,” I wanted to fully capture that feeling. When our four-year-old daughter spontaneously started dancing salsa on an afternoon walk, I wanted to remember that moment and be thankful for it. I wanted to see the beautiful gifts gracing my life that I had been missing.
2. Create visual memory cues
Visual cues are key for building any habit, including increasing your gratitude. I put visual reminders to be grateful in places I knew I’d see often. A note card reading: “See the gifts and say thanks” went on the bathroom mirror.
Another card reading “What are you grateful for today?” went on the microwave. A reminder set on my phone asked the same question.
When I saw a reminder, I would stop and meditate a moment on what I was thankful for right then. Eventually I found the question “What am I grateful for?” popping into my mind without seeing my visual reminders.
3. Record what you are thankful for
After identifying a gift and saying thank you, write it down. I used the Notes App on my phone so I could record things on the go.
These recordings showed me that the things I’m most thankful for aren’t tangible things at all.
A beautiful sunset. Big brown toddler eyes over a strawberry ice cream bar. My husband’s jokes. Hummingbirds over fuchsia flowers at the Kansas City Zoo. Being told “Mama, thank you for taking good care of me,” at 3 am. The taste of Pinot Noir. My favorite NeedtoBreathe song on the radio. A quality phone conversation with my mom during nap time. Family strolls on stunning fall Sundays.
I tried to record three things a day. If I couldn’t record something the moment I observed it, then, I would pause before plugging in my phone at night, reflect on the day, and record three things I was grateful for.
My gratitude journal now has thousands of entries—moments that continue to fill me with joy that I otherwise would have overlooked or forgotten.
Lao Tzu said, “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
Gratitude won’t make you always happy—that’s not real life and it would be unhealthy not to feel other things.
It will, however, make your life more simple and joy-filled as your focus moves away from what you lack, carving more space for contentment with who you are and what you have.
Why not begin practicing gratitude today? There is always something to be thankful for. And embracing that mindset, without question, is the foundation for a more simple, intentional life.
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Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog. Julia practices what she preaches in her Kansas City apartment home with her husband, two extremely lively young daughters, and newborn son. You can also find her on Instagram.