30 Gratitude Quotes and Heartfelt Ways to Say “Thank You”
“Thanks.”
“Thank you.”
“Many thanks.”
“Thanks a million.”
How many times in a day do we say some variation of these words? Although it’s common courtesy to express gratitude to people we love and strangers alike, it’s equally as important to your well-being to mean—and feel—the powerful emotion of being thankful.
How do you actively practice gratitude?
Gratitude can show up in the everyday, not just when you’re celebrating your big wins. It’s equal parts appreciating your morning cup of matcha and appreciating that your basic needs—food and shelter—have been met. It’s honoring the fact that you were able to treat yourself to that pair of vintage heels in your closet—and recognizing that you’re lucky to have shoes at all. It’s being thankful that you have a big sister to vent to when something goes wrong or consciously thanking your lucky stars when things are going well.
Practicing gratitude isn’t just about being polite; it can be used as a daily self-care tool to help you get through hard times.
For instance, during the beginning of the pandemic, I stayed with my family on Long Island unexpectedly for five-and-a-half months. Sleepless nights worrying about the uncertainty of the world mixed with feelings of missing my home in New York City made me realize something: I could continue longing over the fantasy of how I wished things were, or accept the reality of what was happening and be grateful for the positives. I had a chance to spend quality time with my family and we were safe. Those were the most important factors of all, and it took shifting my perspective to see the glass half full (and therefore, interact with the world at a higher frequency).
Many of our jewelry pieces open up and are ideal for storing gratitude messages.
Gratitude quotes holds the power to:
- Boost your mood
- Strengthen your relationships
- Increase your optimism
- Reduce your stress or anxiety
- Build your resiliency
Looking at each of these benefits closer, we’ve put together inspiring gratitude quotes along with a few meaningful jewelry selections that you can store your sayings in. I hope these words serve as heartfelt reminders to express gratitude to you and yours.
GRATITUDE BOOSTS YOUR MOOD
Gratitude goes hand in hand with happiness. The topic has been studied by scholars, talked about by spiritual leaders, and practiced by everyday people. When we’re truly thankful for something, no matter how seemingly small, it’s hard not to be in a better mood.
What are some actionable ways to increase happiness? Try the following…
- Write in a gratitude journal. One of the simplest and most effective ways to be happier is to write down positive thoughts daily. Doing so allows you to tap into your subconscious and maybe even find the answer to something you’re questioning. It can also help you focus on what you value most in life.
- Take daily walks. There’s something about nature that can promote personal wellbeing. Whether it’s during your lunch break or commute home, taking a walk to admire the beauty around you can spark grateful feelings and, overall, happiness. One of my favorite, game-changing tips for your walks: Turn off your phone and don’t wear headphones. It’s amazing how much more you notice and hear.
- See yourself in others. Gratitude is a chosen mindset. When you set an intention to appreciate the good in people and things—and look for your similarities with others rather than your differences—you inevitably live happier.
- Keep a gratitude jar. Every time you experience a positive moment, write it down on a piece of paper and place it in a jar. When you’re feeling down, reach into the jar for a note to remind you of a joyous time.
- Create an uplifting Pinterest board. Use visual elements to boost your mood by creating a Pinterest board dedicated to images that represent happiness to you.
Another tip to increase happiness is to read uplifting gratitude quotes, like:
- “Smile big. Laugh often. Never take this life for granted.”
- “I am one of the happiest gals you know because I choose it every single day. I choose to practice gratitude.” —Rachel Hollis
- “If you want to find happiness, find gratitude.” —Steve Maraboli
- “There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.” —Ralph H. Blum
- “Gratitude is the smile of love.” —Ralph Marston
- "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough." —Melody Beattie
- “Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” –Karl Barth
Since life can get busy and plans often change, a simple way to remind yourself to make grateful thinking a priority is by reading positive words of affirmation. One way to do so is by wearing a jewelry piece such as our Sphere Secret Ring—the bold sphere opens up to reveal a secret stroll with a meaningful message. You can hold your favorite gratitude quotes close at all times.
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GRATITUDE CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
When you’re happier, that energy can translate to everyone you interact with. Gratitude can be contagious, adding yet another reason to practice it. Showing appreciation to others can strengthen relationships, whether it be between a partner, friend, family member, or co-worker.
A few ways to say “thank you”:
- Send a thank you card. This is a rarity these days when text and email are the conventional forms of communication. Going the extra step to hand-write and send a personal note shows how much you care.
- Have a phone conversation. Calls are another way to feel closer to someone, even if you’re in a long-distance relationship. Hearing the tone in each other’s voices can help your bond grow.
- Smile at others. Maybe you’re walking down the street and see your neighbor or catch sight of the person behind you while holding the door for them. Maybe you’re getting lunch with a friend or giving a presentation during a work meeting. Smiling during everyday interactions like these is a powerful thing that can build trust with others, and put yourself and others in a better mood.
- Give a thoughtful compliment. Genuinely giving an expression of praise or admiration can go a long way. In turn, if you receive a compliment, saying “thank you” and meaning it can also strengthen your relationship.
Want to share a gratitude quote with someone you care about? You can’t go wrong with:
- “Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts.”
- “You could’ve have anyone in the world, but you chose me. Thank you.” —Anthony T. Hincks
- “Thank you for everything you do.”
- “Your friendship is a special gift, generously given, happily accepted, and deeply appreciated.”
- “I am fortunate to have you in my life.”
- “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” —Voltaire
Show someone how grateful you are to them by giving them a gift such as our Envelope Fortune Locket. With the design of an envelope, you can store your own mini love letter or words of gratitude inside.
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INCREASE YOUR OPTIMISM
Optimism, hopefulness, and confidence about the future are also branches from the gratitude tree. Although there’s no way to be 100% about what’s going to happen next, appreciating where you are now and believing in the good can help you live a happier life.
You can add gratitude to your routine by adding any (or all) of these optimistic activities:
- Meditation. Last year, I went on a trip to a health resort to learn about wellness and meditation, which changed my life. I found that taking just five to ten minutes every morning to meditate (and keeping up with it consistently) can truly be mentally grounding.
- Surround yourself with positive reminders. Give yourself a pep talk by placing Post-it notes filled with uplifting words.
- Watch inspiring movies and shows. Choose stories that remind you of the good in the world.
- Look at challenges as opportunities to grow. Maybe something didn’t go exactly as you imagined it would, but consider what you learned from the experience. You know that saying by Alexander Graham Bell, “When one door closes, another one opens.”? That’s optimism, in a nutshell.
Need an uplifting reminder? We got you…
- “Always believe something wonderful is about to happen.”
- “Ask. Trust. Give Thanks.” —Dawn Gluskin
- “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” —1 Peter 1:6
- “Love everything. Everything will love you back.”
- “When there’s nothing left to lose, there's everything left to gain.”
- “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” —Maya Angelou
If you’re looking to bring more optimism into your life, or give someone a reminder of hope, perhaps our Capsule + Wand Bracelet can help. Made with a double-linked chain, this bracelet features a capsule that can also be opened to store a secret stroll inside.
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REDUCE YOUR STRESS AND ANXIETY
Stress can come from many factors, from work to relationships to comparison. Gratitude helps shift that perspective from focusing on what we lack to what we have.
Some ways to get out of a negative mindset:
- Create a routine. When plans are up in the air, it can be stressful to balance and check everything off your to-do list. Instead, try keeping a calendar with exact times of each task mapped out so you can focus on each easier.
- Set intentions. Starting every morning and ending every night with gratitude can help ease the stress.
- Cook a nutritious meal for yourself. Having the energy to think and function is key to mental and physical wellbeing. Plus, you’ll score extra mood-boosting points for being productive when cooking!
- Relax with an at-home spa day. Don’t forget to thank yourself for all that you do. Doesn’t a bath, manicure, and face mask sound like heaven?
For a quick way to de-stress, take a deep breath and repeat any of the following quotes:
- “Inhale love. Exhale gratitude.”
- “The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” —Neale Donald Walsch
- “Be thankful, you're blessed. Life’s too short to be stressed.”
- “We can choose to be grateful no matter what.” —Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” —William James
I can’t help but think of calming ripples in water when looking at our Cascading Circles Fortune Locket. You can place one of the quotes above or any other short message inside to remind yourself that it’s not worth it to feel stressed.
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BUILD YOUR RESILIENCY
During times of hardships, resilience is how we choose to respond. For some, it can come naturally, while for others, it may take more effort to recover from a difficult experience.
There’s no right way to respond to hard times, but there are steps we can take to practice gratitude, which, in turn, can help build resilience:
- Accept change. Shifts in plans are sometimes inevitable. Instead of fixating on what should have been, acknowledging change and pivoting may help you focus on circumstances that you do have control over.
- Appreciate your journey. Including the hard times, too. Reflecting on moments that you have overcome in the past can help you remember just how capable you are.
- Learn from mistakes. Even if you didn’t make the best decision for something, you can choose to be grateful for the life lesson which was probably a blessing in disguise.
- Recognize that each day is a gift. Not every day is guaranteed, and when we think of it this way, it can automatically make everything seem more precious.
- Choose your response. What we do and say can make a direct impact on our energy, mood, and wellbeing. Maintaining a hopeful outlook can help you find the strength to move forward.
For a daily dose of mental strength, add one of the gratitude quotes below to go inside our Fortune Cookie Locket.
- “Things don't always go the way you planned. Fortunately.”
- “Finding gratitude and appreciation is the key to resilience.” —Sheryl Sandberg
- “Grateful people are better able to weather life’s storms.” —Deborah Norville
- “Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices.” —Robert Braathe
- “Trust yourself. You’ve survived a lot, and you’ll survive whatever is coming.” —Robert Tew
- “Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” —Marilyn Monroe
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If you loved our gratitude quotes and you’re interested in reading more uplifting words, check out:
Wendy Sy
Wendy is a New York City writer who has contributed to publications including Allure, AVENUE, Beauty and Well-Being, NewBeauty, InStyle, and Billboard. Read more of her stories at Style Meets Story or find her on Instagram at @sy.wendy.
