Ways to Exercise Self Gratitude
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Self gratitude is the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful for who you are as an individual. It is a powerful practice of affirming and acknowledging all of the amazing things about yourself—your strengths, spiritual gifts, inner and outer beauty, personality traits, mindset, and more. Practicing self gratitude daily can completely reshape how you view yourself and how you show up in the world.
Why is Self Gratitude important?
For many of us, it’s easy to show appreciation to others. We notice all the wonderful things about our friends and family and affirm them openly, but we don’t often give ourselves that same kindness. We pour into others until we’re running on empty, waiting for someone else to recognize our worth.
But self-gratitude changes that narrative.
You should never have to rely solely on others to acknowledge your value. Self gratitude empowers you to celebrate yourself and appreciate the intentional way God created you. It is a form of self-love and spiritual maturity. As Psalm 139:14 says, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” — this truth should fuel your internal dialogue each day.
When you choose to practice self gratitude, you begin to see yourself through God’s lens rather than your own. You learn to honor your uniqueness and speak life over your own identity. This practice doesn’t just impact how you feel—it transforms how you think.
The Power of Your Words
Genesis 1:26 reminds us that we are made in the image of God. And just as He created the world with His words, we have the ability to create our internal world with ours. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” That’s why what you say about yourself matters. When you speak with intentionality and love, you’re participating in a holy practice of self gratitude.
How Do We Exercise Self Gratitude?
You can start exercising self gratitude by changing your self-talk and being intentional about your internal narrative. Here’s a powerful exercise to try:
- Make a list of every trait you can think of about yourself—your strengths, gifts, personality, skills, and physical features.
- Speak only positively. If there’s something you’re struggling to love, reframe your thoughts and speak affirmatively. Even if it doesn’t feel true yet, your brain will begin to believe what it hears repeatedly.
- Use “I LOVE…” statements to build your list of affirmations.
Example:
- “I love that I am a creative thinker.”
- “I love the texture of my natural hair.”
- “I love how patient I am with others.”
Read these sentences out loud every day—slowly and thoughtfully. Let the words sink in and fill your heart with gratitude and truth. This is the essence of practicing daily self-gratitude.
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Keep a Self Gratitude Journal
One of the most effective ways to build a consistent self gratitude practice is by keeping a journal dedicated to it. Journaling helps you build a habit of renewing your mind and rewiring any negative thought patterns.
Set aside 5–10 minutes each day—preferably in the morning—to reflect on what you love about yourself and what God is speaking over your life. Morning is a powerful time to reset your thoughts before the day begins, making self-gratitude part of your morning routine.
You can use the “I Love…” prompts or create your own. Make it enjoyable: buy a notebook you love, use colorful pens, or even decorate your pages. This is your sacred space—make it yours.
The Transformation Through Self-Gratitude
Self gratitude isn’t about pride—it’s about honoring the Creator by appreciating His creation: you. As you develop a lifestyle of affirming yourself in truth and love, you’ll begin to notice shifts in your confidence, mindset, and even your spiritual walk. You’ll stop waiting for others to fill your cup because you’ll know how to pour into yourself with God’s truth.
You are WORTH the time it takes to build this practice. Speak life. Speak love. Speak truth.
How is Self Gratitude Reshaping Your Life?
I’d love to hear how you’re building this practice into your life. Do you use affirmations? Do you keep a self-gratitude journal? Let’s grow together in the comments.
If this post resonated with you, then my workbook, You Don’t Actually Suck: A Guide to Seeing Yourself Through God’s Lens and Not Your Own, is exactly what you need. This guide will help you break free from negative self-talk, replace lies with truth, and learn to see yourself the way God sees you—worthy, loved, and full of purpose.
Inside, you’ll find practical exercises, biblical encouragement, and space to craft affirmations that speak life over yourself. Don’t let negativity hold you back any longer—start rewriting your inner dialogue today!
