As the holiday season approaches, it can become very easy to get wrapped up in things. While there’s nothing wrong with being excited about new toys, there’s something to be said for being grateful. Unfortunately, many people stop being terribly grateful the moment they can’t get what they want. If you need a bit of help appreciating what you have today, you might want to look at the ideas below.

Spend Five Minutes Thinking About the Past

One of the hardest things for most people to admit is that they have it better now than they did in the past. While many people romanticize the past, it’s not too hard to remember that life is always about moving forward. If you want to be grateful for what you have today, take a few moments to think about what you didn’t have in the past. You had times when you struggled or when you could barely make ends meet, and being able to move past that is a major accomplishment. It’s much easier to be grateful when you remember that things haven’t always been so good.

Volunteer!

Perhaps the best way to stay grateful is to work for the betterment of others. Go out and volunteer, and not just during the holidays. If you really care about others, you’ll go after those positions that have little glamour and require quite a bit of work. While the work might be hard, it will also teach to start valuing what you already have. A bit of volunteering is good for the soul, and it’s also great for those who want to be a bit more grateful for what they already have. Volunteer organizations are always on the lookout for help, so make sure you get out there!

Catalog What You Have

You’d be amazed by all the assets you actually have in your life. Take a few minutes to write down everything that’s in your house. If you find that too overwhelming, just write down everything that is in the room in which you are currently sitting. Once you realize the sheer amount of things you have, you’ll realize that you’re so much better off than most people have been during human history. It’s easier to feel like you aren’t doing well when you ignore what you have, so take a look around you in order to feel grateful.

Staying grateful is a process that requires a good deal of vigilance. Get out there, help others, and keep track of what you actually have today. If you can do all of that, you’ll find it easier to be honest about where you are in life – and much easier to be grateful for those things that benefit you now.