Gratitude Algorithm: Daily Steps to Shift from Lack to Abundance Mindset

Gratitude is similar to appreciation but on a deeper level and more impactful to bring well being and positivity in one’s life, when we practice gratitude we say yes to life, we accept that life is worth living because it has many things to look forward, it makes you fall in love with you, Gratitude can be both a state and a trait, we can either appreciate something for a time when it brings goodness to you, it can be a person, place or simply an activity or just the nature itself, on the other hand we can practice gratitude forever and keep an appreciating and thankful nature towards life and everything associated with it.

Gratitude is a simple but powerful tool to win the life, it is a state of mind where a person become optimistic and always sees goodness in things irrespective of situation and it’s effect on him, it is basically the state of mind which has already accepted the famous quotes from Bhagavad Gita that everything happens for a good reason everything will happen for a good reason, we need to accept all the changes with open heart, it is the state of being where a person becomes almost super conscious and develop a sense of thankfulness towards every thing, either it is person, tree, river mountain etc. It is almost a miracle that fills your life with positivity and bliss.

It is the openness of a person towards the process, and he who is a believer in the quote trusts the process. Even in Hinduism, there are many incidents in mythology where it is said that destiny, or the process they call “vidhi ka bidhan,” is the greatest of all; in many other religions, it is said to be like a straw floating in the river and moving in the direction of its flow; do not try to fight it. It simply means go with the flow and enjoy every aspect of life, because the more we try to control it, the more it becomes a burden and makes life resentful. Gratitude is not a therapy or wellness practice to be followed, but a simple truth of life that needs to be accepted and incorporated,

What Is the Gratitude Algorithm?

Because we are so much into worldly comparison that we unknowingly develop a lacking mindset, we have almost forgotten the concept of abundance. We keep complaining about things which we do not have rather than being thankful for the things which we already have. We always compare our life and our achievements with others, and in doing so, we almost forget what we already have. This is not as simple as it looks; it has a very drastic effect on our lives.

If we do not acknowledge our belongings or what life has already given us and keep looking toward things we do not have at that time, we silently or unknowingly disrespect what we already have. Everything tends to leave a person or place when it is not respected; so, in our desire to achieve something, we ignore and eventually lose what we already have. See it this way: you don’t ignore or start loving your first child less just because you are trying to have a new child. The same applies to life: anything you already have should be acknowledged, adored, and respected, rather than chasing something you do not have.

By saying this, I do not mean you should not be progressive, but you should be consciously progressive; it helps you succeed in life in a better way, without the guilt of losing something in the hustle of life. It is our full right to live life in its best possible way. Still, being so involved in the future that we almost forget the present is not a wise way to live.

So should we avoid future planning? No, we should not, but we shouldn’t get too attached to that plan because it is only our plan, and our hard work and manifestation will make it happen. The hard work comes from not constantly worrying about the result, and the best way to manifest something is to be thankful for the things you already have while also seeking things that can be added to make your life wholesome; here, that means seeking new things in a way that old things do not feel discarded.

Here again, a famous quote from the Bhagavad Gita comes into the picture: what today is yours was someone’s yesterday and will belong to someone else again tomorrow; it means whatever you have, keep it with gratitude, love, and compassion, and when it is time to let it go, release it gracefully.
For more evidence-based research on Gratitude and well-being, explore these trusted resources: Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.

Are we really Ready to start gratitude, and can we start immediately?

Yes, or maybe not; it depends on your honesty and how well you know yourself, because it shouldn’t become a task of being grateful for everything in your life. But it should come from within; it should flow from you; it should reside in you as if there is no effort in being thankful for something; it should not feel like something you are doing separately, but like something is already within us. It comes automatically from within, without any strategy, rule book, or guidance.

I am saying so because our mind is very clever. Once we decide to start practicing gratitude, it will give you multiple ways to do so and will give you a short-term feeling of being a so-called good person. You will feel like you are doing a lot just by verbally saying thank you to something, and slowly it will make you more pathetic because a feeling of being a good person but not being the one from within is very dangerous and surprisingly not much for society but to you.

It will create a big hindrance to your journey toward a mindset of abundance from lack, because a deceptive mind will keep telling you, “You do not have this; we thank you for everything you have,” but keep pushing you to seek other things that come to mind in the form of desire from worldly comparison. You know the magic of this deception: it is not limited to things; slowly, it becomes your habit. You start doing the same in your relationship; you may start comparing your partner to others, you may start comparing your relationship with others, and all these comparisons arise from that lacking mindset; hence, even though you are practicing Gratitude, you boast of practicing Gratitude, getting rid of that lacking mindset; then there is something wrong with the practice. You are in the deception of the mind.

Another thing the mind does is impose a burden of being thankful and limit your ability to be thankful only for the good things; it makes you so weak and impatient that you lose control over a small inconvenience and start criticizing life.

The mind is too good at following the trend. Once these things became a trend, like loving kindness and practicing Gratitude, our mind started its job. It made this deceptive layer around us; nowadays, most of these things practiced by a person are either strategy or trend or maybe the lust and desire to be the best person in the room, so that this person is kind because he practices gratitude. Gratitude: these again arise from the ego and are a product of a lacking mindset. Now think: how can you get rid of a lacking mindset by following a path that is the product of a running mindset, the practice of Gratitude. Gratitude helps; the problem is the driving force, the reason.

Hence, we have come up with a few steps to introduce Gratitude not only in words but also in actions and intentions.

Steps to Practice Gratitude with Intention:

1. Observation: The first and basic thing we can do to start practicing Gratitude by observing our thoughts and actions in day to day life, do we say thank you after every good things happen to us, how much we do complain about the bad things which happens to us, in many incidents we have this habit of saying thank you after everything someone does, now in such scenario we need to focus on our thank yous that, is it coming out of habit, are be absent minded while saying so, are we just saying so because we have been taught to do so and now it has been in our memory and always comes subconsciously . After this observation, you will understand that most of the time we say it for its own sake; we do not even mean it. So next time you feel the urge to say thank you, pause for a minute and ask: are you really grateful for this act, is it coming from your heart, or are you just doing it out of courtesy? Also ask yourself: how long will this gratitude sustain?
2. Keep a gratitude journal: Establish a daily practice where you remind of all the good things happening around you,  you can do it in night and recall all the things which has happened and you can say thanks to person, place or just universe for everything they have provided, along with good things, keep all bitter experience and observe it as a whole not only from your perspective then you will definitely get a good reason to be thankful, this is just limited towards basic confusion arises and be feel bad about it but not the things which is completely miserable and mischief that people do or any sin people commit.
3. Watch your language: It is very important to keep your language in check when practicing Gratitude. So, Gratitude unknowingly criticizes what we have. We may try to practice Gratitude, but at the same time, we may unknowingly keep criticizing what we have, showing dissatisfaction and disappointment in what life gives us.
4. Watch your posture and gestures: It is also very important to watch your posture and gestures when you are showing Gratitude because, with practice, you hold on to your words. You say it consciously, but is it really coming from within? If yes, then no issue; if no, then it will definitely show in your body and face. That is why, in many cultures, along with prayer, a few steps are involved to involve the complete you — not only the body or not only the mind.
5. Write letters or notes: Writing is one of the purest ways to show Gratitude. Write a gratitude note to someone you are thankful to.
6. Gratitude meditation: While practicing daily meditation, make time for it, and in the meditation pose, give 5 minutes to the things we are grateful for. We can go through the entire body with closed eyes and be thankful for everything that is well functioning and helping us in day-to-day life.
7. Gratitude Jar: It is also a good way to show gratitude in a jar and put a handwritten note every time you feel grateful about something. It can be anything: the air blowing through your face, the water you are drinking, the tree that is giving you shade, your parent for giving you life, or the god to keep you in good condition both physically and mentally. You can write notes and put them in the jar with a feeling that they will reach them.

Final Thoughts on the Gratitude Algorithm

My grandmother never kept a gratitude journal. She never attended a mindfulness workshop or followed a gratitude algorithm.

But every morning, before eating, she would pause — look at her food, close her eyes for a moment, and say something quietly. I never asked her what she said. I think I already know.

That is Gratitude without strategy. That is the state we are working toward — not a practice, but a way of being.

Start with one true thank you today. Not out of courtesy. Out of genuine recognition that something
in your life — however small — is worth acknowledging. That is the beginning of abundance.

If you’re on a journey of self-growth and mindfulness, these articles can help you deepen your practice:

• Mindfulness Journey: Build Spiritual Awareness Without Religion (use this when talking about observing thoughts and meditation)
• Loving Kindness (Metta): How Compassion Can Transform Your Life (perfect after the gratitude section)