Practicing the art of gratitude is an extremely powerful tool. After the past couple of years, it finally feels like we can see the end of the tunnel and I’m sure we are all ready for something to be grateful for.

There is an amazing power in gratitude that helps your mental well-being and emotional health.  Gratitude for a situation, an event or a person in your life sets the stage and opens the door for more good to come to you.  It is very easy in difficult and trying times to concentrate on the negative, rather than taking stock of the other good and positive things that are going on in your life.

However, the practice of gratitude can be learned. Below are 6 affirmations artists can say to themselves every day to reinforce their gratitude for all the great and wonderful things that they have in their life and art career:

1. I am grateful for being able to be an artist, even with all of the ups and downs that the profession provides.
2. I am grateful for the ability to express myself through my art as there are many jobs or professions that do not allow you to be creative.
3. I am grateful for today’s technology which has brought our world much closer together and has expanded all artists’ ability to create, refine and share their art.
4. I am grateful for my friends and family who support my work.
5. I am grateful for my art as it is ever changing and there is always something more that I can learn to do that will help me to improve my art.
6. I am grateful for my followers, fans, collectors and buyers as their support encourages me to continue creating my art.

In these unsettling times it is extremely easy to get swept up in the media’s constant negative bombardment to our senses.  When this is happening to you, turn off your television or computer, turn off your phone, go outside, and take several deep breaths to clear your head.

Make a mental list of all the great things and wonderful people in your life that you should be grateful for.  To cement this list in your subconscious, commit this list to paper and when something comes up in your life that’s good add it to your list. 

Over time, your list will grow and when you’re down, in a negative place or feeling uninspired go to your gratitude list and review all of the things that you are grateful and thankful for.  No matter how bad things may look or feel, there is always something that we can find in our lives for which to be grateful. Remember, the practice of gratitude is the magnet for more good things to come into our lives. 

To quote the famous German philosopher, cultural critic and philologist, Friedrich Nietzsche:

“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.”