Four Jewish Gratitude Formulas

The Hebrew expression for gratitude is “hakarat hatov,” recognizing the good. Noticing the good is the timeless Jewish foundation for gratitude. Here are four Jewish formulas for gratitude to help you slow down, notice, and appreciate the goodness in your life.

1. Recognize the gift of a new day.

Every morning you have the opportunity to recite the prayer of “Modeh Ani,” in which you thank God for giving you a new day and recognize the faith God has in you to give you another chance to begin again.

When you first wake up, you may instinctively reach for your phone or get lost immediately in your to-do list. Take a moment instead to pause and notice that you have been granted another day of life. Reflect for just a minute on the chance you have to start anew. Yesterday is over and the future is still being shaped by your choices today.

2. Notice what you have been given.

It is challenging to remember to feel grateful most days, especially when you’re stressed. It’s easier to notice what’s not going well in your life and what you are missing.

Judaism gives you a blueprint for a gratitude practice in which you can intentionally recognize every meal and every gift that you are given each day. There is a blessing for every food and every sense that you have. In the morning blessings, you thank God for your eyesight, for the clothing that you wear, and for the energy you are given to work.

When you follow this blueprint consistently every day, you start to notice not only how much you have been given in your life but the details of what you are receiving every day. That first sip of coffee at sunrise, the aroma of dinner in your home after a long day, the sight of your spouse’s smile and the sound of your children’s laughter. Focus on the goodness that surrounds you—it’s there, waiting for you to notice it.

3. Recognize what others do for you.

Sometimes you may feel isolated, with a growing list of tasks and burdens. Yet one of the gifts of Jewish life is that community is a central value wherever you go: there is always someone to reach out to, and always someone you can help. Notice what others do for you—the many, often invisible contributions that keep your day moving.

It’s easy to overlook the grocery clerk stocking shelves, the barista brewing your coffee, and the farmers who grew the beans. And those are just the strangers. Think, too, of the countless things your parents and siblings have done throughout your life, and of your children, your spouse, your friends. There is so much goodness to notice, and studies show that when you express gratitude, both you and the recipient feel uplifted. You are not alone. Recognize all the people in your life who help you.

4. Notice the gifts of Judaism.

It may feel like every day is an endless Groundhog Day. But Judaism gives you the weekly gift of Shabbat so life doesn’t just blend together. It’s a built-in pause to reflect on the highlights of your week and the direction you’re heading. And beyond Shabbat, every season brings Jewish holidays that invite you to reconnect with family and notice all the gifts in your life. Recognize what a gift these sacred days of reflection are.

The average person has around 70,000 thoughts a day, and most of those thoughts are innately negative. Gratitude is not something you naturally feel; it is a skill that needs to be practiced many times a day. Judaism gives you special formulas for gratitude that help you notice all the good that you have in your life every day. Recognize the good around you by implementing these Jewish gratitude practices today.