Beautiful Gratitude Quotes from Give Thanks Journal and The Gratitude Jar
Many people have asked me why gratitude works so powerfully to create positive changes for people, and I thought the best way to show you was through sharing my favorite quotes that I've written over the years.
These quotes come from my bestselling books Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal and The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles, plus some insights I've shared with live audiences. As a licensed counselor who has seen gratitude transform countless lives, these words capture what I've learned about the true power of appreciation.
Whether you're looking for daily inspiration, journaling prompts, or something meaningful to share with others, these original gratitude quotes reflect years of personal practice and professional experience with this life-changing practice.
“I truly believe practicing gratitude will bring about more positive change than anything you’ve tried before.”
— Josie Robinson, Bestselling Author of The Gratitude Jar Book and Give Thanks Journal
Gratitude Quotes from Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal
“What I’ve learned is that you never really know what’s in store for you, ever, and you’re always just one decision away from a totally different life than the one you’re living right now.”
—From Give Thanks: A Journal for Sharing Gratitude
“This practice is powerful because it transforms you from the inside out. When you’re in a grateful and joyful state, you open your eyes to see and receive miracles. When you’re in a negative, stressed state it’s like putting on sunglasses that completely block out the light. How can receive a miracle when you can’t see it? Use this practice and get rid of those dark shades for good so you can see the light shining within you and around you.”
—From Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal
“What I’ve learned from practicing gratitude over the years is that giving thanks for what you want produces more of it, while thinking and complaining about what you don’t want produces more of that. Spiritual leaders and gurus have been saying it for centuries, but I never actually believed them until I started practicing gratitude on a consistent basis. Now, this has been proven to me time and again, and I know they’re 100% right about the fact that your thoughts really do create your reality. Life is really just a mirror for how you’re feeling on the inside.”
—From Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal
“Give thanks always. It’s the greatest prayer we can offer, the greatest practice we can do.”
—From Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal
Gratitude Quotes from The Gratitude Jar
“Gratitude gives us eyes to see God, Earth, beauty, love, joy, and abundance. Everything we never knew was already right there in front of us, waiting. We just needed gratitude to open our eyes.”
― From The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
“By just spending a few minutes in gratitude each day, you'll notice your thoughts start to shift in a remarkably short period of time. Most of us aren't used to practicing gratitude, so the effects are noticeable immediately since you're using a part of your brain that probably hasn't been used much before, at all. As you notice your thoughts shifting, you'll also notice your mood shifting. You'll feel better. Joyous, even. And when you're in that joyous, happy place-that's when the miracles start happening.”
― From The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
“Every single time I gave gratitude, even for the littlest thing, I felt I touched a presence greater than myself. It's like gratitude opened the channel between me and God and I could touch God, if only for a minute. Every major religious book is filled with verses about expressing gratitude to God, and I believe that is because it's the best way to reach Him.”
― From The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
“The simple act of practicing gratitude, consistently, is your invitation to a new life. Accepting the invitation is now up to you.”
― From The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
“Simple gratitude practices can be incorporated easily, and I find myself using a handful of them every day. When I let up on the consistency, it shows. My life feels slightly off-kilter. That feeling is useful information and tells me to go back to basics and practice gratitude for all the good, and even what feels like (at the time) the not-so-good, experiences. They all prove useful. When paired with time, it equals perspective, and perspective is a powerful thing because it leads to gratitude.”
― From The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
“Let gratitude come into your body and enjoy the feeling it gives you. Gratitude is a powerful emotion that instantly washes away stress and tension. Allow yourself to be healed by it.”
― From The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
A Child’s Wisdom About Gratitude
Lucas: Do you know what mommy?
Me: What?
Lucas: I appreciate my life. I really, really, really do.
—Lucas, my four-year-old, two weeks after using The Gratitude Jar for the first time
Ways to Use These Original Gratitude Quotes:
Copy your favorite into your gratitude journal for daily reflection
Share them on social media to inspire others (with attribution)
Use them as conversation starters about gratitude with family and friends
Write one on a note card and place it where you'll see it daily
Include them in letters or cards to loved ones who need encouragement
What makes these quotes special is that they come from real experience - both my personal journey from depression to joy and my professional work helping others discover the power of gratitude.
The Stories Behind These Quotes
Josie Robinson, Bestselling Author of The Gratitude Jar Book and Give Thanks Journal
What makes these quotes meaningful to me is that each one comes from real experience - either my personal transformation journey or witnessing gratitude change lives in my counseling work.
The quotes from The Gratitude Jar were born out of our family's darkest time, when we literally had nothing left except the choice to be grateful. Those words weren't written from a place of theory - they were discovered through necessity and proven through experience.
The quotes from Give Thanks came from years of working with people who wanted to build sustainable gratitude practices but didn't know how to make it stick. Every prompt and insight in that journal addresses a real challenge I've seen people face in their gratitude journey.
That's why these aren't just pretty words - they're practical wisdom that actually works when you apply it consistently.
Experience the Complete Journey
These quotes offer glimpses into the transformative power of gratitude, but they're just the beginning. If you're ready to experience the full journey that created these insights:
The Gratitude Jar: A Simple Guide to Creating Miracles
My personal memoir of hitting absolute rock bottom and discovering how gratitude literally saved our family. This is where quotes like "Gratitude gives us eyes to see God, Earth, beauty, love, joy, and abundance" came from - not from a book I read, but from desperate moments that turned into miracles. If you need hope and want to understand why gratitude is so powerful during life's hardest moments, this book shows you exactly how it works.
Give Thanks: A Gratitude Journal
The practical companion that contains all the prompts and practices these quotes represent. Unlike other gratitude journals, this one is designed for sharing - because I discovered that gratitude becomes even more powerful when practiced with loved ones. The quotes about consistency and daily practice come directly from this system that's helped thousands of people build lasting gratitude habits.
Many readers tell me they use both books together - The Gratitude Jar for inspiration and hope when life feels impossible, and Give Thanks for the daily practice that keeps the gratitude flowing consistently.
You Might Also Like
More ways to build your gratitude practice:
How to start a gratitude journal - The complete beginner's guide using my proven method
Gratitude in advance practice - Turn appreciation into manifestation
Daily gratitude meditation - Perfect companion to journaling practice
More inspiration from my journey:
10 beautiful gratitude quotes from famous authors - Wisdom from spiritual teachers and thought leaders
Benefits of daily gratitude practice - Why this simple practice transforms lives
