Life felt like a constant stumble, one clumsy step after another.
For years I thought grace was for other people. It was for poised ballerinas or saints in old paintings. It certainly wasn’t for someone like me who was stuck in a cycle of binge eating video games and laziness. My life was messy and loud not quiet and graceful.
But I was wrong. Grace isn’t about being perfect. It’s about how you handle your imperfections. It’s the quiet strength you find when things fall apart. It’s the kindness you show yourself when you mess up. It’s a calm and steady heart in a world that never stops spinning.
Over time I learned that grace isn't something you’re born with. It's something you build one small choice at a time. It’s a practice.
What is Grace, Really?
Forget the idea of floating through life without a single misstep. That’s not real.
Real grace is responding to a frustrating email without anger. It’s admitting you were wrong. It’s listening to someone without just waiting for your turn to talk. It’s getting back on track after a bad day instead of letting it become a bad week.
When I was losing over 110 pounds the journey was anything but graceful in the traditional sense. It was sweaty and difficult. I had days where I ate things I planned not to. The old me would have spiraled. I would have used one mistake as an excuse to give up completely. But learning to practice grace meant I could look at that mistake and say “Okay that happened. Tomorrow I will do better.” That small shift changed everything.
It’s a quiet power that comes from within. Here are some simple steps that helped me find it.
15 Steps to Find More Grace in Your Life
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Accept Imperfection. You are going to make mistakes. Everyone does. Grace begins the moment you stop expecting perfection from yourself and others. Life is messy. Embrace it.
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Forgive Yourself Quickly. Don’t let your mistakes live in your head for free. Acknowledge what happened learn from it and move on. Holding onto guilt is heavy. It weighs you down and makes it impossible to move forward.
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Speak with Kindness. This applies to others but it starts with you. Pay attention to your inner voice. Is it a critic or a friend? You wouldn’t talk to someone you love the way you probably talk to yourself. Change the conversation.
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Practice Gratitude Daily. Before you even get out of bed think of three simple things you’re thankful for. The sun coming through the window. The warmth of your blanket. A new day. Gratitude shifts your focus from what’s missing to what you have.
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Slow Down. We rush through everything. Our meals our conversations our lives. Try doing one thing at a time. When you eat just eat. When you walk just walk. Being present reduces anxiety and helps you appreciate the small moments.
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Listen More Than You Speak. Graceful people are often quiet people. They listen to understand not just to reply. They make others feel seen and heard which is one of the greatest gifts you can give.
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Serve Others Quietly. Don’t do good deeds for attention. Find small ways to help without needing any recognition. Help a neighbor with their groceries. Send an encouraging text. True service comes from the heart not the ego.
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Keep Your Word. If you say you’ll do something do it. Your reliability builds trust with others and with yourself. It creates a foundation of integrity that makes you feel steady and strong.
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Move Your Body with Intention. You don’t need to run a marathon. Just go for a walk. Stretch. Pay attention to how your body feels. Treating your body with respect instead of punishing it is a beautiful form of grace. It's a gift from God. Care for it.
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Create Order in Your Space. A cluttered space often leads to a cluttered mind. Take ten minutes to tidy your desk your room or your car. A little bit of external order can create a surprising amount of internal peace.
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Pray Simply and Often. My relationship with God became the bedrock of all my changes. Prayer doesn’t have to be a formal event. It can be a simple conversation. A quick “Thank you” or “Lord have mercy” whispered throughout the day keeps you connected to your foundation.
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Read Holy Scripture. Even just a few verses a day can provide guidance comfort and perspective. The words have power and they can anchor your heart when you feel adrift.
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Attend Church Services. Being part of a community and participating in the Divine Liturgy connects you to something so much bigger than yourself. It’s a humbling and beautiful reminder that you are not alone in your struggles or your faith.
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Practice Repentance. In my Orthodox faith repentance isn’t about shame. The Greek word is metanoia which means to change your mind and turn back toward God. It’s a hopeful action. It’s the grace of being able to say “I went the wrong way” and knowing God is there to welcome you back.
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Embrace Silence. Turn off the podcast the TV the music. Just for a few minutes each day. Let your mind settle. In the quiet you can hear your own thoughts more clearly and feel the presence of God more deeply.
Your First Step
This list might seem long. Don’t try to do it all at once. Grace isn’t a checklist to be completed. It’s a direction to walk in.
Choose just one thing from this list. Just one. Practice it today. Maybe you’ll decide to forgive yourself for that small mistake you made this morning. Or maybe you’ll just take five minutes to sit in silence.
That’s all it takes. One small intentional step.
So what's one small way you can practice grace today?
