I have actually noticed this quite a bit in my own life, with the exception of using one word.
Instead of gratitude, I use the word love.
Looking at the two lists, it's pretty easy to be grateful for all of the first list, but it is a bit different to actually love them. I can be grateful for a roof over my head, but do I actually love my apartment? I can be grateful for my 'stuff,' but do I love it? Of course I love my health, relationships, family, and skills, but what of the other 'Level 1' items?
Perhaps as a bridge from level 1 to level 2, we can work on having love rather than simply having gratitude for that first list...
Once we have passed that bridge, going to level 2 is much easier. If I love everything in the Level 1 list, then it is easy to look inward and be thankful for my life. If I can look at my budget apartment and feel love for it, well, honestly, there isn't much else in the universe that I can't also at least be thankful for, even if it is someone else's possessions. Can I be thankful for time and space when I love the car that I use to travel through them both? (Yes, my car is a time machine... Unfortunately, I haven't found reverse or second gear for time yet.
) If I love my skills, it is incredibly easy to appreciate the ideas and concepts that help me to hone my skills.
I have adopted the definition for Peace as being a love for everything... My life purpose is to bring peace to everybody... If we could extend our gratitude just a bit further into love, then I know that we can find peace.