Gratitude affects our consciousness the way windshield wipers clear your windshield during a rain storm.
It swipes away overwhelm and anxiety and helps us see the world more clearly.
Being appreciative opens our hearts, our awareness increasing our ability to be receptive.
Usually our attention is focused almost completely on what isn’t working or what might go wrong and wherever our attention goes, so does our physical, emotional and mental energy!
A gratitude practice of even a couple of minutes a day helps us to remember all the goodness in our lives, and brings our focus and energy back into “real time” so we can feel and live more creative, balanced, peaceful and happy.
Feeling grateful means…
You are able to remember that even in the worst of times YOU are enough, YOU do enough and YOU have enough!
Even after the worst of days you remember to give thanks you have a place to call your own, you have food on the table and a bed to sleep in.
Even after a difficult day of work you arrive home to your family or call a friend and remember YOU are loved and that there are people in your life that YOU love back.
When you are problem solving your ability to resolve issues increases 39% more if you have a grateful heart
You are able to see issues and difficulties as opportunities to evolve and grow personally rather than a problem to complain about.
It reminds you to give thanks for your ability to put healthy food on the table when your grocery bill just made you gasp in shock!
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something. For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations. Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge. Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary. Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.
So, how does a Gratitude Practice work?
A gratitude journal is a blank notebook where you write lists of things for which you are grateful.
Every night, before you sleep you take a few moments to write down a list of five things. (or as many as you like)
Some days, you might be feeling particularly abundant, and those five things just fly onto the page. Some days, it might feel like you can’t think of even two things.
That’s when you remember how amazing it is that you have running water, heat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer. That’s when you remember someone you love in your life, and that you have food in the fridge.
It’s important to make the time regardless of your mood to find time to write down these five things every single night without fail. And they don’t always have to be new and different.
What happens when you write in a gratitude journal every night?
My experience is that when I write my grateful list every night, I feel more in tune throughout the next day. I find I respond more than react, don’t sweat the small things and have an easier time dealing with the big things. I notice more of what I appreciate and enjoy, I’m more aware of what brings me pleasure.
When I have my coffee in the morning I love it so much I make it a ritual and that usually gets me thinking about all the small things I appreciate. When I walk around the neighborhood I’m aware of the fact I have interesting things to look at.
Maybe on your way to work you could become aware of the day, lack of traffic or how fortunate you are not to have to take the bus? The point is to feel good, you stop and breathe in the feeling of pleasure. You make a mental note to include that in your gratitude journal. Then, during the day, you notice someone’s smile, you receive a compliment, or you give one. You make your day a practice of collecting special memories. It’s your own private practice of appreciation.
When you become a gratitude magnet, more cool things show up for you.
But, the most important practice is to be grateful for all that you have now!
Practice this for a month and see how the practice changes you.
Notice how the more you lighten up, the more you call in a good things into your world.
Let’s Talk
Are you ready to make this year, the one where you intentionally make better and more empowered choices for yourself? To risk more, to be wiser, more committed to changing your life for the better?
Would you love some support and accountability to start accomplishing more of what you say you want to do, and you’d love some guidance for where to begin?
Let’s just talk and see how we can work together, and get you clear, confident and back in the Game! Just GET IN TOUCH with me here, I’d be delighted to talk to you.
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