Yesterday, my home was spared the wrath of Hurricane Matthew. I spent the day so grateful and thought this would be an appropriate blog. I believe that gratitude is an important component to manifesting your dreams and desires. Gratitude connects you to your true power. It gets you to expect the best and you will get the best! This week try a few of these 10 ways to practice gratitude. I also encourage you to watch the six minute film, “Gratitude.” The link is at the end of this blog.
I have kept a gratitude journal for over ten years. But, I must admit, I am not consistent writing in it. I keep it by my bedside and try to write three things that I am grateful for at the end of the day. Looking back over what I wrote is very heart warming. There are many, many memories. This month though, I wanted to go deeper in my gratitude practice and this is what I came up with.
10 Ways to Practice Gratitude
1. Write down three things you are grateful for and try to do this every day. When I have a disappointing or stressful day, it is amazing when I reflect on the great things or people in my day, it is an automatic attitude changer.
2. Think of a difficult situation or event that happened in your life and spend some journaling about “What was the Blessing” from that situation.
3. Write a gratitude letter to someone that helped make a difference in your life. Here is the link for the blog I wrote about gratitude letters.
4. Make a gratitude visit. Is there someone you could visit that you really appreciate and want to let them know?
5. Before meals, spend a few moments in prayer and silence giving thanks for the food you are about to eat.
6. Think of a gift you received from someone and probably how great it
made you feel. Can you pay it forward and do something for someone that is totally unexpected?
7. Think of a family member that you would like to acknowledge and thank. Give them a call. Usually, we forget to be grateful for those closest to us.
8. Stop at some point in your day and take a few deep breaths. Focus on the word “grateful” as you breathe in and out.
9. Write an affirmation. Start the sentence, “Today I am grateful for ________________.”
10. Write a check to an organization that you appreciate. It does not matter the amount. Even a $10 check is fine.
I would like to close with the beautiful film titled “Gratitude.” It was done by filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg. It is narrated by Brother David Steindl-Rast. It is only six minutes long and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.