Gratitude

One of the exercises I recommend to my clients is to begin a practice of gratitude.  You can do this by consciously being aware of what you are thankful for as you arise in the morning and before you go to sleep.  Or, you can write down 3 things in a gratitude journal in the morning and again at night.  Writing it down has more of a chance to become a habit as opposed to thinking about it.  Something about the action along with the thoughts when you are physically writing helps to cement the process of gratitude much more effectively than thinking alone does.  The same goes with any kind of learning–the more ways you can incorporate into the learning process like writing, speaking, reading, and teaching it–the more apt you are to learn it and to retain it.

Gratitude is a huge part of my life.  It’s helped me get through many different challenges and it’s one of the most powerful tools in my life-coaching business.  Why? Because being grateful is a way of viewing the world positively.  Your perspective shifts from “what’s wrong” to “what’s right.”  It forces you to look around and search for the good instead of focusing on the negative. And viewing the world in a more positive light has many beneficial effects like reduced stress, less drama in your life, more people want to be around you, your home and work-life become more pleasant, your life is more fun, you invite more happiness into your life…Think about how different your life would be if you were grateful for everything in it–including those painful experiences you haven’t yet processed.

Hundreds and thousands of years ago, humans had to be on the lookout for danger in their environment if they wanted to survive.  This focus on the negative helped them back then, but this particular survival mechanism does not help us in our lives today. Instead, what will help tremendously is if you can shift your perspective from disempowering thoughts and emotions to those that are more empowering.  It is healthier to focus on the positive–in all ways.  Focusing on the positive affects your body, mind, and your spirit.  Maybe you are going through a divorce or a job loss or illness–there are always things you can be grateful for.  And, on the flip side, there are always things in life that are crappy.  Which feels better for you to focus on?

The practice of gratitude, over time, becomes a habit–an empowering habit–that provides you with a sense of positivity and joy as you learn to focus on all the blessings you do have.  You begin to cut out the pity parties, the endless comparison, and the blame games that result from a negative view on life.  You are 100% responsible for your life–for your thoughts, words, beliefs, and actions.  You are responsible for taking control of your perspective and shifting it from a disempowering to a more empowering one–one that will enhance your life instead of detract from it.  When you make these shifts, the quality of your life shifts from merely surviving to thriving.  Living your best life starts from the inside out.