Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year to be reminded of the power of gratitude. Many people say it’s their favorite holiday, as we gather together in the spirit of love and community with family and friends to share our bounty of blessings. But we don’t have to confine this attitude of gratitude to one chilly November day!
Living your life in a state of gratitude is a sure-fire way to create abundance. Since we are all made of energy, and our thoughts and beliefs are energy, too, whatever we pay attention to will grow. So if you begin your day giving thanks, for the roof over your head, warm clothes, a hot shower, that steamy cup of Joe, you will be setting your intention to automatically seek out other things that support the belief that life is full of blessings. Conversely, if you begin the day cursing the cold, yelling at your kids, complaining about your commute and hating your job, you’re setting your radar to seek out everything that will support the belief that life is a hard, cold struggle. And you will find them everywhere. Which setting do you think will lead to a happier, more productive day?
It takes a conscious intention of mindfulness to reset our old, negative thought patterns, but it’s not difficult to create new habits. Try saying a silent “thank you” as swing your legs out of bed and your feet hit the floor in the morning. Give thanks for this new day of possibilities, for your eyes that can focus, for your legs that support you, for the food in your pantry. Seek out the beauty in your daily commute: the mottled blue sky, the wind-swept leaves and your favorite music on the radio. Find the hidden blessings in the challenges which give you the opportunity to become wiser, stronger and more compassionate. And end your day with a list of things you’re grateful for from the day. You may even want to start keeping a gratitude journal, where you can keep track of these lists and reflect on how they grow.
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Remember that our lives are full of choices. We may not be able to control all of our circumstances and the actions of others, but we can ALWAYS choose how to respond. We can ALWAYS choose where to direct our attention. This is the seat of our greatest power. Whatever we focus on will grow, the same as throwing logs on a fire. Remember this the next time you feel yourself being drawn into someone’s negative rant. Do you really want to fuel that and make it your own? Where are you choosing to place your attention today? I choose gratitude. It feels so much better.
