Why is it so easy to think about and focus on the bad things in our life? Anytime I feel like things are going badly, I look around and realize that I have refocused my life on all the bad stuff. It seems to be where my mind goes if I allow my emotional self to run on autopilot. Instead of realizing all the good things in my life, I begin focusing in on all the areas of my life that aren’t what I want them to be. Getting things accomplished would imply that to make progress I must focus on what I want to achieve; yet in focusing on those things my energy is diverted to thinking about what’s not “right” about my life. Eventually, it transforms my mood and attitude and I feel worried, stressed and… downright bummed about my life!

The key to resolving this is Gratitude. While I practice this often, I still sometimes allow my life to get the better of me and revert back to my old ways of thinking. Being grateful for the things in your life will keep you in a positive place, and your life will transform as a result. Just as there are things that aren’t “right” about my life there are a ton of things that are, and those are things that I am thankful for each day. It takes practice initially to remember to be grateful for the good things, but eventually it will become habit and you’ll wonder how you ever got by in life before! Here are some great quotes on practicing gratitude in your life.

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.“
~Sarah Ban Breathnach from Simple Abundance

“To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.“

~Albert Schweitzer

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.

~Chinese Proverb

So, how does one practice gratitude and make it a habit? I for one find that getting up first thing in the morning and saying thank you for the things that I’m grateful for is a good place to start. It can happen while I’m brushing my teeth or in the shower. You can also try carrying something with you like a special flower or piece of jewelry, and every time you touch it (i.e. putting it on, putting it down, placing it in a drawer) make a point to be grateful for something in your life. The more you practice this the easier it will get and the more things you’ll find that you’re grateful for.

Steve Pavlina has some great information on his site about gratitude as well. He discusses the difference between ineffective and effective gratitude. “Ineffective” gratitude in Steve’s article represents gratitude that lacks soul and belief. It is going through the motions of being grateful just to do it rather than to feel it. Effective gratitude, or level 2 gratitude as he calls it,

Is a feeling of gratitude for life itself, for existence, for anything and everything you experience. But rather than being a temporary emotion that requires constant focus, Level 2 Gratitude is more of an underlying attitude. With practice it becomes part of your identity.

This article is a great resource to learning to become more grateful for your life. If you can achieve a place where you truly live with an attitude of gratitude, then you will see an amazing transformation in your life!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites