“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie
What are you grateful for? Is giving thanks something you do often?
People take so much of their lives for granted, only realising what they had when it's gone.
Have you ever noticed that?
You have so much that is good, so much to be grateful for, yet the habit will be to focus on what is wrong, what is missing, what you want more of. The chances are you do not realise how good you have life.
Of course, seek more, but don't take what you do have for granted. Don’t miss out. Base your life in the gratitude for everything that is good that is already here.
Your task with gratitude is to go out of your way to actively give thanks - see if you can focus particularly on all those areas of your life that you take for granted.
Some ideas:
- Every day make a list of at least 10 things that you are thankful for. Review it before you go to sleep. Share your list with your partner, family or friends
- At night around the dinner table ask everyone to share what they have been grateful for today
- Take ten minutes every day and scan your body, giving thanks to each and every single part of it; for what it has done and will do for you
- Be super aware of any times when you criticise or condemn yourself or your body. Flip it over to gratitude
- In the evening write a list of everything you have learned during the day
- Actively thank people more. Give gratitude with your words and your full attentive presence
Don’t ignore the good that is already in your life - be full of gratitude. Enjoy!