The Practice of Gratitude

The Practice of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving holidays approach, we often focus on being thankful for the good things in our lives. While most of us view ourselves as thankful for our blessings, we determine what we believe to be a “blessing” …..and what is not.  
We’ve all had a few stressful years recently, so some of your greatest blessings may not initially look all that positive in the beginning. Or you may be concerned about “losing” your blessings in the future.  For instance, my experiencing Cancer is what turned my life around and opened the door to a good health consciousness and rewarding life work.  Today I always give thanks for the gift of Cancer, but at the time it was fearful and overwhelming; I couldn’t see why I should be grateful for it. The first thing to understand about gratitude is that it is not a selective process because we don’t know how it may be good for us in the long run.

I’ve been posting The Gratitude Game on and off for years, and it begins with the premise that genuine thankfulness begins with being grateful for everything. Yes, absolutely EVERYTHING in your life.  So, here goes:

  1. Make a list of anything you perceive as positive in your life. The people who love you is a good start. Anything good about your work, your relationships, special advantages or support you’ve received, anything nice someone else has done for you.  Just write down everything you can think of that is good about your life. Be truly grateful for it.
  1. Next write down everything ordinary that you take for granted: the roof over your head, your sight, your hearing, the ability to chew, your health, and so forth. When you really think about it, there are so many small, inconsequential conditions that conspire to create a good lifestyle.  This is a good time to recognize them.
  1. Finally, write down any painful, uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and events, some of which may feel uncomfortable or difficult right now…and get grateful for them.  Why? This is how we learn the lessons of life. No one said it was all going to be easy.  But, gratitude opens you up. It helps you release the resistance (oh, why did this have to happen to me?) and embrace your difficult circumstances and allow the greatest good to come from them.  What creates your reality is not what happens to you, but how you RESPOND to what happens to you.  Life does have challenges, but there is a positive side for each and every one of them.  Be grateful for the gift inside of every heartache even if you can’t see it right now.
  1. Give thanks for those blessings that are on the way. Feel them coming. Expect success.  Expect the best and be grateful for it.

After completing this little game, how do you feel? Love to know at mlm@firedupforsuccess.com.  But, truth is everyone who plays is a winner because here’s the secret:

Gratitude allows you to receive more; it is the foundation of all abundance. An open, gracious heart is a powerful magnet for good. Money, opportunity, and joy flows toward gratitude.  Try it and see.

And great good is what I wish all of you this season.

SECRET BONUS:  

We’re announcing our upcoming annual Vision Workshop to Fire Up Your 2023 – Friday, December 2   1:30-3:00  Online.  No driving.

It’s Fast, Fun and Effective and you’ll actually meet people and share ideas to spark the coming year.

The cost:  Less than taking your friend to lunch. 

This is NOT a webinar; it’s an actual workshop that was designed exclusively for clients but widened to include others from my list, so seating is limited.

Want an official invite?  Click here to get on my private e-mail list.  Invites and pre-registration begins next week.

 

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