Every time I see my grandchildren I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the gift I have received, that is, experiencing the joy of being a mother and grandmother. Being grateful doesn’t only mean being thankful for what I have, for me it’s something more profound. It is a spiritual experience that brings me to a different level of understanding and love. A level that extends far beyond the physical and material world, a connection with my soul.
I have been practicing gratitude for a long time and it has helped me to grow spiritually and emotionally, making my life much more positive. Like many other people, I do experience challenges and setbacks. It’s part of life. Any time I have a problem, I start to look… The challenge is a way to learn something new and to move beyond my comfort zone. It’s not the experience itself to be positive or negative. It’s our perception of the experience that transforms a normal day into a bad or good day. It’s our choice!
You can practice gratitude in 5 easy steps:
1) Start every day with a big thank you. As soon as you open your eyes say “Thank You.” It’s another new day. A day to create, to live and to discover. How exciting!
2) Keep a gratitude scrapbook. If you are having a bad day, write down the good things that you have in your life. Add some pictures or some colourful paper. Use your creativity and have fun. Appreciate the little things. They make your life meaningful too.
3) Make a gratitude vision board using your computer. Add pictures to your page, anything you are grateful for. Once the digital vision board is ready, use it as screensaver. Every day, you will have the opportunity to see it several times. A way to remind yourself and appreciate the many blessings in your life.
4) Write short gratitude notes and stick them around the house or at work, in places where you can see them often. Be specific and move them around: “I am grateful because I am loved and supported” or “I am grateful for my healthy body” or ” I am grateful for the love of my husband, children or friends”.
5) Start to practice a daily five minutes gratitude meditation. Sit down with your back straight and close your eyes. Focus on your breathing. Go through each person – or each thing – that makes your life positive and complete. Say “Thank you” for each of them. It could be the meal that you just had or the walk in the sun, shining bright. The smile of a friend or the hug of your child.
Gratitude is like a magnet that attracts more and more positivity into your life. Don’t take anything for granted and be grateful even for the smallest gifts that you receive every day… enjoy the journey!