Gratitude changed my life.
And it can change yours too. Let me share my gratitude story with you.
It simply begins. I’d suffered from a horrid corporate burn-out. And I’d taken time off work to look at my life. And truth be told, I wasn’t getting very far. So, the Universe began to work it’s magic.
In 1993 I took Reiki Training. And I began to change my life. By learning and adopting the following integration of belief with behavior I took my first step on the journey to happiness, health and fabulosity!
Just for today, I will not anger
Just for today, I will not worry
I live my life in honesty and integrity
I honor my teachers and those who have come before me
And I give thanks for my many blessings.
Believe it or not, I’d actually had this on my office wall for years. Sitting at my desk, being bombarded by accountants, these words brought me comfort.
After taking First Degree Reiki they came alive for me!
And so I adopted this practice into my life.
The first step for me was to consciously become aware of the good things in my life.
Then, to give thanks for them daily.
Sound too simple to be true? Really, I changed my life to one of health and fabulosity beginning with this one simple step.
Instead of focusing on the negative things in my life.
Unemployment. I did not want to go back into my previous career path. I was in a lousy marriage. Mr. Right turned into Mr. Wrong for me. My eldest daughter was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and allergies. We had lost a wonderful home on a lake in the country. I had fallen out with my parents who didn’t like my lifestyle. My ex-boss owed me money. I was living in a new town and had no friends. And the pounds were packing on…blah, blah, blah.’
I turned things around and started counting my blessings. My new mantra became ‘thank you’.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Then I made a concerted effort to focus on the good things in my life. To stop talking and thinking about the things that were not going right.
I changed from being a ‘’Debbie Downer’ because I stopped myself. Whenever I found I was talking about the things in my life that made me miserable I changed things up. I focused on the good stuff.
So, one of the first things I did. (And I encourage you to try is…)
Get a journal and write down ‘100 Things I Appreciate’
Start by writing ‘thank you for’—then fill in the blanks.
It goes quite quickly at first: thank you for my children, thank you for my health, etc.
After a while it takes some effort, especially if this is new to you. Take the things that seem to be negative and find the goodness in them.
For example I changed “unemployed” to having time to find a new job/career.
I started to look at the positive parts of the marriage and focus on the good things in my relationship (seriously, no one is all bad!)
Next I chose to embrace my daughter’s uniqueness. Sarah’s food allergies made me aware of nutrition. And I had taken natural cooking lessons, so I began to teach others.
I began to cherish my new home.
Being able to find and meet new friends became a celebration. I found new friends (and I continue to find them) who become ‘chosen family’. Bonus, as my confidence grew + my self-worth increased I made more new friends.
I even found the courage to contact my old boss and get the money I was owed!
Honestly, the Law of Polarity decrees that there’s something good in all bad. That’s right, everything has an opposite. Yin and yang. A little good in the bad. A little bad in the good.
Image by Comfreak from Pixabay
We cannot move from one place to another without change
Focus on what is right and not on what is wrong.
Accordingly, if there is something really wrong in your life then there must be something really right. Most people simply do not understand this.
Try this exercise:
- Take five minutes each day for the next month to write in your journal about what is going right in your lif. DO NOT write anything ‘negative’. No complaining. Just write about the good stuff. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel.
Honestly, I just want you to take a little time each day to focus on the good stuff.
Stop yourself whenever you find yourself talking or thinking about the bad stuff.
I promise, this really works. You will see change.
And if you would like to learn more exercises to change your life into one of gratitude take Reiki training.
Or book some one-on-one life facilitation with me and sign-up for my free information sent directly to your email. Share and pass them along to your friends too.
Like minded people around you will help you to stay ‘grateful’.
And remember:
If the only prayer that you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.
Meister Eckhardt
