Gratitude. Seems pretty simple and self-explanatory, right? When you think about gratitude, what is it that comes to mind? It may be a single item, or even a long list. Life can be so overbearing at moments that we forget to stop and appreciate all that we have.
We’re about to give you some wonderful insight on how you can actually use that gratitude to change your mindset and conquer the challenges and trails that threaten to hold you back. It doesn’t just have to be a Thanksgiving tradition to focus on, it’s a year-round practice that can ultimately change your life!
What is Gratitude?
Have you ever asked yourself this question? It may be simpler than you think.
Gratitude is love.
When you have gratitude towards something, you are expressing a readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness. A negative and positive cannot consume the same space. So, if we wake up every morning and we shift to gratitude, we're not going to have any room for negativity at all. And that means we won't attract negativity.
Wake Up with an Attitude of Gratitude
You know that moment before you’re even fully awake, stirring in bed, caught between sleep and consciousness? You are just beginning to form conscious thoughts in your mind. That should be a moment for you to instantly insert gratitude. Often times we insert negativity the moment our eyes open.
I don’t want to go to work.
Why can’t I just sleep one more hour?
Is it the weekend yet?
When you should be telling yourself is:
Thank you so much for that wonderful night of sleep.
Thank you for waking up on time.
Thank you for the bed that I am sleeping in.
Thank you for a job where I make enough money to live.
When you instantly start your day off with gratitude, it will set the tone for your entire day. Your outlook on everything will be completely different.
Gratitude for Every Experience
Imagine for a moment that you lost your job. The first thing you wouldn’t think you’d be feeling is gratitude, right? However, that should be the very first thing! Because now you're about to embark on an absolutely wonderful journey! It's a great experience. It's a different chapter. You lost your job? Big deal! You found that one and you're going to find another one. This is an opportunity for you to search for a job that really fits you, that helps enlighten you, and really brings you more gratitude.
Sometimes the universe gives you a little nudge and says, “You know what? You don't want this, so we're going to make something happen.” And the truth is, if you're looking for the good, you’re going to find something even better!
Now you might be thinking, that just is not realistic! While it’s 100% understandable to not have gratitude for the actual event, focus on having gratitude for the experience. The things you learn, the knowledge you gain, the strength given may have not be accessible any other way.
Reminders
Just like anything worthwhile, you have to practice. You have to continue to do it. But the more you do it, the more it becomes second nature. In the morning after your alarm goes off, set a little reminder to remind you to be grateful. You can even start writing it down and going back at the end of each day and looking at all the things you have to be grateful for.
You could even be sitting in traffic and use that as your moment. You're in traffic, right?
You're stuck! Instead of thinking about all the things you’re missing out on, or how tired are, give gratitude or be grateful for that experience. You're grateful for that moment, for that time alone to yourself. Pay attention to all the beauty around you, and the more you pay attention to it, the more you're going to be grateful for.
Every experience that you have, you can choose to look at the downside or the upside. And if you look at the upside, then you're given a gratitude. You're given a love. And that's truly what it's all about. When we think about everything that we ever want in life, it's not about the money. The money is to help us get that time, that freedom, that flexibility, so that we can truly enjoy life. Well, we’re here to tell you that you can enjoy life now, at this moment. Simply by just taking a minute and giving gratitude for everything that you have.