How a Daily Gratitude Practice Can Change Your Life

"When you become grateful for small pleasures, your outlook changes and opportunities seem to open up everywhere in your life."
Unknown
For much of my life, I've been a person who's seen the glass half empty rather than half full. In fact, my mother would frequently remind me, "Count your blessings, Mandy. You have a lot to be grateful for!" Because, like most kids, I was invariably focused on the things I didn't have, the things other people got or experienced, that I didn't get to have or experience.
Over the years, the more I studied what kinds of practices and behaviors successful people had, the more I learned that one of the things they all consciously did over and over and over was to have a daily gratitude practice. Focusing on the things one is grateful for each and every day, keeps you (and your energy) focused on the positive aspects of your life and in an abundant mindset, rather than focusing on what you don't have or on the negative things in your life.
So about six months ago, I decided to get serious about creating a daily gratitude practice by making a list (mostly mentally, but occasionally I wrote them down) at the end of each day of the things I was grateful for that I had, or had experienced during the day.
Each night, I highlight three new things to focus on. In other words, to default to, "I'm grateful for my husband or my family" night after night does not have the same impact or result as coming up with three specific things from each particular day.
And each morning, after I awake and am lying in bed, I think of several news things for which I'm grateful, to try and train my brain to focus on the positive things that will be coming my way in the upcoming day.
I must say, this practice has been very helpful in terms of my mindset, overall wellbeing and in the success of my business. I have had more success the last six months of my business, than I have ever had in the history of my business.
Is it all due to my gratitude practice? Probably not, but I believe that it has helped me become more positive and put out more positive energy, so I am attracting more good things into my life and business. You attract where you put your energy.
So I challenge you to start a gratitude practice of your own. You might consider writing in a journal, or setting reminders on your phone at various times of the day to remind you to focus on the things for which you are grateful. Commit to this practice for at least 90 days and then assess the subtle changes in your mindset and results of your business.

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Gratitude: Your Secret Weapon to Fight Every Kind of Negative Thinking

If there were a magic pill that would solve all your problems, would you take it? Well, there is a way of thinking that lifts up our lives, and is easy to swallow as well. Whether you are fighting depression, stress, or feelings of lack, deep gratitude is your best defense.

In 1910, Wallace Wattles wrote, "Gratitude alone can lead our minds back toward the source of all things." "Gratitude alone" can mean "only gratitude" can lead us back, or it can mean "gratitude all by itself."
Both ideas are worth exploring. Only gratitude has such power to short circuit our negative thoughts, and redirect us from wallowing in self pity, or our imagined fears. And only gratitude can draw us away from concentrating on what we don't have, and open ourselves up to what might be.
When we are dealing with stress, or feeling unable to attract money into our lives, we become stuck in our current situation.
Wattles explains that without gratitude, "you cannot long keep from dissatisfied thought regarding things as they are." Good Vibe Coach Jeannette Maw calls this "being addicted to reality." We hang on so tightly to our problems that we allow no room for the happiness we really want. Our dissatisfied thoughts imagine our only future as just more of today. And we continue repeating the same negative emotions and ideas.
It's not hard to be thankful for good things. But sometimes, we just forget. So we need to cultivate our awareness of our blessings. There is not a moment in our lives that doesn't have something good in it. We need to seek those things out and be grateful. Wattles wrote:

"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you: and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."
The writings of every major faith emphasize gratitude. There are Sutras of gratitude, it is part of Islam, and St. Paul wrote, "in everything give thanks." The benefits all return to us.
But how can we give thanks when everything seems out of control? First, recognize that today's turmoil may be tomorrow's blessing. After all, who has not had a failed romance that seemed like the end of the world, only to realize later that escaping it was the best thing that could have happened?
Keep little disasters in perspective. Think of families who have lost everything in a tornado or other tragedy. We see them smile tearfully because they are so grateful that their loved ones are still alive. And it is their gratitude that will enable them to rebuild. Can we do less?
So, look around you. What can you be grateful in this moment? Then in an hour or so, ask yourself again. And again. Until it hits you, that you are grateful for it all.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7872154

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