©  2016  -2017 ThoughtsNlifeblog

Gratitude and Gratefulness – Habit

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into  enough and more.   It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude make sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.   – Melody Beattie

I first read this quote and the concept of Gratitude Journaling may be 12 years ago in a book called “Simple Abundance – A daybook of Comfort and Joy”  by Sara Ban Breathnach.  After reading the section gratitude, I practiced the gratitude journal for an entire year, and thereafter couple times a week.     I tell you from experience gratitude works, when you feel lack, depressed, down, that  life is too much – be grateful for all you have, for we all have a lot, but we never stop to see what we have.  

The Gratitude Journal  – The way I do it.

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Get a nice small A5 note book if you like.   Write 10 things you are grateful for every single day for 21 day or 3 months  (my preference is 3 months – as that how long it takes me to for a  habit).   I would suggest you do this activity in the evening – every single day, and you might want to add  an extra session when you are feeling particularly low.  If you haven’t practiced a gratitude journal it will feel a bit weird for a while and that is why the longer you do it, the better you will feel.

What to be grateful for

Well,  be grateful for the big things, the medium things, the  small things, the  smallest of small things and see your world become happier and fuller as you appreciate your world.  For we all have more than enough – especially compared to those who have nothing.

Here is my random list of things to be grateful for:

1. Education – for it allows me to read, write and earn money
2. A good job that allows me to pay the bills , to have a house, to have food
3. The ability to cook and feed myself
4. The ability to clean and keep things clean
5. Hot water to bathe with and wash the dishes
6. The ability to drive and having a car
7. The ability to be flexible
8. The ability to have not worked for two years and manage to find a job
9.  To my darling mum
10. To my old boss and old company for taking me back to work on a part time basis even though I haven’t worked for two years
11. Not working for two year :- allows me to see how to save money, know where I am wasting money, how to be careful.   How not to go mad for not working.  Making money when the sun shone, and the sense to save money.
12. Raja Yoga meditation taught by the Brahma Kumaris for teaching me meditation and balance in life.  What is life really about.
13. My darling mum for taking me to learn Raja Yoga when I was only 10 years old
14. For me being a simple and easy going person.   For me not wanting to have material wealth,  for me for being strong
15. For difficulties in life – showing me that I have the strength to overcome
16. For the hand of the divine shining on me every day
17. For pen and paper to journal my cares away
18. For having the guts to be different
19. For having the courage to live a different life,
20. for the rare times i get up at 4am to Meditate – and feel the benefit of the quiet world and the love of the divine
21. For  books written by famous ,inspirational figures on you tube,  for the blogger family
22. For me and for my life experience – no matter how hard it has been, for it has made me who I am today and the lessons are valuable.
23. Goodish health
24. Determination and motivation
25. Get up and go
26. For being a self starter and independent but never dependent
27. for the ability to research things and for the ability to dare to speak upto doctors when mum was in hospital
28. For the sun,
29. for the air
30. for a bed
31.  for each and every day
32. for simplicity
33. for decluttering
34. for the ability to pick myself up when I am now
35. for the ability to garden
36. to be creative
37. for family and friends
38. for a government that cleans our streets
39. for police that protect us
40. for most people being law abiding
41. for decentish neighbours
42. for common sense
43. the ability to smile, and make other smile
44. for the passion to learn and not get overwhelmed
45. for the gut to get a degree and live away ,  for  being bold in my little way,  for not settling for average,  for going for it and living my dream (not the dream of others living my dream)
46. for…….

Well,  I did say random.   I say to you try it for at least 3 months, 10 things to be grateful for every day and write them out every night and watch your world change.  Yes, you can repeat.

Always be grateful as we have a lot more than some.

I hope you will take this challenge on and I would love to know how you are finding it.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please comment, like, share or subscribe to my blog.

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• The Power of Journaling
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• Are You Present or Can TODAY Wait ?
• Make Monday Count!
• Forgiveness -Why Forgive?
• My Choice
• What Are You Feeding Your Mind?

©  2016  -2017 ThoughtsNlifeblog

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