Often when we practice gratitude, we count our blessings including all the people, places, and things we find uplifting and enjoyable in our lives.
While it’s wonderful to be grateful for our good fortune and bliss, the true power of this practice begins when we’re able to find people and experiences to be grateful for even during our mundane moments and challenging circumstances.
If we only express gratitude when we feel content and happy, we’re missing the hidden gifts of gratitude. This powerful practice goes deeper than just being grateful when things go our way!
Begin by being thankful for the simplicity of our breath, and the miracle of our functioning bodies
Begin by being thankful for the simplicity of our breath, and the miracle of our functioning bodies. When we walk through each day with this fresh awareness, the many hidden gifts of gratitude begin to emerge.
Gratitude is a fast track to happiness and an antidote to stress, worry, fear, and overwhelm. If we allow our minds to focus on our troubles, we will be deeply rooted in that negative energy and unwittingly expand our agitation instead! If you look at a garden and focus only on the weeds, you miss the beauty flowers offer. However, if we train our minds to notice every blessing, life naturally feels more satisfying, joyful and peaceful.
When we dwell in gratitude regularly, we expand the positive circumstances, relationships and energy in our lives. The more we practice gratitude, the more we find to be grateful for – it’s a self fulfilling prophecy. Over time this state of gratitude becomes a sustained trait.
Gratitude is more than an attitude, it's a habit! Like any habit, it requires dedication, focus and practice at first. But it's oh so worth it!
I invite you to find the hidden gifts by purposefully and intentionally practicing gratitude each day.
You’ll begin to see the treasure in your challenges, feel more energetic, confident, uplifted, and certainly less stuck or defeated. Commit to writing down three things you’re grateful for every day.
As you recall something, pause, and allow your entire body to feel the joy of that gift. A benefit of journaling comes on difficult days when you have trouble naming three things because you can easily review previous entries and quickly be encouraged by all the good you’ve already identified in your life.
It will likely inspire you to discover at least one new thing for which you are grateful.
After a few weeks, you’ll notice a greater sense of contentment in your life. You’ll begin to see what really matters to you, notice things you’ve been taking for granted, and feel a renewed sense of peace, satisfaction and inspiration in your current life situation – even if you’re struggling through a transition or challenge.
Congratulations, you've opened up the energy of allowing more grace, gratitude, beauty, and blessings into your life! Now that's something to be grateful for too!
About the Author
Linda Mitchell, a Professional Transformational Coach, is the founder of Linda Mitchell Coaching and Healing. She has been coaching and practicing in the healing arts for over 20 years, operating from a deep desire to empower people to move through life’s many challenges and transitions with ease and grace. Her unique “Reinvention Program” helps people reclaim balance, and better health and gain clarity on their next steps in order to define, create and truly live the life they desire.
