How to Design a Gratitude Practice

Gratitude is an elixir. It’s one of those beautiful gifts that you can give to others and receive a corresponding benefit for yourself and in the process – everyone wins!

Gratitude creates a high vibe energy.  High vibe energy is the life force of creation.  It’s a connector to other high vibe goodness that generates, elevates and expands life in meaningful ways.

And here’s the good news – all it takes is a choice! It doesn’t cost anything, you don’t have to schedule it, it doesn’t take a lot of time, you don’t have to travel to find it – simply choose gratitude and for extra feel-good vibes – share it!

I admit, it’s easy to have a gratitude practice when we feel good and grateful.  So, let’s talk about being grateful when life feels hard, tough or daunting.

Start small.

Find gratitude in the everyday occurrences – those things you may take for granted:

• Be grateful for each breath you take.
• Be grateful for all of your senses: that you can see, smell, hear and touch the experience of life all around you.
• Be grateful for your ability to move.
• Be grateful for the roof over your head and the food on your plate.
• Be grateful for your friends and family.
• Be grateful for the computer or phone you have to read this message!
• Be grateful that you can read.

As you express gratitude, feel your way into the words and sentiments. Feel the resulting emotion. Move into a deeper expression of it.  Then, capture it to keep it close.

One of the many ways you can keep gratitude front and center is to keep a gratitude journal.  (And I happen to know where you can find a fabulous variety of journals! 😊)

Create a morning routine to start each day in gratitude and find something new every day to be grateful for.  Write it down in your journal. Commit to living into it throughout the day and sharing it with others when you’re moved to.

When you have a challenging day, you can look back in your gratitude journal for the days when gratitude was flowing to help you shift your state of mind.

When you do this with consistency, you will create a mindset of gratitude and, miraculously, the challenging days will melt away as you recognize the goodness that is all around you and in you.

Here’s a glimpse into my gratitude journal for today:

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the extraordinary people in my life.  Those who have been with me for decades, for years, for weeks, for moments. Everyone who has touched my life and chosen to give me the gift of their presence.  Those who show up week after week and those who pop by for an unexpected moment.”

I am grateful for you.

Thank you for enjoying this journey of life with me.  We’re all in this together and knowing you are on the other side of this message, connecting, appreciating, learning and growing with me gives me deep satisfaction and an enduring love for humanity.

Namaste.

Joan