Gratitude – one of the most talked about concepts and reasons behind people’s happiness. Practicing gratitude and engaging in a regular gratitude practice is rather simple; it just takes a reminder to do it every day. Consider putting one on your phone to begin, and the more you do it, the more it will likely become a daily habit that needs no reminder.
Right now, I want you to stop and think about everything you are grateful for in your life. It could be you family, your partner, children, friends, the house you live in, the car you drive, the clothes you are wearing, the amazing relationships you have, the fact you were able to exercise today, the choices you have, your career, the food on your plate (there are seriously so many things to be grateful for).
Now I want you to think about the things you are grateful for that have happened today. It might be your morning yoga practice, your morning commute, the kiss from your partner before leaving for work, the amazing breakfast you whipped up, the chance you had to help somebody, the inspiring conversation you had with someone. Again, there are so many things in our day to be grateful for, and it’s not until we stop and reflect, that we realise this.
When at a BBQ, dinner, coffee date, catching up with friends or family, the response I am most often met with when I ask ‘how’s work? Or ‘how’s things/life?’ is ‘I am so busy!’ I think I hear this in probably 95% of my conversations. It’s as if busy has become a badge of honour. I have been guilty of this myself (and still probably am). But what I am trying to do when I am asked this question is respond by saying ‘I have had a great, productive and satisfying week!’ and it really does make a difference to the whole conversation (it becomes easier when you practice the examples above daily and weekly).
These reflections of gratitude above can be done at really any time of the day. I often write 3 things I am grateful for that happened that day in a journal before I go to bed, which have often appeared in my dreams that night. Try it for yourselves and I would be interested to hear the difference you notice.
Article by guest blogger Kelley Reynard of www.bodyzcompass.com.au