As Thanksgiving week approaches, our thoughts turn to gratitude. For some, it’s the once-a-year holiday ritual around the dinner table as each person proclaims what they’re most thankful for. Family. Health. My job. This meal.
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude throughout the year, however, is nothing short of transformative. That’s because of the universal law that states: What you focus on expands. In other words, what you appreciate appreciates. And, where attention goes, energy flows.
Here are three ways to activate the power of gratitude.
1) Feeling fearful? Who isn’t these days? The good news is that fear and gratitude cannot coexist. The next time you’re worrying about change, your job or business, or your children, stop and take a moment to count your blessings. One of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep is to write in a gratitude journal before bedtime.
2) Dealing with challenging relationships? It might be your boss, client, spouse or teenager. Or perhaps it’s the relative that will share Thanksgiving dinner with you this year. Refrain from criticism (what you think, as well as what you say) for one week. Instead, focus on the qualities you most appreciate about that person–even if it’s just that they teach you to be more patient. You’ll begin to notice that the energy will shift and the relationship will be more positive and productive.
3) Ready to turbocharge your goals? As you begin to plan for the New Year and claim your resolutions, be thankful for what is and what will be in anticipation of your success. When you affirm the goals you set, begin the statement with: “I am so happy and thankful now that…”
What gratitude practice works for you?