Description
I am full of gratitude.
I have so much to be thankful for. All of my needs and many of my wants are met. People who care about me surround me and I am aware of their loving presence. Because of this, I am full of gratitude.
So many people in this world go without basic needs: food, shelter, or clean water. Many struggles just to get by each day. When I think about these things, I remember how blessed I am. Regardless of what my future may hold, today I have food, shelter, and clean water and those gifts are worthy of my gratitude.
Each day, I take a few moments to remind myself of my many blessings. I think of the people who love me. I take a moment to mentally send love and gratitude to all of them in return.
I remember all of how life is easy for me. I have gifts and talents to share. Many things come easily to me, even when I feel challenged by my life. Other things come less easily to me, but I know that each one is an opportunity to learn.
I intentionally cultivate thankfulness for life's challenging situations too. Always be on the lookout for good things that are coming into your life. And when you notice these things, you give thanks for them.
A delicious meal…
A gorgeous sunset…
A car that you love…
A peaceful walk with your loved ones…
Friends who make you laugh and love…
If you want to be grateful, you must regularly be noticing all the good things, big and small that come into your life.
If I ever feel like I have little to be grateful for, and counting my blessings seems not to help, I go out of my way to do a good turn for someone else. By being helpful to others, I remind myself that the world is an abundant place. And when I remember this, I am grateful.
Today, I am thankful for the blessings in my life. I take time to be conscious of each of them. With all of this abundance surrounding me, I am full of gratitude.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- What can I be thankful for today?
2. How can I be of service to someone today?
3. In what ways does being helpful to others increase my own gratitude?
Keep a gratitude journal.
If you find you're having difficulty remembering to notice the things that stir your inner thankfulness, perhaps starting a gratitude journal would help. A journal is a tangible visual aid that will trigger you to think about what you're grateful for.
Try just putting the date on the page and jotting down what you're grateful for at that time. You can write as much or as little as you wish. Place your journal in a spot where you'll see it frequently, like on the dining room table, the kitchen counter, or near your favourite chair. This way, you'll be prompted to experience your gratitude more often.
If you'd like a free digital copy of my "Happiness Journal" that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here.
Roy Clayton