While standing in line at the grocery store a few weeks ago, I remember sadly gazing at all of the groceries in the very full basket in front of me. As I began to realize that I would be solely responsible for getting all of the groceries into the car and then into my home, I began to feel exasperated. At that moment, I realized that I had a powerful choice. I could look at my current situation through the lens of discontent for all of the “suffering” that I would endure in order to get my purchases home, or I could choose to adopt the mindset of GRATITUDE!
Why is having an attitude of gratitude so important? Research has shown that the energy of appreciation can have a tremendous effect on your emotional, mental, and physical health. In addition to increasing personal levels of happiness, gratitude also lowers blood pressure and strengthens the immune system. Most importantly, it’s more difficult for negative emotions such as envy, resentment, and regret to affect our energy fields when we stand within the magical field of gratitude.
How to Practice Gratitude
There are three easy ways that we can use to incorporate this vital practice into our daily lives. First, the act of listing in a journal each day what you are grateful for is a great way to plug into the energy of appreciation. A grateful outlook must be developed and consistently nurtured. When we focus on what we love about our lives, even if everything else seems to be falling apart, we draw in more abundance from the Universe. Therefore, end each day by listing every blessing that you experienced during the day, and offer a silent, “Thank you” to the Universe.
A second habit that can prove helpful is speaking expressions of gratitude to those in our lives. Tell your significant other, your children, and other special people, “I am lucky to have you in my life.” When you let others know how valued and appreciated they are, not only do you shine your inner light, but you also pave the way for the recipient of your kind words to receive positive energy.
The third way to channel gratitude is to reframe the situations in your life that cause stress. For example, after reassessing my earlier situation with the large amount of groceries, it quickly became apparent that actually I was very fortunate. There are many people who cannot afford to buy a sandwich, let alone a cart full of groceries. Furthermore, not everyone has a home to where they can take their groceries. As I looked at the situation through the lens of appreciation, I began to feel better. I gave gratitude priority over any feelings of exasperation.
Gratitude brings a magical energy that is peaceful. You can silence your Ego by giving thanks for every situation that comes your way and trusting that everything will serve your greater good. Give thanks for all of it—the good, the bad, and the terrible. You can benefit greatly by developing an attitude of gratitude as your new perspective in challenging situations.