Today I have immense gratitude for everything in my life.

Today I have immense gratitude for everything in my life.

How does it feel when you say that? Does it feel true? How can we have not only gratitude but immense gratitude for everything in our lives? Aren’t there many things that we don’t like in our lives? Aren’t there things that we didn’t ask for in our lives, things we didn’t choose? We can find it easier to be grateful for things we like or want than things that are difficult.

I have learned that gratitude is a muscle. Using that muscle strengthens it. Having a strong gratitude practice can and will change our lives. When we focus on what we have instead of what we don’t have we feel peace. We get out of ‘lack’ and into enough. In my life today that’s how I define success. It is not in how much money I have, the kind of car I drive, the house I live in, or the clothes I wear. It is how I feel. Having gratitude keeps me feeling good.

What if gratitude was a feeling and not a thought?

Would it seem different then? If we could get out of our heads and into our hearts, think less and feel more, I believe we would experience more gratitude.

How do we do that?

I started by remembering that everything happens for me. Everything I experience comes to me to help me grow and expand. Sometimes in the middle of difficult times, that’s not easy to realize. I know that every situation I look back on in my life held gifts for my highest and greatest good. I choose to look at those gifts and be grateful for them.

Start and end each day in gratitude.

The first thing I say when I wake up is ‘thank you’. Starting my day in gratitude brings me more things to be grateful for. I have an alarm on my phone set at 10 and 2 to remind me to check on how I’m feeling. Sometimes we slowly get into a low place and don’t realize it. We are running late and the car in front of us is going slow. Then we get to work and our coworker is upset. Next, we get a call from a family member telling us we ‘should’ do something. By that time we would be feeling anything but peaceful. The alarms are a reminder to check on my feelings and adjust them as needed. I remind myself how I want to feel and what I’m grateful for, taking the focus off what I don’t want.

I have a gratitude journal and write at least 3 things I’m grateful for at the end of each day. The last thought I have falling asleep is ‘Thank you’. I keep repeating it until I fall asleep. Being grateful is one of the best ways to change how you feel. Try it!

When we change the world changes.

When we change the world changes.

When we change the world changes.