Gratitude is more than being thankful. It is more than simply words. Gratitude is a feeling that comes from so deep within you can feel it, experience it, and understand it completely.
What Is Gratitude?
Gratitude is both an act and an ability that is important to express. It is something we must nurture and continue to grow as it has great implications in life.
Why Is Gratitude Important?
Your ability to express and receive gratitude is directly tied to your beliefs about yourself. When you are grateful for who you are, you’ll experience more confidence, self-esteem, and overall happiness.
If you are not able to be totally grateful, there is something blocking you internally, and you’ve got to release it in order to experience gratitude to its fullest extent.
Gratitude is something you both give & receive, and unless you can give & receive it within yourself, you’ll never be able to fully appreciate others or receive their appreciation.
Gratitude is Not An Either/Or Option
Many people believe that you cannot want for anything more and be grateful for what you have at the same time. I disagree.
You can be grateful for all that you have, and you can also want more. Wanting more in life does not mean you’re ungrateful for what you have. It means you have goals and dreams and desires, and you’ll also achieve those more easily when you are grateful for what you already have. So in reality, they work well together and compliment each other.
How Can You Experience Gratitude?
There are several ways to experience gratitude:
1. Keep a gratitude journal. Even if you spend just 1 minute each day writing down things you are thankful for in your life, you’ll create an energy shift and attract more things to be grateful for.
2. Do the mirror exercise. This simple technique can produce HUGE results, as it shifts your focus and head talk. Most of us focus on what we could have done better, instead of appreciating ourselves for what we did do. Doing the mirror exercise gets you in the habit of appreciating yourself and this gratitude is important for healthy head talk.
3. Meditate. There is no right or wrong when it comes to meditating. The key is to quiet your mind for even just a few minutes each day, so that you can access the power of your unconscious mind. To get into a grateful meditative state, you simply focus on what you’re grateful for, and stay in that space for as long as you want.
4. Use a gratitude trigger. Most of us have negative triggers that we are well aware of, but there are also things that can trigger gratitude within you. For me, when I hear Martina McBride’s song “Blessed” – I immediately get filled with gratitude. Something simple like that can get you in the right frame of mind.
So take one minute now while this is fresh in your mind and give thanks. Express your gratitude and relish in its gift. ~ SS
