Gratitude
I just heard about a study that confirms that people who practice gratitude on a weekly basis are happier people. Personally, I know how much better I feel about everything when I take time to notice and write about what I feel grateful for in my life. It's impossible to be in a bad mood when you are feeling grateful for what you have. It's probably the best and easiest way to change the way you feel. I know this yet I don't always take the time to do it. I would like to commit to writing my gratitudes on a weekly basis.
Thanks for the reminder to
Thanks for the reminder to practice gratitude. I recently had knee surgery. At the hospital I was "people watching". There were so many really sick people young and old. I kept thinking "I am so grateful for my health and the health of my family and friends".
As part of my homework from
As part of my homework from my Goup Coaching session I have to list 10 things about my house I am grateful for. Here they are:
1) My neighbours/neighbourhood (we watch out for each other)
2) Safe and family community
3) Quiet street for the kids to ride their bikes, roller blade, skateboard and play hockey
4) Close distance to parks, stores, restarants, coffee shops, community centres, friends
5) Cosy & warm
6) Lots of storage
7) Easy to clean
8) Big backyard for the kids to play
9) Big dinning room & kitchen windows(overlooking the backyard) with lots of sunlight.
10) It is home to my family, which is what I am most grateful for.
Tell me what you're grateful for. The exercise helps you get in touch with what matters most. AFter doing this exercise I realize it's not about the physical envirnoment but instead the people in my life that I love and the memories and moments we share in this physical space.
I grateful for choosing to
I grateful for choosing to live a simple life. I stay focused on those I love, my health and being happy. I have found in order for me to be happy, i have to eliminate those things that cause me stress. I tend not to worry and get stressed out as much because I stay focused on the fact that things will get done in the end...so i take a big breath and exhale little by little. I have found that instead of yearning and wanting things, I just keep them in my memory and they eventually come. I've lost people close to me and I try to remeber those who have too that I may not know. This grounds me in keeping life in perspective and to not get caught up. I find myself living closer to the saying " day by day". People tend to become grateful for things once they're gone and may have come back. I want to live to be grateful day by day which ultimately leads to true happiness. I love myself , my kids, and my dear husband. With them by my side....life is good:)
As I brushed my teeth, I
As I brushed my teeth, I thought, how could i not put my dear friends and the rest of my family. My friends...you know who you are....really important to me. Love you.
Gratitude and appreciation
I have been practising shifting my gratitude to appreciation. I know they seem like the same word but actually, they are different and sometimes you can feel the difference. Gratitude can come from a perspective of "things could be so bad and I'm so glad their not bad for me." Appreciation is straight love for what is going on now. You can appreciate the road crew who are fixing the roads. You can appreciate the sunlight as it streams through your window. It is a very subtle difference. Try it to see if you can feel the difference. I think you'll find appreciation uplifts you even more.
Christmas and the Holidays
Christmas and the Holidays are over and the kids are back in school. I'm sitting here thinking wow we have it good. We spent lots of time with our family and friends, socializing, dinners, lunches, going out for drinks, x-mas parties, exchanging gifts, sending/receiving x-mas cards, connecting with long distance relatvies and friends, going to our cottage, skiing, tobogganing, snow tubing... We live in a land of plenty. It makes me sad when I think of people who have nothing (food, clothes, shelter, family, friends...)We are so fortunate to live the life we live. This is a great time to remind my kids and others to be grateful. And think of something they/we can do to help others less fortunate than us.
Grateful
I am grateful for my health, the health of my family and friends and I am especially grateful to be a Canadian. We are the lucky ones. Truly.
This is what it's all about
I am feeling so grateful at the moment for everything in my life. For my family, friends, health, home, and the list can go on forever. Staying in this space of gratitude makes life so full and exciting. It's impossible to get frustrated or feel stressed out in this space.