Purposful ​Gratitude

Gratitude doesn’t come easy in the midst of loss, pain, and internal discomfort. The thing is: gratitude is like medicine.

This month marks 11 years since my first life changing Awakening.  This Awakening was preceded by a time of deep sadness, pain, and spiritual bankruptcy.  A professional suggested that I write out a gratitude list which named all of the things that I was grateful for.  It is such a vivid memory.  Sitting there in my room, pen in hand, I had nothing – Nada!  But then something happened – I took the suggestion of starting simple and began listing basic things like “my vision.” Before too long I had an entire page filled with things, people, events, and circumstances that I was grateful for.

As a daily practice, gratitude can change your outlook on life.  Start now:  make a commitment to seven days of gratitude.  Each morning before your day begins, write out seven things that you are grateful for. Simple, nothing fancy needed: just some willingness, a pen, and paper. 

The purposeful action of identifying things that we appreciate, are thankful, and grateful for shifts our perspective.  It has the power to change how we see ourselves, our life, and those that we love.