A few years ago I was introduced to the paradigm: the grass is greenest where you water it. Meaning that if you’re so focused on what others have and come from a place of jealousy and envy, it’s difficult to see and grow the beauty and abundance in your life.
I have kept a journal for most of my life. It started as a diary when I was 10 or so, maybe even younger. It was electric blue, had Snoopy and Charlie Brown on the cover, and it actually locked! You know, back in those days, I couldn’t afford to have one of my sisters read my deepest, darkest secrets.
Today, I have multiple journals sitting around my home, one on each floor, in my purse and now I even have a few apps on my iPhone. I use them very differently today than I did 10 years ago. I went from writing about all the bad times, stress, disappointments, breakups, and “troubles.”
I literally broke up with my old journals – I sent them packing through the shredder. As I tore each handful of pages out of the journal, the crackle of the shredder churned my words into tiny pieces.
It was the most wonderful sound. And with each page, I become more and more free from the stories in my life that were holding me back.
I’m not sure when or what brought me to my big ah-ha, but one day I decided to focus on all the good in my life, all the growth I saw for myself, and to track my dreams – from simple to holy-wow dreams. (By dreams, I’m referring to life goals, not images in your head while you sleep.)
And most importantly, to show gratitude for the generosity the universe has shown me and for the abundance of love, peace, joy and happiness I have in my life.
Here’s what I know to be true for me. When I show gratitude or dream daily, I’m rewarded generously – my life swells with joy, peace, happiness. Even when things don’t go as planned (life happens), it seems more manageable. But when I lapse in my habit of gratitude, life becomes more stressful, tiring and tough and nothing seems to go my way.
If you’re like me and need a little help to keep you on track, here are three easy to use tools to support you.
- From Gratitude to Bliss: A Journey in Health and Happiness. The journal will simply guide you to a daily gratitude practice.
- Gratitude Journal and Five Minute Journal: Apps for iPhone. These apps are always at your fingers, allowing you to track what your thankful for each day.
- Grateful160.com is a free site that will give you email reminders as often as you’d like to count your blessings.
I’d love to hear from you. How do you practice gratitude daily? Post a comment or a question. I’ll personally take the time to reply.
