The Art of Gratitude

Give Thanks - 3 Ways Gratitude Can Change Your Life

Gratitude. It seems like the latest in a long line of mindfulness trends taking place lately. Everywhere you turn, you’re bombarded with the buzz word - especially as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. But rightfully so. Gratitude is one of the easiest and most effective tools you can use to change your life. 

My gratitude practice became a regular part of my daily routine after my divorce.  Rather than focusing on what was going wrong in my life, I began looking for what was right. Each night before bed, I wrote down three things for which I was grateful. Adopting the attitude of gratitude was key to my transformation, which is why I often recommend a similar practice for my coaching clients.

Below are 3 benefits you’ll receive by practicing the art of gratitude on a regular basis. 

1. Practicing gratitude invites you to see abundance rather than lack in your life. When you look at the lack in your life, all you see is lack. The art of gratitude is looking for abundance. When you look for positivity, goodness and abundance, you’ll be amazed at what is showing up for you daily. Ask yourself what went right today? You woke up. You breathed. Your heart continued beating even though it may have been hurting. Everyday, there is something that worked for you. Look for it!

2. Being grateful shifts your perspective on your current situation. Life can get hectic and feel overwhelming at times. In those moments, rather than asking why or wondering what you did to deserve this, practice gratitude instead. How can you shift your perspective to see what this phase of life or current situation is teaching you? How are you growing and evolving because of what you’re facing. Be grateful for the lesson. Embrace it and move forward. 

3. The art of gratitude helps change your inner dialogue. Like I mentioned in benefit #1, looking for goodness breeds goodness. Suddenly, you begin seeing abundance and positivity all around you. Along your gratitude journey, you’re likely to experience a mindset shift. Rather than responding negatively, looking for the positive in all situations will become second nature to you. Your inner voice will start telling you how beautiful you are, how you rocked that presentation and how you nailed adulting today. Once that inner dialogue shifts, watch out world! You’ll bloom and grow in amazing ways.

Starting a gratitude practice can be as simple as listing one thing each day for which you are grateful. November is a great time to get started. Join a #30daysofgratitude challenge on Instagram or Facebook to hold yourself accountable. 

And, don’t forget to download the FREE 7-Day Love + Gratitude Journal to get started! 

PS… I am eternally grateful for the love and support I feel from this community. You, my dear readers, are listed daily in my gratitude journal! Every time you e-mail me, comment on my blog posts, share the posts with your friends, repin a quote or an article, or send me a text, I get chills. You all light me up inside!