Gratitude Tips

Gratitude Tips

November naturally and rightfully brings thoughts of what we are thankful for if only for a brief time. Traditionally we set aside a day or maybe make a habit of being grateful the entire month culminating with our national holiday. It is good to give thanks. Gratitude is proven to increase happiness, lifting mood and even serious depression when practiced regularly. However, it is in our nature to overlook things, take things for granted or to focus on the negative and we must be disciplined to prevent this.

Here are a few ideas of how to increase the practice of gratitude in your life just in time for the holidays!

• Make a list adding one thing you are thankful for each day
• Have a decorate dish out with paper and pen for folks to write down things they are grateful for. Mix ‘em up and read a few at the holiday or do it all season and reflect on them at the new year.
• Send hand written thank you cards via snail mail to friends or family
• Slip an unexpected note of thanks in a lunch box or under a pillow.
• Look anew at your reflection and be thankful for what you see 
• Create a collage of images of people, places, experiences that have made an impact  on you, build on it all season till the new year. Invite family to join in on the effort.

Look for the ordinary and extraordinary in each moment, each day. Regardless of what difficulties or frustrations you may encounter there is something to say thank you for, find it. Record it, revel in it.

I challenge you to make a practice of gratitude and extend it to the new year. I promise it will make you holiday bright and set you on a positive course going into the new year.

I am eternally grateful to all my clients and friends that share so much of who they are with me and with each other as we grow together into being more of who we are while unfolding rich, intimate friendships along the way.

Thank you!

The One Thing That Should Top Your Thanks-giving List But Likely Does Not

It is the time of year that our thoughts turn to gratitude. Thanksgiving is upon us and although it increasing serves as the starting line for Christmas shopping it remains one of our most treasured all

American traditions. It is good to give thanks for a multitude of reasons not the least of which is that is effectively serves to increase happiness, in fact if used as a regular practice it is clinically proven to alleviate clinical depression.
We take so many things in life for granted but I think the thing we take most for granted is ourselves.
At best we add to our Thanksgiving list the generalized "I am thankful" for my health, but there are so many aspects and elements of ourselves we do not recognize and celebrate.
We are conditioned to focus on our failure, be our own worst critic and gloss over our attributes, I think this is especially true for women. Often, we have been raised to do this made to feel guilt , cocky or arrogant to recognize our own strengths or talents some religious teaching goes so far to make it the sin of pride to feel good about the good stuff in you. This is pure poppycock of course and is one of the things we do culturally that hinders us greatly and undermines our self esteem. Nevertheless, it cam feel uncomfortable to focus on our good stuff so many times we do not or even try to diminish it.
I contend that to not recognize the strengths and talents we have and be grateful for the blessing that we are seems the highest form of arrogance and sin.
I suggest this season as you practice gratitude or even offer a prayer of thanks that you start with yourself. When is the last time you were thankful for your vision and all it allows you to see and experience? Have you appreciated the strength you have mentally, emotionally or physically lately?
What parts of your personality do you most enjoy? Are you funny, thoughtful, silly? Celebrate that.
I am grateful to have a strong healthy body, for my senses that offer me a full rich experience of the wonders of this world. I enjoy my attitude of openness and acceptance to the things and people I encounter and I am thankful I have these and many other things within me to enjoy myself and my life fully.
This season look a bit deeper at the aspects of yourself that you are proud of, the parts of your body that serve you well that you rarely think about, (so thankful that heart keeps beating). Look with fresh eyes at the image in the mirror. Let go for a moment of the critical eye we most often view ourselves with and find the beauty that is there. What do you like about your appearance? Who does that feature remind you of? How does your face reflect your emotion and convey warmth?
All the good things we offer and experience flow through and from ourselves. Remember to be thankful for yourself, for all that you are and all that you bring to the world.

30 Day Challenge: List the best of you with categories to include physical, talents and skills, personality traits and post this where you can see it daily.  Become more comfortable and aware of the wonder you actually are. See how your attitude shifts as a result.