As I sit in my living room, holding my laptop on my legs, surrounded by trees, I have a gorgeous view from the City and my beautiful dog is at my feet. It is fall and the air is crisp. As I gather my thoughts, I notice my emotional state: content, calm and peaceful.
As I start writing about gratitude, I just realize, it is exactly how I feel today. I have so many blessings in my life and countless reasons to say thanks. Experiencing gratitude can positively impact both your mental and emotional state and your ability to achieve the life you want.
Gratitude can be described as personality strength—the ability to be keenly aware of the good things that happen to you and never take them for granted.
A few years ago, I used to wake up, dress up with beautiful clothes, spray a delicious perfume, get a cup of coffee and run… not paying attention to the blue sky, to the warm feeling of the sun on my shoulders and the sound of the wind. Until one day, an older lady was trying to cross the street with her walker and no one would stop for her to cross. I stopped the car, got out, looked at her and said: Let’s go, I am here with you. She smiled; I helped her cross the street and tried to go back to my car. She said; wait, I looked at her she grabbed my hands and said: I am grateful for you in my life today, you made my day happy as I felt loved by a stranger. At that moment, the world was only a smile full of gratitude.
I came back to my car, and as I was driving I felt different, something shifted on me. The word gratitude was with me the whole day so as the peaceful happy face of the lady.
From that day I was willing to change, to start my day in a different way and to pay attention to my surroundings, to really feel and show gratitude from all things in my life, including nature, health, relationships, everything.
My life changed, I noticed, over time, a real change in the whole trajectory of my life. I found that my efforts to create the career I desire and to have a satisfying life was increasingly successful. I begin to have a practical experience of the positive impact of approaching my life with a focus on gratitude. Which gave me even more to be grateful for.
I love to share with you some ways to start practicing gratitude to improve your well-being:
- Keep a gratitude journal. At the end of each day, write down 5 things from the day you feel grateful for.
- Take the time to share your feelings. the heartfelt emotions. Tell your loved ones how their support and sense of humor helps you get through tough times, and how much it means to you. Let them know how much you love them and why.
- Look for what is right about a situation, not what’s wrong. Even with frustration by the challenges of your day; thankfully you have an amazing life. Service at the restaurant is poor, but you are lucky to afford an evening out surrounded by good friends.
- Go for a walk in nature, look around you, feel the air, and breathe gratitude for mother nature.
- Say thank you for a good meal.
- Tell your Mother (even if she is not with you) how much you are grateful for the life she gave you.
One of the marvelous things about gratitude – it has no upper limit, as far as I can tell. You can be as grateful as you want to be. And what better time to start than this week?
Writing fills my heart with gratitude and joy! What are you grateful for today?