Keep up the gratitude. Everyone wins.

How is the gratitude challenge going?
Are you doing it?
How are you feeling?
Does the checklist give you some new ways to think of gratitude?
This photo is our family gratitude jar. At dinner we each wrote 3 gratefuls. It is fun to look back at some of the things you have put in the jar. 
Why gratitude?:

1. You can’t feel fear and gratitude at the same time. This is a brain fact. So whenever you get in the place where you are future-tripping or in constant circular fear and anxiety. Stop. Close your eyes. Breathe. At least three deep breaths. Then think of three things you are grateful for. If this pattern of fear comes back then repeat this exercise as much as you need to to get out of the loop. It will work. You will feel better and you will be training your brain to shift its focus! That is something to be proud of. Remember it is like working out. You don’t work out once and then you are in shape for the rest of your life. You need to train your brain. Take it easy, be gentle and keep on shifting your focus. You CAN do this. 
2. Growing, both spiritually and personally, requires us to bring gratefulness to our everyday life. Even when the circumstances aren’t “obviously joy filled.” It is the courage to be willing to see the lesson in “getting a flat tire.” This is sometimes tricky at first. Please remember this is a practice, it is a process not a perfectionistic way of being. Feeling the feeling of getting the flat tire, the frustration, anger, annoyance, etc. but then to be able to take a beat so that you don’t stay in those emotions, that you can shift to what would better serve you, the lesson. Then to be grateful for it. Is a process. It is something to practice. Try it on something small at first. A typical thing that happens that gets to you. See it, feel it, name it, take a breath, shift your focus and see if you can see it from a lesson perspective. Then acknowledge it and be grateful for the opportunity to learn. If you feel extreme resistance about this then back off it. Stay with daily gratitude. It will strengthen the muscle. 
3. We feel better and want to live a life well lived. What better way to do this than to share how we appreciate someone or are thinking of them. When we extend ourselves to others we are not only spreading love and making them feel good but it increases our happiness as well. Since Covid is making it tough to do this in person it is especially important to reach out and call, zoom, write a note or text someone you are grateful for. You will make their day a little more special and that will boomerang back to you.

   We are in challenging times so it is a perfect opportunity to find gratitude as much as you can in people, places, things, events and moments and to spread that energy. Then, when we look back on this time we will be grateful how much we grew, developed, changed and emerged better, stronger and more loving all around. 

Happy Tuesday. 
Keep up the great work.

Let's flip 2020. 

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