I was listening to a podcast recently and they were chatting about gratitude. The guest on the show (Mel Robbins podcast with Jay Shetty as the guest) said, ‘Instead of thinking what do I have that I’m grateful for, think of what can I not live without’. That made my mind implode!
I mean, think of how your life would be without something or someone. The old adage – ‘You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’. Thinking about gratitude in reverse is such a game changer. It made me think of all the people, places and things that I feel I cannot live without and in turn am so incredibly grateful for. Wow…just Wow!
Think about that quote above. Reflect on your life, you are most likely currently living in an answered prayer. We tend to dwell on what we don’t have or constantly striving for more. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with goals and aspirations…but do you truly take time to sit in your current state. Sitting in the present (your current gift) and having gratitude for where you are and what you’ve overcome. If you are overjoyed with every aspect of your current situation – kudos to you. But let’s be real, that isn’t quite everyone’s reality. If you are currently trapsing through some tough times, I encourage you to find SOMETHING to be proud of yourself for – something to give gratitude for. PLEASE remember, there is ALWAYS something.
Someone Would Love to Live Your Worst Day. ~Jay Shetty
That one was worth repeating. Personally, I write in two journals in the morning. Don’t deep sigh at me…my morning process is less than 10 minutes. I write in my manifestation journal. EVERY entry since October of last year starts with ‘In diving timing…’ and then I go from there. I write my vision for myself and I’ve already had one come to fruition and it was a big one. Secondly, I write in a prompted journal. It’s great, as I’ve heard from so many people ‘I don’t know what to write about’, this journal takes the guess work out. It’s one question a day and some really make you think. I answer my journal prompt and end my entry with gratitude. I’ve recently altered my gratitude practice. Not only do I list all of the people and things I’m grateful for in my life, I’ve started to reflect on what I’m grateful for about ME. I’m grateful for my strong body, my creative mind, generous heart – so much gratitude for the work I’ve done on myself and I thank myself every morning. Try it!
So, I sometimes write a blog over a period of a few days. Here is reality at it’s finest. Ironic that I had a bit of a Debbie Downer moment yesterday. I wrote above ‘we tend to dwell on what we don’t have’…well, I did just that yesterday and my sweet boyfriend pulled me out by flipping the script and reminding me of the things I should be grateful for. I AM grateful for those things, but I was believing all the silly things my mind was telling me that aren’t going as I’d like them to. It was an instant mood booster. You need people in your life to check you. One step further, in chatting with a friend this morning and sharing with her that I miss my boyfriend, she said ‘be grateful you are with someone worth missing’. Wowzer – I’m blessed.
A gratitude practice really works my friends! When you have a moment where you aren’t feeling so grateful, yet have a regular gratitude practice, it’s so much easier to get back in that state. I am SO incredibly grateful for my village of people that lift me up when I need it the most. Surround yourself with beautiful people and LIVE IN GRATITUDE, even when you have to dig deep to find it. After all, you are living and breathing, even if you are struggling – you are HERE and on this earth and you have a purpose. Do you need something to be grateful for – you woke up today. Cherish that! Go buy yourself some flowers or take photos of beautiful flowers on a walk. These flowers were at a woman’s home on the Oregon coast and I was so taken by how gorgeous and vibrant they were (I LOVE hydrangeas).
As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!
P.S. Need a journal? I’ve got you! Head on over to my shop HERE and you can have your very own Heal Cook Love journal and pen. Your support on this journey means the world to me.
