3 Steps To A Blessing Centered Attitude of Gratitude
Have you noticed that gratitude is a hot topic lately? By now most of us are aware of all the research around how being grateful helps us live a happy life. Like many of you, learning there is a connection between gratitude and happiness was enough for me to dive in head first in practicing being grateful over the past 12 months. While doing this, I have found that in order to get the full benefit of a grateful attitude, you need to actively pursue gratefulness each day. It's not enough to just feel thankful. It takes being deliberate. As a result I have been able to fully experience gratitude at a new level. Feeling happy was just one benefit. I have also felt contentment and love that stays with me all day.
Pursuing gratitude helped me be more solution-focused because I avoid having a problem centered attitude. Rather I have a blessing centered attitude. There are three simple steps I developed that builds what I call
A Blessing Centered Attitude of Gratitude
1. Live in each moment with a grateful heart
2. Recall and relive special moments often
3. Tell others the reason you are grateful for them.
These steps have transformed my ability to experience gratitude and it will do the same for you. Each of these steps work together to create a peace within you that will be noticeable to everybody around you.
So let's break these steps down.
#1 Live In Each Moment With A Grateful Heart.
This mindfulness practice will center you. Feel gratitude in your heart in each moment as you live it. As you become more aware of your gratitude in the moment you are claiming ownership over the memory! You are placing value in it. Now this moment is treasured and important.
Oftentimes, I will pause and take in the energy of the space where I am. I do this by taking a deep breath and noticing all that is around me. Noticing all that I see, hear, feel and taste. I say to myself, “I am grateful for this perfect moment.” When I do that, no matter where I am, my attitude shifts and problems seem to drift away. My total focus is on the blessings that I have in each precious moment.
#2 Recall and Relive Your Special Moments Often
I hold myself accountable to do this by keeping a google sheet available to open at any given time on my phone. Whenever there is a special moment I want to remember I will type in the date and a few words about the moment in that google document. Later, I read what I wrote and recall the memory in detail so my mind will be able to revisit that for years to come.
Since I've done this I can travel back in time and relive entire memories again and again in my mind. It is rewarding and empowering. I invite you to adopt this practice in the year to come. And to level up you gratitude even more, whenever you have the opportunity, share the memory with another. This will further cement that moment in your memory. That way you can be filled with gratitude again and again whenever you revisit of that memory.
Explore your own way of recalling your grateful moments, but make sure you do! Our mind will remember the things that we value. We place value on things by giving it the attention that it deserves so our mind knows that it matters. This goes for our memories as much as it does for our actions. By paying attention and replaying a special moment you are telling yourself that this memory matters.
#3 Tell Others The Reason You Are Grateful For Them
Give those around you this wonderful gift. It costs you nothing but some boldness and willingness to share. This practice will fill your emotional cup up with joy. You will experience happiness on a new level as you watch another light up when you share from your heart.
There is nothing more rewarding than helping another person feel amazing! Never make the mistake of keeping your grateful attitude all to yourself. Share it willingly and generously. Open up and tell others what you appreciate about them. When you see something positive and praiseworthy, be bold enough to share it! Your kind words may be the best part of that other person's day. Do you remember the last time somebody gave you a random unexpected complement? Yes you do because your mind valued that moment. Each of us crave to be noticed. So be the one that notices the good in another person and in return you will be remembered as the one that brighten their day.
In episode 95 of my podcast: Parenting with The Focused Mindset I shared a moment I had while watching my daughter play volleyball. It was a magical moment. But truthfully I could have used any moment of my day to illustrate how using these three simple steps have leveled my gratitude. I have felt a higher level of contentment and peace. After practicing these steps for the past 12 months, there is a realization that lives within me of how life is a gift and the moments we are giving are meant to be treasured.
As you practice your new and improved Blessing Centered Attitude of Gratitude you will notice a difference. Share this article with others so together we can be a blessing to others. And please, share with ME about how it makes a difference for you. Feel free to use THIS LINK to get to my contact me page and send me a voice note. Realize the new level of peace that is waiting for you when you practice a deliberate attitude of gratitude using these solution-focused mindfulness strategies:
Live in each moment with gratefulness
Recall and relive special moments often
Tell others the reasons you are grateful for them
