Attitude of Gratitude- Beginners Guide!
When practicing the Law of Attraction, the Most important tool is gratitude!
But, you may ask me, “How can I have an attitude of gratitude when my life is crap?!”
You may be living from moment to moment, but crisis thinking deflates gratitude.
Gratitude
Gratitude is an individual thing. It is the act of being thankful for something in your life. If you've tried to live a grateful life and found it impossible, then you're doing it all wrong. Here are a few tips that will make it easier.
Being grateful
Begin with being grateful of something you’re already thankful for. If you've been taught that having an attitude of gratitude means being grateful for something you hate and you’ve found it difficult to pretend, then I got your back.
You can't fool your mind, or more importantly your heart. What you want to do is exude the vibration of gratitude, not just say the words. We’re all have our own energetic vibrations. You're version and level of gratitude will be different than mine. That means it's important to be authentic in how you're grateful.
Believe in Yourself
Having an Attitude of Gratitude comes from within, so believing in yourself is essential. Knowing that there have been things you were thankful for in the past is a great place to begin. Take comfort that even if right now you've been cycling on negative thoughts, you know you're capable of being grateful.
Don't doubt your abilities to live a gratitude filled life. Start this journey with an open mind.
Open your mind to possibilities.
One of the easiest ways to find gratitude is believing that great things can happen in your life. That little voice inside your head, the sarcastic one that keeps badgering you and telling you this won't work, is actually fear trying to protect you. Fear and gratitude don’t mix. Begin living by the rule that anything is possible.
Pick a Gratitude Moment.
That's right, I said, a moment. Don't become overwhelmed with the idea that you have to be grateful for each and every thing that happens to you. I've known people who give up when they have that expectation. It may take you awhile to find that moment, if you've been focusing on negativity, but keep at it. This is your first step on the road of successful living.
Make it your Gratitude Moment detailed.
Once you've picked your gratitude moment (GM), dwell in that feeling. Recall as much as you can about how it smelled, felt, looked and sounded. Close your eyes and relive as much as you can of that time. I find a very beneficial to do this is right before falling asleep. Your mind is already racing with the what's happened today and working on what you'll do tomorrow. Pay attention to your breathing if you want to include this as a type of mediation. But, don’t make it too difficult, the point is to expand on your GM. It's okay if you fall asleep, at least you went into slumber with a positive mindset. Pick it back up the next night, and continue to build on that (GM) until it's visceral.
Pick a Gratitude Trigger
Now that you’ve created your special (GM), it’s time to pick some reminders or what I call, Gratitude Triggers (GT).
You may have heard the best way to start living in an attitude of gratitude is to journal but, if you lead a busy life time is of the essence. Instead you can use Gratitude triggers (GT) to spark your gratitude moment. The only requirement for your GT is that you can see, touch, or listen to it daily. I suggest you pick three GT’s to start. Make sure that you’re Gratitude Triggers are both at home and out. For instance, if you commute to work, pick a sign that you see daily. Every time you pass the sign or Gratitude Trigger, focus on your Gratitude Moment, that memory your thankful for. As, I said, this can be a chair, song, object you carry or anything you find easy to connect with daily.
Gratitude Stones
Instead of carrying a worry stone to focus all your bad thoughts on, carry a Gratitude Stone, it’s a great reminder to focus on the positive. Physical objects have a way of connecting us to our souls desires. If you want to get more indepth with this idea, choose a crystal that vibrates at a higher frequency or one that’s energy is happy.
Positive Energy Crystals
Citrine, Rose Quartz, Peridot, Any green stone or clear quartz, Fluorite, Jade, Garnet, and Sodalite to name just a few. Remember that all stones should be smudged before using, and or carrying and regularly cleansed. Salt water in sunshine is a great cleanser. One teaspoon of salt to one cup of water - allow stones to sit and bathe in water beside a sunny window. Please check with the distributor before placing in water, as some stones cannot withstand water cleansing. In this case, you’ll want to buy a sage smudge stick, cedar also works well, and allow the smoke to cleanse your stones.
Key Chains
Take a look at one of your friends keychains and you'll take a look into their life. They might have a rabbit's foot, last vacation, or other symbols hanging from their keys. Keys open doors, and it's a fantastic reminder that you're life's opening to positive experiences. You can add a special pendants on your keychain, or even a new key, to remind you of the limitless possibilities.
Gratitude Signals
Another way to find gratitude is to notice the signals the Universe is sending to you. As I said before it will be unique unto you. I've heard of feathers being a token that loved one who's passed is thinking of you. But, it's important that you pay attention to what clues are coming your way and how they make you feel.
Music is another message from the Universe. I've literally had songs play on Pandora that mirror my situation to the tee, and even commercials. I know what you're thinking, "they're listening." Maybe so, but, when it's good vibrations that open you up to the answer, don't fight it.
Don't try to explain your unique gratitude clues to others, they won't get it, trust me. What you notice daily from the Universe is your special road map to success and happiness.
Gratitude Magnets
I heard it said once, that where our attention goes, energy flows. Your thoughts and feelings project a magnetic field around you that attracts like vibrational energies. Like attracts like. But, a lot of what happens to you during the day also has to do with where your expectation dwells. Expectation is like an anchor for other vibrations, if you expect the best, its drawn to you.
In a nutshell, you can judge what your expectations are by paying attention to what you assume will happen in any given moment. What you look for in life, is what you find. It might sound ultra simple, but this well is deep. Instead, live in the moment, and shift your attention from assuming the worst, to expecting the best and you’ll most definitely find it.
Negative Cycles are Flat tires
Let me flip the coin for a second. You might have the common misconception that the law of attraction is being grateful for everything all the time. Does that sound crazy to you? You may a million reasons why you're unhappy with this or that situation in your life. I understand, but, here's the catch; when you ride around with a flat tire, that's all you're going to think about, until its fixed. Flat tires put you into crisis mode. Your mind goes into worry, frustrate mode until you have accomplished the task at hand. Crisis thinking is a flat tire in your vehicle of gratitude.
Crisis thinking, deflates gratitude.
Here's the problem, stressful thinking, puts you in fight or flight mode. It sends signals to your body that you need to react, not proact. Ego jumps up and starts protecting you and running the show. You are no longer in control of what you are thankful for, you are dodging bullets and it's warfare! You’re off-roading with a flat tire in the Mojave. Your adrenaline kicks into gear and your mind thinks three thousand steps ahead. Sargent Ego loves to take the wheel, because it doesn't trust anyone or anything.
Building Daily Gratitude
Trust is at the heart of gratitude. That sensitive part of your heart where it’s tender and vulnerable is the place you need to build gratitude. Trust is key for your gratitude growth. For that reason, focus on goodness both of heart and mind. Gratitude isn't self centered, narcissistic, self indulgent, narrow minded or stingy. You’ll find it impossible to be any of those things when feeling grateful. Build those gratitude muscles, and help others, giving them a reason to be thankful for you, even if they don’t say thank you. You are still creating that energy of gratitude.
Gratitude is a altruistic, self effacing, generous, noble, and self sacrificing. Gratitude is philanthropic, humanitarian, compassionate and trusts in the Universe.
Gratitude hopes, believes and expects all to be well.
Finally, continue adding more Gratitude Moments and Gratitude Triggers into your daily life as you progress. Build each one as you did before, expansion and detail are of utmost importance. If you feel like your life has opened up with more time, spend each morning in a few minutes of gratitude, and before bed. Add more gratitude times as driving, lunch, cooking, when you notice them. Share positive feelings with those around you but continue to place your thoughts and heart as a priority, healthy you, healthy view. Before you know it, you’ll have graduated from this new phase into a lifestyle. Trust me, it works!
Jeannie Irwin
Success Coach
Motivational Writer
Facebook: @dailyinspirationmotivation
Instagram: @jeannieirwin
Twitter: @jeannie_inspire
