Practicing Gratitude: 5 Steps To Abundance
Acknowledge abundance through gratitude; it exists all around us, all the time.
Instead of being afraid or pushing away the reality that every situation holds a blessing, you could embrace it as a gift of abundance and change how you feel when faced with challenges.
When you choose to acknowledge blessings (even when things don’t go exactly as you’d like them to), you open yourself to the flow of infinite Universal energy. If you resist by holding on or holding back, fearing that you don’t or won’t have enough, you delay this flow.
When you start looking for abundance, by seeing the ‘glass half full’ and bypassing your perceived lack, it appears everywhere. Although you may feel you have little to spare or share, generously offering the love in your heart, contributing time for service, or lending a listening ear to someone who needs support will give purpose to anyone’s life. As you expand the love in your heart by giving freely and being genuinely grateful, you receive even more in return.
Practice Active Gratitude with these 5 rewarding steps.
Step 1: Rise and Shine
Create a rejuvenating morning ritual by getting up 30 minutes earlier than normal, and taking advantage of the tranquillity around you. Enjoy the peaceful time by meditating, reading, reflecting, exercising, or just consciously breathing.
The earlier you’re able to wake, the more you eliminate the chaos of rushing around to get out the door. Getting up early allows you time to welcome the sunrise and soak in its energy. You can also make time for a healthier breakfast instead of a bar on the go or skipping your meal altogether.
Step 2: Greet the day
The moment you open your eyes, let your first thought be of thankfulness for being alive, for a fresh, new day, and an opportunity to try again.
Before you rush for the coffee, drink 16oz (500mL) of water first. While you sleep, your body slowly becomes dehydrated because it needs fluid to operate. Water fires up your metabolism, hydrates you, helps your body flush out toxins, and gives your brain fuel.
Step 3: Active Gratitude
Continue expressing gratitude through your entire morning ritual. Give thanks for your legs to get you out of bed, thank your bed for allowing you to sleep comfortably, and give thanks for the warmth in your home. When you go to the bathroom, be grateful for everything you use, and don’t forget to take a moment to look into the mirror to thank You — show yourself some love and admiration! As you get dressed, be thankful for your clothes and that they’re clean and fit you well. During your peaceful quietude, give thanks for those things you have chosen to do to rejuvenate yourself. Spend your morning in Active Gratitude saying, “Thank You” to everything you see and touch.
When you’re ready for the day, journal 10 things that you normally take for granted and express why you’re grateful for these things. How do they make life easier for you? What would it be like without them?
Step 4: Set your intention for the day
Think about the day you are about to have. Are you working, is this a leisure day, do you have somewhere you need to go? Whatever you have planned, start your day off right.
First, consider your most pertinent life question for the day ahead, and then, choose 3 things that would make today great. Your current question could be as simple as, “What are we having for supper tonight?” or, it could be more serious such as, “Should I submit this proposal to my boss?” or “Who can help me with this difficult issue?”
Be alert to any coincidences, messages, or intuition you have throughout the day that relate to your question. For the simple ones, maybe you see a flyer of a new restaurant you’ve wanted to visit; the more serious questions may take longer to answer to so we must stay in a highly expectant state. If you stay aware, observing any signs that seem to be beckoning you to a certain direction, a combination of emotional charge and vivid imaging will stimulate the ability to attract what you desire.
Step 5: Morning Energizing Visualization
Before you leave the house, take a few deep breaths. Visualize yourself in a beautiful place. Breathe in the beauty; imagine the smells and how it feels being there. Keep breathing and visualizing until you feel the energy of your beautiful place deep inside filling you up and expanding all around you. Now state your current life question and surround it with that energy. Try to stay connected to this loving feeling all day.
