Gratitude

One of the topics I often find myself writing about in my journal is gratitude. I get to thinking about all the wonderful times, people and events in my life. Actually I once heard someone mention what they called a Bliss Bucket. The idea being that you fill up your bucket throughout your day with the things you are grateful for. Ask yourself this question: Am I able to have it filled to the top every night and give thanks for all the blessings of the day?

As I mentioned in the previous section, a journal can be used to write about the daily successes. Too often it is so easy to list all the failures of the day and become depressed rather than focus on the positive aspects of yourself and the accomplishments that you’ve experienced throughout your day. In October of each year, Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving. Today is the American Thanksgiving. Are you able to list all the things that you can be thankful for at this time in your life?

The Gratitude Theory was recently penned after a scientific study found that gratitude plays a role in our sense of well being. All of us have heard or even sung the song from the Sound of Music called “A Few of My Favorite Things.”

Let’s compose this list. Begin with ten things that you are thankful for. How do you feel? Reread them, really think, feel and recall each experience before going on to the next one. Is laughter listed as one of them? I know of one person who has listed fifty items on their list! Basically, it doesn’t matter how many you name but how many you are truly grateful for. It is my hope that the first one you name is your own special qualities and uniqueness as a gift to be truly thankful for.

As my mother used to say, “Goodness comes home to roost.” For me, the message I got from her was that if you spread goodness and kindness to others, you would receive it in return. For you, I want it to mean that once you realize just how special you are everyone else will begin to see it as well. You will be surprised at what happens in your life when you respect and love yourself first. This wonderful new energy of yours flows out from you: others sense it and pick up on it. You get it back in turn! Isn’t it wonderful?

Begin your Gratitude Log with you and your giftedness, and celebrate this time. I hope you will discover that there are so many things about you and your world to be thankful for!

Until next time,

Bride