Gratitude!

"If you would stop analyzing everything and just look for things to appreciate; in other words, if you could just decide to play that game, look for things to appreciate, you would live happily ever after." —The Wisdom of Abraham

One of the things that I have to found to make an incredible difference in my life is choosing to have an 'Attitude of Gratitude'.  Today I am grateful that gratitude comes easily for me as there was a point in my life when I didn't even know the concept. I remember when I first heard of the concept of gratitude..I really didn't believe that I had anything to be grateful for. It took someone pointing out to me that I had a ton of things to be grateful for that I my perspective shifted.  Today I look back at that thought and chuckle at myself.

Practicing gratitude in the beginning was not easy for me.  I would start with the letters in the alphabet and go down the line.  Example Air, Breath, Car, Dog..etc.  I didn't feel it at all, I just said it, at least in the beginning.  But over time I found myself saying 'Thank you' for the green light or 'Thank you' for the awesome parking spot.  It seemed as if all of the sudden I was just finding things in my life that I was grateful for.

As I continued this practice it seemed as if somedays I would just wake up excited and grateful.  Other days not so much and it was harder to get into that place of gratitude.  I didn't give up though, I kept practicing and my days of not being in a space of gratitude became hours instead.  During the month of November I was inspired by a fellow Facebook friend who suggested posting something to be grateful for everyday up until Thanksgiving.  It seemed to change my life and although I don't post it on Facebook everyday I do continue to count my blessings. 

In fact I have a girlfriend with whom we exchange emails everyday regarding what we are grateful for.  I also belong to 'The Attitude of Gratitude Project' on Facebook.  I receive a text message every time the owner posts a new gratitude and regardless of where I am emotionally, that always helps me to put things back into their proper perspective.

Having an attitude of gratitude is literally life changing.  Go ahead and make a promise to yourself today to start being grateful.  It doesn't cost you a thing but it will seriously make you feel more abundant. If you feel like you can't do it on your own Louise Hay (whom I absolutely LOVE!!!)  recently put out a new book called Gratitude: A Way of Life in my opinion anything by her is worth checking out.  Just remember the hard part about being grateful in the beginning is doing it on purpose.  So read anything you can.  Join a group. Ask a friend to be your gratitude buddy. Make it a game and keep it fun. Do whatever you have to do and I promise after a while you will forget that you are even trying to be grateful as you simply start to LIVE in that state of gratitude.