Amp Up Your Gratitude Practice

For those who have been reading the joy letter, attended one of my joy programs, or worked with me, you know I believe in the power of gratitude. The first thing I teach is the joy journal, which is a place to list the things you are thankful for. We use the joy journal in other ways too, but it all starts with gratitude.

Feeling grateful doesn’t always come automatically. That’s why you make it a practice. Training your brain to look for the good makes you feel better, plain and simple. There is  scientific proof to back it up, but the real proof for me is how I feel and what happens in my life.

Every week, I recount a few of my gratitudes, my joys, here in this ezine. Last December, we published a book that shared readers’ joys. Every day I begin and end my day with gratitude. I say thank you in between too.

If you want to take your gratitude practice to another level, I will share a couple methods that are in the book, The Magic by Rhonda Byrne. My life is magical and it is so because I am grateful. (I just typed greatfull. That works too.)

Every morning before you begin your day, write down ten things that you are grateful for, and use the format: I am truly grateful for ___________ because ____________.

This little extra step of writing the WHY you are thankful for your dog, boyfriend, spouse, garbage man, running water, flip flops, tiki torches, window cleaner, sparkling white wine, emery boards, tooth picks, Harry Potter, roller coasters, rose bushes, dandelions, root beer floats, pens that write on the first try, a comfy mattress, glue, extra large font, Polaroid cameras, Dick Clark, sugar free chewing gum, sticky notes, pedicures, popsicles, candied pecans, index cards, or holding hands really deepens and solidifies the feeling of gratitude in you.

You could probably write ten or ten thousands reasons why you love your pet or partner. Just pick one. Maybe include your dog or mate everyday in your gratitudes.

I am truly grateful for emery boards because I love my nails smooth.

That little extra “because” amps up my gratitude. When you can think of the reasons why you are thankful, it expands the feeling in your heart.

Many people are thankful for air conditioning this summer. I am truly grateful for AC because it allows me to sleep comfortably.

Start your day with ten gratitude sentences and then read each one (silently or aloud) and say Thank you, thank you, thank you. This practice each morning takes me ten minutes.

At the end of each day, when you put your head on the pillow, ask yourself: What was the best thing that happened today?

This question gets your brain running through all the good stuff that came your way. You start to remember little things that occurred throughout the day. That was good; that was good; that was good; that was good…. Trying to pick the “best” moment allows you to dwell in all the good, and that is a grand way to drift off to sleep.

Again, studies prove that gratitude before bed (NOT the news) makes a huge difference in health and well being.

These two ways of bookending your day with gratitude makes the entire day in between feel lighter and brighter. Give it two weeks (for maximum results, give it 28 days) and see how you feel. It takes 21 days to make a habit. Making gratitude a habit actually rewires your brain. That to me is also something to be grateful for!

One last tip to share with you today. Before you start your day, imagine each thing you have going on that day. Imagine it going smoothly. Say thank you for each event or activity going well. Your day will indeed go smoother with less bumps and bruises, and you will be amazed at the increase in energy and productivity,

I kid you not. Give it a whirl and report back.

I am truly grateful for YOU because you let me be me, and that is the ultimate joy.