One important thing we might forget about and often overlook in our everyday life is to know how to be grateful. Gratitude and practicing gratitude can make all the difference between living a happy life, and living a life in sadness.
I am REALLY BIG on gratitude! Here are a few ways I practice daily gratitude.
Make a list of things you are grateful for every morning.
Grab a journal and jot down 3-5 things that you are grateful for immediately when you wake up in the morning. You are essentially setting the pace for the rest of your day. That’s why it’s so important to practice gratitude, mindfulness, and kindness immediately when you wake up. Fun Fact: Coach John actually suggested this to me when I first started coaching, and it has changed my life completely!
Show your gratitude to the world.
Express your gratitude towards others. If somebody makes a positive impact in your life, let them know. Write them a thank you note, send them a text message or email letting them know how grateful you are, or take the time to talk with them directly. LOL, if y'all know me, I do this a lot. I know you guys probably think I am super corny, but I just love showing people how much they mean to me, and you know what.. It’s contagious!!
Reflect.
If you need help practicing gratitude, set a daily reminder on your phone for a few minutes to just stop and reflect. During this time, close your eyes and slow down a little bit. Take this time to reflect on the things that you are thankful for, focus on all of the good that fills your life. Trust me, there is plenty of it.
Think bigger than yourself.
This is probably the most challenging one to do, but a great way to force yourself to be more grateful is to think bigger than yourself. When you think about those around you, you will truly see how fortunate you are in life. This is something I have been working on this year.. With everything going on in the world, it really makes you think about the issues you're dwelling on, might be insignificant compared to someone else's.
There are people who are fighting to stay alive through the night, people who are struggling to put food on the table, and people who are battling life-threatening illnesses.
No matter how bad you have it, just remember that there is always somebody out there who has it worse.
Treat each day like the gift that it is, learn to slow down and take some time to appreciate all the beauty that is around you, and live each day as if it was your last.
I know one thing's for sure, I am incredibly grateful for each and every one of you. Being one of your coaches has sparked so much happiness into my life. Thank you!
Stay Well,
Coach Shiela
