Enhance Your Attitude with Gratitude….
What’s Up Beautiful People! Thanks for visiting DrxJoy Your Prescription For Total Wellness Blog!
We have an interesting post on being thankful for ALL things in your LIFE. Practical advice you can use TODAY…before you read this make sure you take three deep breaths: Clear your mind….
INHALE……….EXHALE
INHALE……….EXHALE
INHALE……….EXHALE (How do your feel?) I feel great!
Do you only give Thanks on Thanksgiving (one of the last Thursdays in November)? As this may be a universal day of giving THANKS, however we should be GRATEFUL for our events EVERYDAY!
Gratitude is defined as a state of being grateful, thankfulness, appreciative. YES, we have so much to be grateful, even the disappointments because it could certainly be worse!
I would like to share this short story with you…. approximately 4 years ago a great friend of mine who is a Certified Professional Coach invited me to join her in an exercise of daily gratitude expression. During the time I started the exercise we were in the midst of the recession and the financial landscape for many was changing rapidly, present company included, however I did not discuss the challenges, I just kept the faith and stayed on my GRIND! YES, I am humbled and grateful for surviving the rough patch without major changes to my well being and household…but check this out…I believe the reason I was able to manage was because of the Change in MY Attitude to include a bit of GRATITUDE! This has Positively changed my LIFE.
This is simple and here it goes…My friend suggested that I write down 1 reason everyday “WHY I AM GRATEFUL”on a sheet of paper, notebook, journal, etc…So I began on October 15, 2008 scribing 1 reason of appreciation…the reason could be ANYTHING, something that may be small, or something that may be grand, the point is there was a reason! These are your thoughts only, no one else…this is ALL ABOUT YOU! This exercise has POSITIVELY Changed My LIFE as the focus was on the good things that happened during the day! Now, there is no need to go out and buy fancy journals or writing instruments, let’s not complicate the process, as I am sure ALL of you can find a spiral notebook for as little as $1 at the local grocery story. So lets get started….You can begin today, Do Not Delay…
Get your notebook, something to write with, at the top of the first page write today’s date (you can also put this on the cover of the notebook)….next begin with the number 1 and begin writing – I Am Grateful to (fill in the blank – of YOUR HIGHER POWER) and then state the reason. Remember you only need to write one thing to get started, that’s right…1 sentence, that’s it! It is recommended you write consistently at the same time during the day, perhaps take sometime before you go to bed….place the notebook and pen on your nightstand beside your lamp and clock. Remember to number your daily entries. Continue this for 28 days straight and it will become a habit! Translating Your Thoughts into written Words makes them more REAL. Should you feel the need to write more than one item per day, GO FOR IT! I have not missed a day since beginning this exercise. When traveling, my notebook is the first item packed in my suitcase. Once you finish one notebook, begin another without delay. You will look forward to writing down your appreciative thoughts.
Ok so you don’t want to journal your appreciative thoughts….
Here are four additional practical tips to enhance your Attitude with Gratitude:
1) Enlist A Friend: Ask a friend to be your “gratitude – accountability” partner. Email each other about things you are thankful for in life. Having someone to answer to will keep you more disciplined.
2) Remember The Bad Times: Make a list of tough breaks you have faced. Recount the events you have been through and survived this will help you appreciate what you have now. Then ask yourself: What personal strengths were gained from the experience? How has this experience helped me value what is most important. These questions will help you provide a new perspective on life’s hardships.
3) Imagine Your Life Without It’s Blessings: Think about how your life would be if something you are NOW grateful for never happened. Focusing on how much more worse off you would be without the things in YOUR LIFE that make you happy, helps you appreciate them more.
4) Perform A Gratitude Swap: When you catch yourself dwelling on the negative, jot down what is bothering you….hold on …wait a minute…. cross it out, and substitute it with something you are grateful for… thinking you deserve better or that your life has not turned out the way you want, stops you from seeing the positive!
Gratitude is necessary to promote a healthy wellbeing. I encourage and invite you to add some Gratitude to Your Attitude and witness a POSITIVE transformation occur in YOUR Life!
Check out the link below to The Dr. Joy Show, where I discuss adding gratitude to your attitude with my guest – Willa Edgerton-Chisler CEO and Founder of Symphony Coaching http://vimeo.com/20855029. Although the show was done a long time ago, the content is still relevant. If you want to see my current shows and you are not local, no worries my TV show airs 3x per week on TV and via stream:
Wednesdays: 11:30 am EST
Thursdays: 6:00 pm EST
Sundays: 8:00am EST
It will air on your TV, however you can catch the same episodes via www.princetontv.org via live stream….set your timepiece, make sure it has the correct time zone, and get your internet connection. The shows for 2013 are off the chain and full of valuable information for ALL!
Be Blessed, Stay Healthy!
See ya!
Dr. Joy
