MINDFULNESS MONDAY
Hello, this week we are going to look at establishing a gratitude practice.
This simply entails being thankful for the good in our lives. When we focus on the positive, rather than the negative it helps us to see the cup of life as half full, rather than half empty. We are able to find satisfaction with what we have, though we still can strive for more.
A suggestion for the week:
· There are many ways that you can have a gratitude practice- the main aspect of to simply acknowledge something for which you are grateful.
· A well known practice is to begin a gratitude journal. Every day you write 3-5 things that you are grateful for. It doesn’t matter how simple or humble the entries may be. Just be honestly appreciative. If you don’t wish to journal, you can simply say your 3-5 things out loud to yourself before going to bed.
· Another option is to see the giver behind the gift. Whenever something nice happens, think about the person who made the pleasant experience happen. Express your genuine gratitude to this person and remind yourself that people are often surprisingly kind.
· From a religious perspective, offer your gratitude as praise for your blessings.
· Being grateful, even when we don’t feel like it. When you are sad or angry it is even more important that at good times. By reminding yourself what to be thankful for when we are down, we can take off the destructive edge from those emotions.
Try a gratitude practice for a set amount of time and see how differently you feel. There is an emotional strength that is acquired over time that contributes to the positive aspect of this practice for your general well-being.
Have a great week!