Showing and being of gratitude should be practiced everyday. Everyday, focus on what you are grateful for, especially in a time of distress. Often times, we focus more on what we need and desire, and take little time focusing on basic and material things or even our accomplishments. Millions of people throughout the world don’t have essentials (food, shelter, water) needed to survive. On this note, we should always be in a state of gratitude.
Ones life is filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. It is important that we manage these situations carefully by reflecting, identifying lessons learned and being of gratitude. I had a client who had not excelled to the level she intended to excel to at a certain point in her life, as a result of some past mistakes she made.
She made accomplishments, but not every accomplishment she set, she achieved such as finishing college and owning her own business. As a result, she was unable to see all of the accomplishments she made in her life because her focus was on lack, what she didn’t have and what she could have had (remember, energy follows thought). This caused stress on her physical body. Every time she would talk about it, she would feel sick and tired. She also developed negative mind chatter and was unable to focus on the good that had or was occurring in her life.
She just got to a point, where she also had negative mind chatter about other people around her; she focused on what they lacked as well. Sounds like someone you know? She was just angry and stuck in bitterness about the main perception she created about herself, a failure. However, through further introspection and a different way of viewing herself, her perceptions of herself could have been completely different. What should she have done differently?
She should have focused her thoughts on what she had accomplished in life and what she was grateful for. After talking to her, she had accomplished a lot of things. She also should have been looking forward to the process or steps she was taking to move to another level in life. She should have been reflecting on what she learned from her previous mistakes.
How is this making her a better person at this time? How can she move forward with her life? Remember, focusing on lack, leads to lack and limitations.
Everyday you should think about one or more things that you are grateful for such as family, friends, home, water, and the list goes on and on. This is especially important as people live in turbulent times, often times with uncertainty. This helps you focus on what you have and aspire to be. Remember, energy follows thought. Moreover, know that you are an imperfect being, in an imperfect world, actively striving for love and enlightenment.
Dr. Jessica is a Psychologist and Empowerment Coach with the Center for Discovery. She helps women experiencing a personal or career transition discover their highest potential, using proven principles and practices of mind, body, and spiritual development.
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