Throughout my spiritual journey, one thing has remained consistent; practicing gratitude.
And if you’ve read anything about the Law Of Attraction, you’ll know that practicing gratitude is key to manifesting.
But it’s not just great for manifesting, it’s also amazing for re-framing your mind to see the good in life.
So if you’re an overthinker, worrier or you get days when you just can’t see the good in things, writing down three things that you’re grateful for really can help.
It doesn’t have to be three, it can be more, it’s just that three’s a good starting point.
But where do you start?
I know when I first started I wrote things like, I’m grateful for a roof over my head, I’m grateful for the sun shining, I’m grateful for the food on the table.
All of these ARE things to be grateful for and things we often take for granted.
More recently my gratitude musings have been;
-I am grateful for Natalie my Reiki Teacher
-I am grateful for the time I have to practice Reiki
-I am grateful that I can work from home
-I am grateful for my strength
-I am grateful for my abundance
-I am grateful for my health
The secret is, there is no right or wrong way to practice gratitude.
It’s whatever feels right to you.
7 Steps to Gratitude
A simple practice I use if I’m struggling to think of three things is to, quieten the mind, slow down and allow thoughts & memories to flow.
First, as with all practices like this, you need to be in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed.
Grab a pen & notebook, get comfy and then follow these 7 simple steps;
- Close your eyes.
- Take five, slow deep breaths, in and out. Then allow your breathing to return to its usual pace.
- Listen. Be patient. Wait.
- Allow the thoughts to flow, in and out.
- When you’re ready, think about your day or week, flicking through the memories or images like you would a book. You’re looking for the ones that made you smile or where you felt good.
- Pick one
- When you’ve chosen one, put pen to paper and write; I am grateful for…and the words will eventually come.
Repeat the above process as many times as you like.
The way you make me feel
It’s important to remember that gratitude is a feeling; it’s how something makes you feel.
Once you start to fill your day with gratitude and remember how these things made you feel, you’ll re-wire your mind to look for more good things
Because we’re programmed to look for the negative in things; it’s not our fault, it’s built into us.
The fight of flight, the survival.
Always watching our backs.
But we CAN change.
We can reduce overthinking, worry and anger and replace it with goodness through these types of practices.
Another way is to practice Reiki; through mindful practices we’re focused on the present moment.
And in doing so, we can appreciate all that we have.
Go your own way
I’m a writer and love to write.
And I prefer to write in the morning; particularly after Reiki practice when my mind has been opened and thoughts freed.
So naturally I prefer to write my gratitude list, and read back over it.
But you don’t have to write down your gratitude list, you can say it out loud or in your head.
You can practice in the evening, at lunchtime or out on your daily walk.
In fact, if you are struggling for three things, I’d recommend getting outside in nature – she’s an incredible reminder for how magical the word is.
Find your own way, do what feels right for you.
The main thing is to begin.
I can’t express enough how much Reiki has supported my mental health. From overthinking and worrying. To anxiety and frustration. It’s brought a balance to me emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically that I never thought was possible. If you’d like to experience Reiki click here and let’s heal together. Jody x
