Why Be Grateful?

These past few weeks, I have been putting into place a practice of gratitude. What the hell does this mean? Well, for me, it means making time each day to bring awareness to the things that are going well in my life.

I start off with a walk to the beach or the park at just before sunrise, then when I get home I do my Morning Ritual (more on this in a moment) and get ready for my day.

The reason why I do this is to feel good, about myself and how I feel about myself, to feel more connected to nature and the wider world around me, and to find some quiet space before the day gets hectic and filled with thoughts and busy-ness.

Sometimes on my walk, I listen to inspiring podcasts, such as Oprah’s Soul Conversations, and sometimes I listen to comedy, like the How Did This Get Made? Podcast. I find whatever I do chose to listen to, it helps to lift my mood, get me out of a funk while also having a bit of a chuckle too.

The Morning Ritual helps me to clear my head and set my intentions for the day. It is like a meditation. But I also get to shout out (yes – shout) my positive affirmations and power statements and jump around and use my body. And yes – I have done this in public, which is a HUGE stretch for me, BUT OH SO LIBERATING!

Practice, Practice, Practice

Gratitude is also something I practice with my partner. Often, he will come home from a hard day at work, and his first instinct is to complain. “The excavation broke down”, “the rain delayed or work”, “the traffic was hectic today”. When he gets like this, I ask him “What is ONE thing you are grateful for from your day?” This usually stops him. All he wants to do is look at the things that he didn’t like about the day, but I am asking him to think of one good thing. After he gives me a reply, “I had a good coffee this morning”– I ask for another, and another, until – I can see that he has shifted his mental state and is looking at the world with a more positive outlook.

What Am I Grateful For?

This is the same thing I do for myself. When I feel crabby, hormonal, or just NQR, I look for gratitude. That’s why I walk on the beach, because it makes me realise that no matter how shitty I feel, the beach always looks beautiful. The sunrise over the horizon, the waves, the cliffs, the birds. All of it snaps me out of my funk and brings me back to what is really important.

I have so many things to be grateful for. I am grateful that I get to wake up every day and walk along the beach, I get to do what I do for “work”, I get to support women though pregnancy, I help women to feel nurtured and cared for, I help my clients feel less pain, improve their health and live better lives. I am grateful that when I come home from a long day, my partner has a prepared a lovely mean for us to share. My family and friends provide endless support.

And it’s addictive. Once you start listing the things you are grateful for, the list gets longer and longer.

Take The Plunge, and Dip Into Gratitude!

So, why not try it for yourself? Start small. Write them down. Then in those times when life seems shitty, the kids are screaming, hubby won’t agree with you, boss is a nightmare – reflect on your gratitude list and smile, knowing that life Is good, no matter how it appears on the surface.