Gratitude
I am, very thankful to be living in Tauranga, a place I love to call home, and all the benefits it has. Therefore, today is about gratitude. While gratitude is talked of often, the value of it really can’t be underestimated. I wrote about about gratitude in my Top 4 Tips blog, in fact it was my Number 1 Life Tip.
It doesn’t matter where you live or where you visit, how rich or broke you are, how busy and overwhelmed you are…everyone can find time daily for gratitude. This would have to be my one go-to, saviour, remedy, single piece of advice, the first item in my ‘magic kit’ and main must do….
Start small
It is what we focus on that grows, so focus on the smallest things to be grateful for, and see them blossom. Sometimes it is simplest to truly appreciate the places we live, the people we have in our lives, the opportunities presented to us, being in a warm home, having the support of a loving partner or friend.
When we focus on what is in our lives now, instead of always wanting for more, we realise how much we actually already have and our lives become incredibly rich 🙂
Change it up
I loved this blog and how they talk about the science behind gratitude – sometimes just a journal and being thankful or grateful for the same things gets boring, so change it up! Read the blog for ideas, but here a few of my own.
Start a jar. Sophie (my daughter) and I did this for a year. We took little coloured bits of paper, wrote an item of gratitude (or sometimes achievement) and then put them in our big glass jar, whenever we felt like it – sometimes when big things happened and sometimes little things. At Xmas, we opened our jar, and reflected and read them all – SOOO cool, as you forget all the things that happened, and can relive those moments and it is so nice to reflect and be grateful all over again :).
Think of the why more – rather than just a word of gratitude, give more meaning to the thing you say you are grateful for – for example – my gratitude thoughts for today….
- Nature – WHY – it is time to smell the roses and breathe the air. When I am outside amidst nature, it is so much easier to be in the moment – no electronic devices, just nature at its best – however it is: rain, sun, cold and hot. I can enjoy the leaves changing colour, birds chirping, smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of waves crashing. It all adds context and brings about feelings that being indoors can’t. It is that simple and its free!!
- Knowledge – WHY – I really appreciate people sharing their personal experiences, giving their ideas, and wealth of expertise – I am grateful for all the books I read or listen to, insights gleaned in conversations, and tidbits I learn from all kinds of sources.
Change it up, notice the difference and see it grow.
