wednesday wisdom. 7 ways to be grateful.

i came across an article in the huffington post about 7 things that thankful people do, of the 7 habits of grateful people. i thought it was really interesting and it really rang true to me, so i decided to share the tips/ideas with you on this thanksgiving eve.

there is something to be said for living a life with an attitude of gratitude. i believe that the biggest benefit of it is how being grateful not only puts things into perspective in our lives = makes us less whiney; but it also helps us live in the present moment. i believe that the attitude of gratitude and being thankful is the same as learning how to give positive energy off into the world. we’re all responsible to what we send “out there”, and what we do send out, will be most definitely what we receive back.

i’ve known people who are always negative, always in that “poor me” mode and always complaining about one thing or another, or everything. these attitudes suck me dry. and while i may care about the people, i need and want and choose to surround myself with positivity because i want that positive energy to rub off onto me so that i can then rub some of my positivity off on others.

it’s like a light, you know. tomorrow is also the beginning of hannukah, the jewish season celebrating light (which also happens within the christian church during this season = the “light” came into the world). actually, if you are aware of it, pagans also celebrate light this season, as light returns to the world through the cycle of nature once the winter solstice (the shortest & darkest day of the year) has passed in the northern hemisphere. so, light literally returns as the days get longer after december 21st.

but, it’s that light that i want to spread. whether you think of it as a divine and sacred spark inside all of us, or our connection with nature, that light, that energy, that positiveness is what i want to share with the world. not grumpiness, or gloominess, or darkness or negativity.

so, thanksgiving and hannukah are exactly what we need right now. we need a gratitude check – a chance to give thanks for all that is in our lives. and i am so not talking about the material stuff, though we can give thanks for that too, if we want. begin thankful is being aware. it is being alive in this moment, embracing it and all that goes along with it.

so, let’s see how we can bring more gratefulness back into our lives, and let’s see what kind of impact we can make when all we do is spread light and love and joy. and here are 7 ways we can begin to live in gratitude and spread a little light.

1. journal: writing it all down reinforces all of our positive thoughts and helps us set goal and dream big dreams, thus leading to inner peace and contentedness.
2. don’t avoid the negative: the key to leading a thankful life is embracing setbacks as part of our entire life journey.
3. spend time with loved ones: community – family & friends are key in our lives. we are not alone, and we should not let others be alone.
4. mindfully use social media: spread joy, not hate
5. know the value of the little things: stop & smell the roses, take time, slow down.
6. volunteer: there is nothing like helping others
7. get moving: getting our blood pumping will give us way more energy, help us feel less stressed, and teach us to love life a little more (it’s those endorphins).

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite – only a sense of existence… O how I laugh when I think of my vague indefinite riches. No run on my bank can drain it, for my wealth is not possession but enjoyment.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

oh, how grateful i am for you. peace and love.