Where attention goes, energy flows.
The adage above reminds us that with our thoughts, we create our reality. Simply put, with doom and gloom thoughts, we create a doom and gloom reality. With thoughts of abundance, we create an abundant reality. By choosing to focus on what we are grateful for in our lives, the energy of the universe — including our own — catalyzes into more of the same. In other words — like attracts like. Heartfelt gratitude attracts even more for which to be grateful.
Think of yourself as a giant magnet. Whatever you are feeling, whether it be love, fear, anger, happiness, joy, gratitude, resistance etc., you are in essence creating and projecting a magnetic force that attracts and draws to you events, conditions and circumstances which are in direct correlation to what you are feeling. Fear of something creates a magnetic force that can attract more of what you fear. Expressing Gratitude for any situation projects a magnetic force that draws to you more of what you are expressing gratitude for.
Expressing gratitude focuses us on what we want more of rather than what we don’t want. Furthermore we are notifying the universe of our intentions, which sets the co-creative process in motion. Given the choice, wouldn’t you prefer to create what you desire for yourself?
Practicing gratitude also brings greater contentment, a sense of inner peace and serenity, into our lives. We elevate the ordinary into extraordinary, when we express gratitude for having —
• the ability to eat and digest food
• three meals each day
• a safe and comfortable place to sleep each night
• a sanctuary where we are sheltered
• loving and kind family and friends
• the intuition and intellect to create and contribute
• the opportunity to learn something new, anytime, anywhere
• a beautiful Earth as home
• the ability to read and enjoy wonderful books
• the unconditional love and companionship of a pet
• beauty all around us
• earth, air, water to sustain us
• awareness
• and so on . . .
Experiencing the contentment that arises from a daily gratitude practice accepts what is and opens the heart to joy. Because many of us have been trained to focus on what isn’t working (the problems) in our lives, we have lost touch with the sense of contentment and joy that naturally emerges from us when we contemplate what is working well. As we already know, the shift of our focus to the negative aspects of life perpetuates more of the same. Instead of taking for granted all that is working well, return to celebrating the true joy of its existence. Just as we can choose love over fear, we can choose gratitude for what is over dissatisfaction for what isn’t.
In summary, practicing gratitude shifts negativity such as worry, anxiety and self-doubt into contentment. Contentment allows our appreciation and inner joy to blossom and be expressed into the outer world. The outward expression of joy attracts more of what makes us joyful.
So, make the choice to free your joy. Spend a few minutes, before you fall asleep at night or get out of bed in the morning, contemplating your thankfulness. Stay with iterating your gratitude list until you feel contentment and joy filling all the cells in your heart and body. Glory in your expression. As with anything you repeatedly practice, one day joy will be your habit.
I am grateful that everything unfolding in my life is producing a miracle, which I co-created and can choose to change.
Right here, right now — for what are you grateful?
