4 Tips to Increase Gratitude for Busy People
Have you ever had a day where you seemed to fly from one activity to the next and barely had time to catch your breath? It’s on days like these that I tend to lose sight of the small things that bless my life. I may miss a kind look, word of encouragement, or the beauty of the world around me.
At this time of year we focus on gratitude and giving thanks for the big and small blessings that surround us. In the busy-ness of your daily life try a few of these tips to help you develop your sense of gratitude, both now and throughout the year.
Gratitude Tips for Busy People:
1- Prime the pump – Priming is the cognitive state which increases sensitivity to certain stimuli. For example, it can cause you to see a certain type of car on the road more frequently after you buy one yourself. When you are intentionally grateful you prime your mind to see reality through a filter of thankfulness and abundance. The more you do it, the more you’ll feel it. Develop your ‘gratitude muscle’ by noticing things every day for which you are grateful.
2 – Play a Gratitude Game – Take a few minutes to reflect appreciatively each day. Whether you do it before bed, or over your morning coffee, or as you’re driving, notice 3 things that are right and good. Consider including yourself on the list. Say it out loud, or write it down, in this format: “I am grateful for __________because________. “ Knowing why you are grateful expands and deepens the experience, bringing it more fully into your heart.
3 – Give to Get More Abundance – When we give our time, attention, or money we are using our resources for the benefit of others. Something magical happens for both the giver and the receiver when we give. It becomes a powerful force of positive energy. Until we give it away it is only a potential source of power. It is through giving that you are able to fully realize the full power and extent of the gifts in your life and the true nature of abundance. When we recognize that we have enough to share we are making a statement to the universe that we are living abundantly and we shift our hearts to a place of generosity. We expand this circle of good energy every time we give.
4 – Being grateful even in hard situations – For many of us this is the most challenging step of all. Let’s face it, learning to apply gratitude around the unpleasant, negative and painful situations in our lives is difficult. The key lies in realizing that we don’t have to be grateful for the event, person, or thing itself but rather in the learning that occurs from it. Noticing how you are growing, or what opportunities are opening up for you as a result of the experience shifts you to a positive perspective even in the cloudiest of times.
Most of us were taught to say “thank you” as children. We know those two simple words have a powerful effect smoothing out the rough edges around our interpersonal interactions. “Thank You” becomes so much more, though, when we develop a practice of mindful gratitude. It has been said to be the most powerful form of prayer and is the simplest way to shift our energy from negative to positive. Try it today. Being grateful-on-purpose will help you see the abundance in your life on a regular basis.
________________________________________
