Gratitude has been a topic of many of these newsletters over the years. The benefits of a gratitude practice cannot be overstated. Every Freedom Strength class ends with us talking about what we are grateful for because it is so important to the quality of our lives.
Earlier this week, I got an email (one of my new daily reads) from Brian Johnson, author of Arete (this book is currently on my nightstand, figuratively, because I have the kindle version...). In this particular email, Johnson discusses the fact that a lot of us deal with one major obstacle in our gratitude practice. The one thing that will prevent you from feeling gratitude, is a sense of entitlement.
When you think that the world owes you something, it is difficult to feel gratitude for what it has already given to you. The next time that you are feeling down. Feeling like everyone and everything is out to get you. Stop. Take a moment. Take a deep, diaphragmatic breath, and think about three things that you are grateful for. Each time you do this activity, I want to try to think of three DIFFERENT things. Don't always think of the same things, but try to think of things that you are grateful for that have happened in the past 24 hours. Then, out loud, tell the world that you are grateful for those three things.
Every morning, take a moment and think about the three things (or people) that you are grateful for! Watch and see how much it impacts your outlook throughout the day.
