Pausing to Say Thank You I’m Living in Gratitude
I am so thankful that I’m Happy and Healthy! But I wasn’t always this way. Here’s how the simple words ‘Thank You’ changed my life…and how it can help you too!
Making time for ‘me’ and saying Thank You
In 1993 I took First Degree Reiki Training and I began to change my life.
Learning and adopting the following into my life daily was my first step on the journey to happiness, health and fabulocity:
Just for today, I will not anger
Just for today, I will not worry
I live my life in honesty and integrity
I honor my teachers and those who have come before me
I give thanks for my many blessings.
Although I had this on my office wall for a number of years, they were just words that I read and that brought me some comfort. After taking First Degree Reiki they came alive for me and I adopted them deeply into my life.
The first step for me was to consciously become aware of the good things in my life and give thanks for them daily. Sound too simple to be true? Really, I changed my life to one of health and fabulocity beginning with this one simple step. Instead of focusing on the negative things in my life, like…
‘I was unemployed; I did not want to go back into my previous career path; I was in a lousy marriage; Mr. Right turned into Mr. Wrong for me; my eldest daughter was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and allergies; we had lost a wonderful home on a lake in the country; I had fallen out with my parents who didn’t like my lifestyle; my ex-boss owed me money; I was living in a new town and had no friends, and the pounds were packing on…blah, blah, blah.’
I turned things around and started counting my blessings; ‘thank you’ became my mantra.
I made a concerted effort to focus on the good things in my life and to stop talking and thinking about the things that were not going right.
I changed from being a ‘down’ person because I stopped myself whenever I found I was talking about the things in my life that made me miserable and instead I focused on the good stuff.
One of the first things I did, and I encourage you to try it, is:
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Get a journal and write down ‘100 Things I Appreciate’
- Start by writing ‘thank you for’—then fill in the blanks. It goes quite quickly at first: thank you for my children, thank you for my health, etc.
Take time daily to journal or draw or simply doodle
- After a while it takes some effort, especially if this is new to you. Take the things that seem to be negative and find the goodness in them.
For example I changed ‘unemployed’ to having time to find a new job/career, I started to look at the positive parts of the marriage and focus on the good things in my relationship (seriously, no one is all bad!)
I embraced my daughter’s uniqueness: Sarah’s food allergies made me aware of nutrition and I had taken natural cooking lessons, so I began to teach others.
I began to cherish my new home, I celebrated being able to find and meet new friends; I found new friends (and I continue to find them) who become my ‘chosen family’.
And as my confidence grew and my self-worth increased I made more new friends. I even found the courage to contact my old boss and get the money I was owed!
Honestly, the Law of Polarity decrees that there’s something good in all bad; everything has an opposite. We cannot move from one place to another without change. Focus on what is right and not on what is wrong. Accordingly, if there is something really wrong in your life then there must be something really right. Most people simply do not understand this.
Try this exercise:
Take five minutes each day for the next month to write in your journal about what is going right in your life—do not write anything that is ‘negative’ just write about the good stuff. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel.
Take a little time each day to focus on the good stuff. Stop yourself whenever you find yourself talking or thinking about the bad stuff. It really works—you’ll see a change.
If you would like to learn more exercises to change your life into one of Thank YOU and Gratitude: take Reiki training or book some one-on-one Happiness Coaching with me! Drop me an email and let’s get started!
And remember: Like minded people around you will help you to stay ‘grateful’.
‘If the only prayer that you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.’ Meister Eckhardt
I can so relate to this post. I have transformed my life in every way and gratitude was a large part of doing that. It really is about being thankful for all the blessings we already DO have! Thanks Jacqueline for the inspiration! <3
It is something I constantly share and it’s wonderful when you see the ‘click’ … ooh, I get it! I love that you have been able to transform your life into one of joy and ease. You are an inspiration!
What a great reminder about polarity and gratitude. It made me stop and think of what’s opposite to the things I think are pretty wrong for me right now, and I have more to add to my “thank you” list!
Woohoo!!! Awesomeness indeed. xox
Lovely! Congratulations on changing your life and thank you for sharing your story! Living in Gratitude really is the beginning of a beautiful and inspiring journey of the soul.
Hugs and butterflies, ~T~
Turned my life around completely! Thank you for the hugs and butterflies!
Love this! I completely agree! My Kundalini Yoga teachers have been teaching the the same thing about polarity. We can only know light where there is dark. Both sides are important. What you do with each situation is what counts! Love your journaling idea too!
If you can’t see God in all, you can’t see God at all! Love the teachings of Yogi B. Try the journaling … it works! Thanks for sharing lovely.
Jacqueline, your message is not new to me but the way in which you made it “yours” is beautiful. I just sent this link to my sister because we were just having this conversation tonight. And you’ve told your “story” of life transformation all because you simply chose to shift your focus. You have inspired me, thank you!
<3
Thank you dear heart. I’m so happy that you were touched and able to share. Sending you and your sister some big cyber hugs!
This is truly a thought-provoking post. The examples you gave of how to reframe the negative are very helpful to see one’s experiences in a new light. Life is an opportunity! I’m going to try to apply some of your suggestions, as the realist in me can become a bit of a Debbie Downer sometimes. 🙂
Kick that Debbie Downer to the curb and choose to be Cheerful Cherry! Thanks for sharing. xox
BEAUTIFUL post!!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing a bit about your fascinating journey–you are a true bad ass!!! 🙂 I love hearing about Reiki being pivotal in changing your mindset/focus, and eventually your entire life! High fives, fellow Reiki lady 🙂 And three cheers for gratitude journals! I swear on all things glittery that a rotten mood can instantly shift for me by simply writing down 20 things! Your energy and happiness radiate, and I am so grateful!! High fives and love!!
Love this…yea Reiki!!! Swearing on all things glittery is definitely the way to go through life. We all get down times and I’ve been a wallower in the past…no more. High fives back atcha! <3
Such a simple technique and so life changing. Funny how the simple things make the biggest difference isn’t it?
Today I’m grateful for my cat Evey who is always there for me with cuddles and purrs no matter how crappy I feel or how rough I look!
Thank you Evey! xox
Yes…life has a funny way of bringing us back to simplicity. And that’s ‘true love’ … you’ll see it in the eyes of many people … Evey is just showing you the way. xox
Very thought provoking. I am a dyed in the wool worrier ergo I suffer from depression, anxiety and sometimes even panic. I am going to (once again) start a journal and this time only fill it with happy and thankful thoughts. Thank you!
My pleasure Susie! I’m so happy to help. Have fun with your journal…you might want to include some pictures of things that make you happy, and drawings…stickers and sparkly things. Then you have a lovely personal book to raise your spirit on those not so cheery days. xox
thanx for sharing this useful information about changes in life.
My pleasure
Great message. Today I am grateful because my 3-year old daughter signed her own name on her Daddy’s birthday card for the first time, and because my 19-month old daughter thought wearing a winter hat on a sunny day was hilarious. I love you! Love your ADHD daughter 🙂
I love it…how does it get any better than this and what else is possible? Woohoo! Thanks for the love babes…you rock. I love you and I’m so proud of you … and the little grandbabes too! xox