Confessions of a Naturalista: "Gratitude is Gorgeous" by Beatrice Clay

Why Gratitude Lists are Important

By: Beatrice Clay

                             

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates vision for tomorrow.” ~Melody Beady

Gratitude is the very first step toward creating a more beautiful life or anything for that matter. Taking stock of what you already have and expressing gratitude for it is a game changer or rather a mind changer.  As the opening quotation suggests, gratitude preps your mind and spirit for miracles.  Identifying and choosing to focus on the little sweet pleasantries in your life not only keeps you from responding negatively to all the crap that you will surely encounter so long as you’re breathing, but gratitude also opens you up to receive more good than crap.  Think of gratitude and expressing it as a magnet for all things good, graceful and Godly.

You’re essentially telling God, the Universe or what ever divine love that lights you up and keeps you going that you are aware of divine provision, you gladly accept it and your heart is open to more. 

                               

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life.  And you will have set in motion and ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.”~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

My daily gratitude lists are my saving grace most days. Once I am awake and properly hydrated (read: caffeinated) I jot down 3-5 things that I am grateful for.  I start my day with gratitude. Even when I am at an emotional low or on the brink of tears or trying to quiet the urge to scream “why me,” I write my gratitude list. My commitment to writing a gratitude list despite how I feel is actually the saving grace part.  On those “why me” days, my gratitude lists keep me from sinking lower.  Those few moments I spend searching my heart to find the good, are a few less moments I spend bemoaning the crap.  In those moments, gratitude does her work. My gratitude list reminds me it ain’t all bad.

I encourage you to start expressing gratitude daily. Lists work wonderfully. No fancy paper or notebook needed. Just grab a pen/pencil/sharpie or crayon and a blank piece or paper or index card and jot down at least three things you are grateful for today.  Tomorrow, write another gratitude list. The day after tomorrow, another.  The third day, another. You get where I am going.  Make writing a daily gratitude list one of your sacred practices and watch something beautiful begin to happen.

Need a little more, well join me for 365 Days of Gratitude over at inspired by Beatrice Clay. Got a blog or other social media account and want to share your lists? Let me know and I’ll be sure to follow.

One last bit of PRETTY before I go: printable blank gratitude cards made just for you and your gratitude lists! (link “gratitude lists”)

Beatrice Clay Elsewhere:
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