thank-you loved ones

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” 

~Meister Eckhart

Practicing gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to feel better about your life. Why?

It helps you to remember what is good in your life. We get really caught up in day to day living, including petty dramas and things that take our energy in negative directions. When we humbly pause and reflect on all of the good things our lives contain there is so much richness and love...remembering is very affirming and a way of being kind to ourselves and others. Focus on just one person you are grateful for, perhaps your closest loved one and realize what a gift it is to cherish that love and to be cherished by that love. Actually sit down for a few minutes. close your eyes and feel gratitude.

Sometimes we need gentle reminders to let go of our self pre-occupation. Me me me...it can get very boring. It's not like we want it to go that way but again old habits die hard. While there may be times we need to focus on ourselves and take care of ourselves....me me me is different. Usually too much about me means I'm stuck somewhere and need to get lifted up and out. Communicating with others and connecting to others usually gets us out of our heads and into our hearts. Sitting around, sulking and isolating keeps us stuck.

Joy increases when we realize what is really important. What are the most important things in your life? Chances are it's not your job, your wardrobe or your car. Make a list of what really makes you happy and focus your energy there. When you do that, you're practicing loving-kindness toward yourself and others which creates a positive flow of energy and much more joy in your day.