BECOME AWARE - 3 Easy Ways to Practice Gratitude

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Gratitude - Let's make it the first thing we remember from Dr Christiane Northrup's Blog post reminds me not to be stiff necked and stubborn about what I feel I need to hold onto when I really want to let it go.

My wonderful amazing body and marvelous inner Self always remind me by literally - I kid you not - giving me a stiff neck at those times and as soon as I understand the 'why' of it the crunch disappears immediately.

Listening to my body's messages made me become aware that letting go is so easy to do but because we learnt from our parents and teachers to hold onto our hurts not matter what when in fact, as painfully horrendous as some life changing events have been, we really have no choice if you and I are to live prosperous, happy and fulfilling lives.

We must let go and let God as advised by Bob Proctor. That poison of hate and anger will kill us faster than the person or persons who inflicted the pain upon us in the first place.

So, in line with living my 2014 motto  positively conscious and serene here are Christiane's three easy ways to practice gratitude every day:

1. Create Gratitude Touchstones

Write your favorite memories or peak experiences on index cards and keep them close at hand as gratitude touchstones. Here are a few examples: your spouse, your sleeping child, a beautiful place in nature, a favorite pet, an exciting trip, a special moment with a friend.

2. Make a list of all the people in your life for whom you are grateful.

Who helped or supported you in 2013? Start with the easy ones, like family, friends, work colleagues, wait staff at your favorite restaurant, and close advisors. Let the list expand organically.



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As you begin to picture the more minor players in your life, like the person on the end of the customer support hotline or the random person who smiled at you while you were at your favorite coffee stop, you may be amazed by how much help and support you have in your life.

Note: You can do the same exercise for the things you are grateful for. Don't forget things that are easy to take for granted like heat, electricity, and clean water.

3. Appreciate yourself for all that you are and all that you do.

Take a moment right now to look back and acknowledge how far you’ve come since last year. (You can do this for shorter intervals, too.) Journaling is a great way to keep track of this kind of information. The point is to update your “self-appreciation circuits” regularly and genuinely. It’s easier to go negative! Don’t do that to yourself.

Right now, take yourself into your heart and acknowledge your good traits, what you’ve accomplished this year, and the positive ways that you’ve grown. Recognize the ways in which your presence on planet Earth actually helps and supports others.

Practicing gratitude for as little as 15–20 seconds, can lower stress hormones, increase the flow of oxygen to every cell of your body, and harmonize your heart’s rhythms with your body’s other systems.

If all of this happens when you focus for just 15–20 seconds on something that brings you pleasure, joy, or a feeling of gratitude, imagine what would happen to your health—and our world—if you were able to cultivate and express gratitude and appreciation on a regular basis. That’s pretty powerful stuff.