To appreciate something means to be grateful or thankful for
it. When you are grateful, you literally open yourself up to receive all kinds
of blessings and good things in life. You can receive most everything you want,
truly. If you want healing, start by feeling grateful that you are still alive.
If you want a new car, start by being grateful for the beat up clunker on your
driveway. If it is more money that you want, start being grateful for whatever
amount of money you already have.
You see, showing gratitude is the key to every positive
thing in life. It is the key to successful relationships, it is the key to
successful careers and it is the key to living healthier and happier lives. And
this is where the importance of being grateful lies: Overall, it makes life
better.
One of my favorite quotes by Michael Angier says... "If
you learn to appreciate more of what you already have, you will find yourself
having more to appreciate." Think about that!
Take a few moments to answer these questions to yourself...
When was the last time you stop to think about one blessing you do have? When
was the last time you felt grateful for that 'something' you already have in
your life? When was the last time you told your partner that you appreciate their
existence in your life? When was the last time you told your child that you
cherish the moments you spend together?
Something as simple as a "Thank you for being in my
life" or "I appreciate having you here, with me, today", can go
a long way. It will make the other person feel good, for sure, BUT... it will
make you feel even better!
One exercise that couples go through in marriage counseling
consists of writing down all of the reasons they are grateful for each other.
This is very powerful to strengthen the relationship as it makes you become
conscious and grateful for the qualities that the other person brings into your
life; things that sometimes are taken for granted. Moreover, what you become
aware of and magnify, you get more off.
Even when they have to discuss the things they don't like,
they learn to pay attention on the things that they do like about each other.
After reading this, refer back to that quote again and you'll feel a greater
impact on its meaning: "If you learn to appreciate more of what you
already have, you will find yourself having more to appreciate."
So maybe your husband doesn't like to help with the dishes,
but you can feel grateful that he's quite a handyman and that you don't need to
worry about calling a plumber or an electrician! Or maybe your wife is not very
organized around the house, but she's great at cooking your favorite dishes.
Or, maybe your child spilled milk all over your new shirt right before you
walked out the door for work, but he makes you laugh so much and makes you feel
like the luckiest parent in the world.
The above examples are just an illustration of the millions
of daily things that go on in most people's lives. We all have challenges, but
realize that there is something good in every situation, ALWAYS. It just
depends on what you choose to focus on!
I want to close this article by asking you to make a
commitment to yourself for the next week. Decide to wake up every morning and
think of at least 5 things that you are grateful for. Then say them out loud.
You will notice a smile on your face without even trying. Make this a habit and
I can guarantee you that just after one week you will be in a much better
place. And in 30 days you will feel completely renewed. This is the power of
being grateful!
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Come and join us in our DailyGratitude4Life Facebook Group of friends and gain in the benefits of writing your daily gratitude to help transform your life. 
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Isabella ❤
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