Living in a thankful world is a tremendous place to be! It’s actually the same world that we all live in, but the reason I love my place in this world is that I have made a conscious choice to be grateful. Today, why not consider making this choice for yourself? It only takes a shift of your mindset and a bit of energy each day, but this simple change has the power to literally transform your life.
Here’s how it works and here’s why.
So the conscious choice looks like this: “I choose to be thankful for everything around me, the people I come in contact with, and the things that happen to me each day.” Sounds simple enough, right? But what does this look like on a daily basis and how do you do it? It starts with taking action and being consciously aware of three realities each day: things, people, and circumstances.
Awareness of Things
The first is to focus on being thankful for everything around you. Don’t take even the little things for granted because they are a gift and they are beautiful and wonderful. How about the fresh breeze as you step out of your place in the morning? Breathe it in and enjoy the feeling against your skin. Feel alive. Feel hopeful. Feel it. And say thank you to whatever higher power you believe in.
Make a conscious choice to do this with everything you have: the water you drink, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the bed you sleep in. Even the most modest things in your life are a gift. Even your older model car gets you to work each morning. All things serve a purpose and all you have to do is stop taking them for granted. Instead, pause and say a silent thank you each time the power turns on or the hot water flows. It takes only a second, but each cumulative moment of gratitude adds up to a better life.
Awareness of People
Next, be grateful for the people you come in contact with. Start with the easiest ones. Your family. Your neighbors. Your co-workers. All the different people who provide you with services and assistance. Be grateful they are in your life and say thank you when they smile at you, when they help you, and each time they offer understanding, sympathy or encouragement.
Even the somewhat difficult people. Think about why that person might be in your life today. Is it to teach you the way you don’t want to live so you can make better conscious choices for your future happiness? Perhaps you need to change your job and that annoying co-worker or obnoxious boss is acting that way to give you the strength to move on. Or maybe they are there to teach you patience or forgiveness? Really think about what lesson you can learn and take that to heart. Use those difficult people as your guideposts to move toward a better life.
Awareness of Circumstances
Likewise, each time you experience a major life circumstance, try to keep a balanced mindset. It’s easy to be truly thankful when things go well, so do that! Do it consciously and consistently. But what if you have an accident? Experience a heartbreak? Encounter some physical problem? A loss of any kind? Of course, you need to give yourself time to breathe and to recover, but in doing so, also think about what bigger meaning that circumstance might have been trying to convey.
Maybe that accident or illness is trying to tell you to slow down and pay more attention to your safety and your health. Perhaps you can choose to be thankful for the good times you had with a beloved person and focus on being grateful for the times you shared instead of continuing to drown in the sorrow of losing them. If your job comes to an abrupt end, could it be so that you can be open to finding a new and better opportunity? Be grateful you are still breathing and really try to find some aspect to be thankful for even in the face of adversity.
Transforming Your Life
As you adopt this pattern of being consciously grateful for all things, people and circumstances, your life will naturally and miraculously improve. This works because you stop worrying about what you don’t have and start feeling peaceful and joyful about what you do have. More goodness starts to flow to you in all areas of your life because you are consistently present and thankful in each moment and your vibration becomes a match for more good things to come your way.
It’s your choice. Make it wisely. When you choose to live in a thankful world each moment of every day, before you know it goodness and light will be appearing everywhere. The amazing part is that it’s still in the same outer world we all live in, but you will be enjoying it more and loving your life. Thanks for sharing below how making this kind of conscious choice is working for you and how your improved mindset is creating a better life.
Elena Anguita is a change agent, speaker, and author of Spread Thanks! Create Miracles Through The Power of Ink who supports education and passionately believes in the transformative power of gratitude. You can connect with Elena on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and SpreadThanks.com.
Image courtesy of Agnieszka Boeske.
