More Gratitude

This morning I woke up not feeling very well, but I didn’t want to feel that way, so in my Morning Write, I listed dozens of things I am grateful for and I began feeling better.  This tells me a few things.  There is great power in gratitude and here are some of the reasons why.

First, gratitude helps me to focus on what is good in my life, rather than what is not.  That doesn’t mean that I’m oblivious to or unaware of problems; it just means that they don’t have to have as much power over me as they’d like.  The truth is that there are almost always more good things happening in my life than bad.  I have more advantages than disadvantages.  This doesn’t mean there aren’t obstacles, but obstacles have been and can be overcome.

Second, gratitude relieves tension from my body.  When I woke up, I felt tense and frustrated.  As I began writing, I felt lighter and happier.  I felt peaceful.  I also felt physically better.  Can gratitude heal?  It may be possible.  I have read stories of people who were healed from cancer because they learned to laugh or they found their Purpose.  Why can’t gratitude do the same?

Third, gratitude frees my mind.  As I was listing things I was grateful for, I felt calmer.  Then I became aware of insights to other problems that I wasn’t even thinking about.  It was as if gratitude was being a therapist and giving me insights to other concerns.  This is because my mind wasn’t focused on the negative.  I felt happy and relaxed and this made me teachable.

Fourth, gratitude shifts my mind.  I see things differently. It is said that pessimists tend to see things more realistically and be more aware of potential dangers or problems.  That may be true, but being positive doesn’t mean being foolish.  It just means being positive.  I’m still aware of concerns I have.  I’m still aware that things need to be addressed.  As I said, I’m not oblivious.  But I’m also not oblivious to the good.  I realized that there can be solutions to my problems.  Being positive doesn’t mean I have no problems; it just means that problems don’t run my life.

So I’m grateful.  And here are some things I am grateful for:

I’m grateful for my Muse.

I’m grateful for my house on the beach even though I don’t have it yet.

I’m grateful for the ability to be in my Purpose even when I don’t feel well. 

I’m grateful for the ability to change my perspective simply by sitting down and writing.

I’m grateful that even though my body is not at its best, my mind is clean and clear.

I’m grateful for the people I love.

I’m grateful for material things like my car, my job and my place.

I’m grateful that I was able to Get Started and Keep Going.