Dear %%FIRST_NAME%%,
Have you ever noticed how easy it can be to say ‘thank you’ but not really mean it?
My husband, Peter, and I were discussing it recently and we concluded that it’s a bit like the English reply “Fine!” when you’re asked how you’re doing, even if you’re on your last legs…
“Thank you” can be an auto-pilot response. It can become something we say without consciously connecting with it – or the person we are saying thank you to.
Of course, the whole point of The Miracle Of Gratitude is to help us to move beyond the ‘nice words’ and into the full-blown feeling of gratitude.
“Gratitude is more than a few nice words; it’s more than a mindset; it’s a way of living. It opens your eyes to the wonder of life and opens your heart to love.”
All of that might feel like a long way off, just now. Turning our gratitude from words to a tangible feeling can take time and practice – and that’s ok.
Or perhaps you’re already there? (Then please help others out, over at the forum!)
Remember your challenge: to spend a few minutes each day focusing on gratitude. Have you done it yet today? There’s a reminder for the Week One Gratitude Project at the bottom of this email – how about doing it right now and then coming back to finish reading this message?
What Role Does Gratitude Play In Your Life?
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To help you understand how you feel about gratitude – it’s a term that often comes with a few other emotions attached to it – how about asking yourself the following two questions:
- What role has gratitude been playing in your life, so far?
- How might you like to shift that, over the coming months?
These questions aren’t about setting goals or objectives, they’re about raising your awareness of how you feel about gratitude – and everything that goes with it. Becoming aware of what is – and accepting that it is as it is – is the first step towards making changes, if that’s what you feel called to do.
How about sharing your answers to these questions – and seeing what others think – over at the forum?
How Do You Want Your Experience Of Gratitude To Shift?
I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you!
Namaste,
Reminder of your Week One Project & Useful Links
Week One Gratitude Project
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- Take a deep breath and breathe out with a sighing ‘ahhh’ sound.
This helps you to let go of tension. Repeat 3 times, if you need to, to help you relax. - Smile a gentle smile – a ‘half-smile’.
‘Half-smiling’ helps you to let go of any stresses, to rebalance your body’s sympathetic nervous system (‘fight or flight’ / adrenalin) with your parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation) and it gently starts the releasing of endorphins – your body’s natural ‘feel good’ hormones. - Think of 3 things you feel grateful for.
It doesn’t have to be ‘big’ or ‘serious’ – whatever comes to mind. Think of one at a time, pausing on each one for at least 20 seconds, allowing yourself to fully experience a sense of gratitude – an inner ‘thank you’ – for whatever it is.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, how about starting with the fact that you’re alive, you’re breathing and you’re able to somehow read this message? - Thank yourself.
Thank yourself for taking the time to practice gratitude today. And make a date with yourself to do it again tomorrow. - Release the practice.
Let go of the practice. There’s no need to analyse, critique, judge or tell yourself stories. It will most likely feel different each day. And that’s ok. What matters is consistency – doing it as many days as you can remember (hopefully these emails / the forum / the Facebook page will help with that!).
Here’s the members-only community (private) and even the Facebook Page (public), where you can ask questions, share your experiences and support others who are joining in with the Miracle Of Gratitude.