ratitude is the source of abundance. Let that sink in: Gratitude is the source of abundance. As an abundance coach and teacher, this is really the core of my philosophy.
God’s wish for us is to experience love and gratitude through our relationships with others and our gratitude for everything we have. Gratitude is mindset insurance: no matter what, there is always something to be grateful for. It is probably the quickest and easiest way to get yourself into a positive state of mind.
Defining Gratitude
Before we start, I think it’s really important we define what gratitude is first and foremost. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Appreciation means recognizing the enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
Gratitude is a habit we must learn. The most successful people I know have grateful minds and loving hearts. Gratitude has given them a way to look for the good. Our minds are powerful: where we direct our attention is where we direct our energy.
Abundance Through Focus
Gratitude means we are focusing on what we appreciate in our present reality. If you are always focusing on what you don’t have, you will never have enough. This can be crucial when we are chasing our dreams. Sometimes we become too goal-oriented and end up creating the very thing we don’t want: lack. We forget to give thanks for everything and everyone around us because it is not our dream. And, we get impatient and forget about the abundance we have in the NOW.
Keep in mind, however, that we can also give gratitude for what is not yet our reality. But it must start with feeling a true appreciation for what is already here.
If we are going to cultivate a mindset of gratitude, I’ll share with you a bit about how science works. Proctor Gallagher Institute reported on a study where scientists had people write a gratitude letter to another person every week for three weeks.
3 Reasons Gratitude Helps Us
Toxic Emotions
Gratitude disconnects us from toxic, negative emotions and the ruminating that often accompanies them. Writing a letter “shifts our attention” so that our focus is on positive emotions.
Life Satisfaction
Expressing gratitude helps us even if we don’t explicitly share it with someone. We’re happier and more satisfied with life because we completed the exercise.
Compound Interest
The positive effects of gratitude writing compound like interest. You might not notice the benefit of a daily or weekly practice, but after several weeks and months, you will.
Yes! If that doesn’t sound like a reason to do, gratitude, I don’t know what does. It affects us over time and it is good for us.
6 Ways to Cultivate Gratitude NOW
Here are 6 ways you can start to cultivate gratitude at home courtesy of Harvard University.
Write a thank-you note.
You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself.
Thank someone mentally.
No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you and mentally thank the individual.
Keep a gratitude journal.
Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thought about the gifts you’ve received each day.
Count your blessings.
Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number — such as three to five things — that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you.
Pray.
People who are religious can use prayer to cultivate gratitude.
Meditate.
Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as “peace”), it is also possible to focus on what you’re grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.).
In Conclusion
As you know now, Gratitude is mindset insurance: no matter what, there is always something to be grateful for. So go ahead – create this form of compound interest. You will only be sure to benefit over time!
Want to learn more?
As great as learning about abundance is, it only works if you apply it – and that can be hard! If you’d like support and structure as you cultivate abundance in your life, check out my abundance resources.
Abundance can start with small, simple habits. All you have to do is learn and apply them!
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If you’ve got an abundance goal you’d like some advice on, let me share my experience!
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