When it comes to gratitude…
We all know that we just feel better and are happier when we can have a grateful attitude toward life but…
How do you find gratitude when you’re just not feeling it?
The answer is–you can’t.
You can’t find, see or be an expression of gratitude when you’re not feeling it because the reason you’re not feeling it is always in direct conflict to the feeling of gratitude.
Confusing?
Try it and see what happens…
As an experiment, think of something that can make you angry or upset.
Feel the way someone was unkind and wronged you or how you got unfair treatment in some situation.
While feeling those feelings, see if you can find even an ounce of gratitude in that moment.
Impossible, right?
(Ok–you can let those thoughts and feelings pass away now)
The truth is that you can only find gratitude when you’re living in the feeling of possibilities instead of impossibilities and restriction…
The feeling of love within yourself instead of thinking you’re unlovable.
You can only find gratitude (and it’s close cousin appreciation) when you look in the direction of the gift of the moment instead of the pain, lack or disappointment.
You can’t force gratitude to show up in any given moment but…
One of the ways to finding gratitude when you’re just not feeling it is…
Slowing down your mind.
All the fear and the thoughts you believe that get in the way of gratitude come from a revved up mind.
Slow it down by just simply stopping.
It seems so simple…
And then when your mind slows, a space opens to see something new.
You can see the kindness that was shown to you that you didn’t expect.
You can see the abundance that’s in your life.
You can see beauty when it was invisible to you before.
A couple of years ago, Susie volunteered with her daughter to serve dinner at a community soup kitchen and the gratitude overflowed.
Here were people who appeared to not have much but what they did have was appreciation for a hot meal.
What would happen if you slowed down enough this week to allow appreciation for each moment in your life?
How would your relationships change for the better?
We invite you to try it and see!