Did you know that creating a gratitude list is one of the key ingredients used in the Law of Attraction? It can be powerful stuff! And it’s one of the easiest ways to attract more abundance into your life right now.
You may be asking yourself – what would be the point in making such a list? More importantly, how does this really work?
Well, for starters, it would show you immediately all of the different things in this beautiful world that you CAN be grateful about, if you choose to do so.
A gratitude list helps to keeps you focused on what you can be happy and thankful for in the present moment. It changes your mood from one of anxiety and scarcity to one of hopefulness, excitement, contentment.
The most important benefit of this exercise is the powerful way in which it can shift your “doom and gloom” perspective immediately to one where you begin to see all the abundance that’s already in your life. It’s certainly a great way to uplift your spirit!
Yes, I can hear some of you right now, “But, my life’s a friggin’ mess! I don’t have money to pay the bills, everything’s going downhill fast. What can I possibly find to be grateful for?”
I understand where you’re coming from. Been there, done that. It sucks.
So, here’s a few things that I’ve used on my own gratitude lists in the past to get the ball rolling (and they have nothing to do with buying things, paying bills or “having more” of something):
- Beautiful sunsets. The setting sun, no matter where it is, can that take your breathe away with it’s vibrant colors if you’ll just watch it for a little while.
- Gorgeous sunrises. Watch as the rays of the sun begin to creep up over the horizon causing the clouds to become pink, red, orange, and yellow. Clouds look spectacular in the rising sun. Just stop and watch for a few moments. It’s a great way to start your day on a high note.
- Mountain ranges. That’s another picturesque vista that always takes my breath away. Their majestic, snow-capped peaks; the ruggedness of the cliff edges; the intermixed colors of purples, blues, grays, and greens. Mountains are inspiring and powerful in many ways.
- Fluffy clouds. Remember how you used to look for shapes in the cloud formations when you were a kid? Try it again! It’s fun and makes your heart feel lighter.
- The stars in the sky at night. Just look at all those billions of stars out there… and that’s just in our galaxy! There are millions of galaxies with billions of stars and who knows how many planets. Now, there’s a great example of abundance in this universe! The beauty of the night sky is an endless wonder when you stop and really look up!
Why would I include these majestic views on my gratitude list rather than everyday “life” things?
Because they remind me to be thankful for all the beauty and the multitude of objects that are readily available in this world to truly enjoy anytime I want to – things that don’t cost money or involve relationships (triggers that can often illicit depressing or angry emotions).
Sometimes, what we need is to be pulled out of our narrow world view and take a good, long look at the beauty and abundance that actually surrounds us each and every moment – the abundance that we often ignore!
What Are The Other Benefits of a Gratitude List?
You can use a gratitude list to help you cope with a day that may be going wrong. It is designed to take your attention away from the “bad” things and realign yourself with positive energies instead. Even if it’s for a short period, it can make your entire day look brighter and go better.
Other things to be grateful for are having a place to live, regardless of what it looks like. You HAVE someplace to call home. That’s important. That’s special. It doesn’t matter if it’s a run-down shack… it’s still a home to shelter you from the elements.
And who’s to say your “luck” won’t begin to improve down the road? Everything is temporary… everything!
Be grateful for having some food to eat. It may be sparse, it may be bland… but it IS food. And for those of us who have access to a large quantity of food…. be grateful for having so much variety to choose from!
(Contrary to what your parents have told you, eating all the food on your plate will in no way, shape or form help a starving child in Africa. All it will do is make you fat. This is a scarcity mentality… let it go!)
You can be grateful for having electricity to turn on the lights, the appliances and all those electronic gadgets we all so love to buy.
And stop complaining about the cost of everything! Money is just an exchange of energy. It’s our “bartering” system. You’re exchanging one item (money) for another (housing, food, utilities, items). ENJOY what you currently have!
Begin a Gratitude Journal
Begin writing your own gratitude journal at the end of each day. Any sort of plain paper book will do, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Use a cheap Hilroy notebook if that’s all you can afford.
Start by taking a good look around you and write down the things that make you feel truly thankful to have. As the weeks and months pass, go back and read what you have written. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at all the things that are already in your life that make you feel really good.
Feeling grateful – engaging in joyful emotions – that’s the power behind making these lists work miracles.
Make it a point to stop moaning about the past or fretting about the future. Be grateful for your life in this immediate moment – because this moment is all that you truly have. In order to have more, you need to see how abundant and blessed you already are! That’s what a gratitude list can do for you. Why not give it an honest try? It may change your life, but you’ll never know until you begin.