“When you become grateful for small pleasures, your outlook changes and opportunitites seem to open up everywhere in your life.”
Unknown
For much of my life, I’ve been a person who’s seen the glass half empty rather than half full. In fact, my mother would frequently remind me, “Count your blessings, Mandy. You have a lot to be grateful for!” Because, like most kids, I was invariably focused on the things I didn’t have, the things other people got or experienced, that I didn’t get to have or experience.
Over the years, the more I studied what kinds of practices and behaviors successful people had, the more I learned that one of the things they all consciously did over and over and over was to have a daily gratitude practice. Focusing on the things one is grateful for each and every day, keeps you (and your energy) focused on the positive aspects of your life and in an abundant mindset, rather than focusing on what you don’t have or on the negative things in your life.
So about six months ago, I decided to get serious about creating a daily gratitude practice by making a list (mostly mentally, but occasionally I wrote them down) at the end of each day of the things I was grateful for that I had, or had experienced during the day.
Each night, I highlight three new things to focus on. In other words, to default to, “I’m grateful for my husband or my family” night after night does not have the same impact or result as coming up with three specific things from each particular day.
And each morning, after I awake and am lying in bed, I think of several news things for which I’m grateful, to try and train my brain to focus on the positive things that will be coming my way in the upcoming day.
I must say, this practice has been very helpful in terms of my mindset, overall wellbeing and in the success of my business. I have had more success the last six months of my business, than I have ever had in the history of my business.
Is it all due to my gratitude practice? Probably not, but I believe that it has helped me become more positive and put out more positive energy, so I am attracting more good things into my life and business. You attract where you put your energy.
So I challenge you to start a gratitude practice of your own. You might consider writing in a journal, or setting reminders on your phone at various times of the day to remind you to focus on the things for which you are grateful. Commit to this practice for at least 90 days and then assess the subtle changes in your mindset and results of your business.
I would love to hear your comments on this post and if you are someone who currently has a gratitude practice, I would love to hear about some of the changes you believe this practice has created in your life.
 Mandy works with talented, high energy self employed professionals and very small businesses who struggle to market their business effectively, stretch their capacity and play a bigger game. Mandy’s client’s receive proven, specific information on what they need to do to get more clients and grow their business. As a result, those who coach with Mandy increase their business, get more clients and make more money, faster and easier than they ever would have on their own. Sign up for her free Cd “7 Productivity Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs” right down below. |
