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Keys to Happiness: Gratitude

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This post is a part of the Season of Gratitude Series. You can participate by writing a gratitude post and telling me about it. For more details, click here.

This post is also part of the Keys to Happiness Series. The keys to happiness are courage, generosity, connection, clarity, presence, non-attachment, and gratitude.

Gratitude is the cheapest, most effective way to happiness.

Let’s play a game. It’s a combination of I Spy and old-fashioned popcorn. Take a look around the room that you’re in and find something pleasing. Say to yourself, “I’m grateful for…” One kernel of popcorn pops. Take a look around again, find something else. Say, “I’m really glad to have xxx in my life.” And another kernel pops. Go again. “I’m really thankful for…” Are they coming faster? Is joy beginning to percolate in you?

Gratitude affords you the opportunity to live in a positive mental state regardless of the appearances. You’re not living in denial when you choose to be thankful for what you love about your life. You do actually love it. There’s no need to falsely convince yourself that you are thankful for things you don’t want. What you do is focus almost entirely on the things that bring you joy.

When you shift your focus and start practicing gratitude, you’ll find that you have even more to be thankful for. The more you give thanks, the more it expands. Soon you will look around and find that you have less and less in your life that you don’t want, and more of what you do want.

Giving thanks reconditions your mind towards hopefulness and optimism. It clears out the sludge that is blocking your good from coming to you. It aligns you with Spirit and the Source of who you are. It reminds you that you will have all that you need.

Today, as part of the Season of Gratitude, I am grateful for all that life is offering me. In particular, the opportunity to blog. What are you grateful for today?

In Spirit,
Nneka

Entry Filed under: Spirituality, Personal Development, Life Skills, Gratitude, Relationships and Emotional Mastery

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