I’m writing to you from Granada in the south of Spain. Dawn and I are visiting here with my youngest daughter and her husband. We leave today for Valencia and that is where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving—my favorite holiday.
But I won’t be any more grateful on Thanksgiving than I am on any other day. Maybe a little more focused on gratefulness but not really any more grateful.
Because I PRACTICE gratefulness EVERY day. And I didn’t do it only when my life was as great as it is now. I did it when I was broke, divorced, bankrupt and unclear about what to do or where to go.
Because I’m a firm believer that when you appreciate what you have, you will have even more to appreciate. Because what you focus on expands. Focus on what you don’t have and you have more of that. Focus on what you have and more will be attracted.
When I was down and out with no money and few prospects, I was grateful I had a place to live, had never been imprisoned, brutalized or had a life-threatening disease. I focused on the good things I had.
Today, as my life is better than it’s ever been, I practice a daily ritual. I call it doing my gratefuls and I try to incorporate it into my routine.
I encourage you to do the same. If you pray, include it in your prayers If you exercise, think about the things for which you have to be grateful while you are exercising. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. And in doing so you grow a grateful heart. Your gratefulness becomes part of you.
If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, I wish you a happy one. Hopefully you are celebrating with family and friends. And even if you’re not celebrating, practice gratefulness anyway. Making gratefulness part of your nature will make you healthier. You’ll have less worry. You’ll be less bothered by those things that could irritate or upset you. And you’ll be happier, I promise you.
One of the many things for which I am grateful is having you as a subscriber and supporter of my work. I’m grateful to be able to offer encouragement, new ideas, reminders of concepts and principles, resources, tips, and inspiration. All in the service of helping you create and live your best life. Your support, your feedback and your patronage is greatly appreciated.
Best Life Truth: If you practice the art of gratefulness, you’ll find yourself having even more for which to be grateful.
This article was originally published on SuccessNet.org in November of 2018.
