How Gratitude Can Change Your Day

Sometimes I wake up afraid of the day.

 

Sometimes I think it would be easier to pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep than wake up and face the day.

 

Fortunately for me, I have a strong little voice inside my head that speaks to me when I feel this way.

 

“Wake up, Jaime,” it says. “Today’s going to be an awesome day,”

 

“I don’t think so,” I respond. “Not with that thing going on,” – where “that thing” can be anything from a disagreement with a loved one to a fear about a future event or regret for a past one.

 

The voice is gentle yet firm and gets louder until I get out of bed.

 

“Start practicing gratitude,” it whispers.

 

And I do. I mentally go down the list and thank the Universe for all that surrounds me: my bed, my bedroom, my house, the bathroom, running water, my family.

 

After I get downstairs and prepare my cereal and coffee. Then I open the lid to my Macbook Pro and my fingers begin dancing on the keys, and the words of my daily gratitude list appear on the screen.And before I know it, I’m seeing how gratitude can change my day.

 

I’ve done this exercise every day for 18 months, which equates to about 5400 items total. I aim to avoid “gratitude fatigue”, meaning I aim not to repeat anything. Nothing is off limits here; whether it’s the grout in my shower, a coffee mug or an experience that taught me something, I find that there are a multitude of things to be grateful for every day.

 

The impact this activity has had on my life has been immense. And it always surprises me that there are never a lack of things to be grateful for.

 

Why do I take the time to do this every day? Because it’s easy, fast and it feels good! By the time I type out the 10 items I aim for every day, my mindset has completely shifted from one of fear and lack to faith and abundance. Practicing gratitude doesn’t take long – usually only 5-10 minutes – but it has a significant impact on my life.

 

Do you practice gratitude every day? What are you grateful for?Leave me a comment and let me know. I love hearing from you. I’ll read and respond to every comment you make.