Grateful for No Reason at All
One of the tools I use for mindfulness is a gratitude list. It's simple. You make a list of all the things you're grateful for. It's a gentle reminder of the blessings in your life, big and small.
Something as simple as writing down three things you're grateful for at the start of the day can set a positive tone for the whole day. I also like little reminders around the house. A sticky note, or a magnet on the fridge, that asks, "What can I be thankful for in this moment?"
Now try to go beyond the things that you're grateful for, by just being grateful. Grateful for no reason at all. Just being grateful. Grateful for being, simply being. Sense how that feels, and really go into that feeling. It's a deeper level of gratitude.
There was a time when I wanted a really nice car. So I set my intention on it. I made a mind map with all the parts that would be good to have. I played with it, and made it nice colors and pretty shapes. I was really feeling it, but in a playful, wouldn't this be cool kind of way.
Sure enough, I got this electric car. It was a three year lease on a Chevy Bolt, and I loved it. I live up a really steep hill, and I was just bombing up the hill with this thing. Coming down the hill, it would give me regenerative charging, so I'd get free electricity driving down. It was thrilling. I was excited like a little kid.
But I don't go a lot of places. Maybe once a week. So after a while it wasn't a thrill anymore. When the three year lease was up, they asked, "Do you want a new one, or do you want to buy this one?" And I said, "Nah, you can have it back."
After that I drove a 1990 Honda Civic. And I loved it. It was kind of a beater. If somebody scratched it in the parking lot, I was totally relaxed about that. It was like the no worry vehicle. I'm happy with whatever the universe gives me.
I had to have the nice car first. I enjoyed it for a long time. Then I got to the point where I was done with it. You can't just tell yourself to feel the abundance. But when you start getting what you want, the hot tub, the trip to Nepal, the perfect house, the perfect relationship, at some point you ask, what should I manifest next? And I got to that point where I literally couldn't think of anything I needed. I'd look around, and it was like, nah, I'm good.
When you get to that point, there isn't really anything you need. If there's something you need, it'll just come into your life. And where you are on the path is the perfect place for where you should be on the path.
Something to try
Write down three things you're grateful for today. Then put the list down, and spend a minute just being grateful. Grateful for no reason at all, just for being. Notice how that feels.
The list helps you notice the good in your life. The minute after it takes you a little deeper. You can do it right now, or tomorrow morning when you start your day.
Some of you have already started on this path, and for some of you it's brand new. Either way is okay. Just try it and see.
If you want to know more, come check out my free Truth Whispering class. I teach it once a month, and you're welcome to come. And I share my gratitude practices in my third book, Truth Whispering Part III: Living the Truth.