my hands and heart rocks, photo credit: jason reynolds, nikon d50 digital
I realize that there will be many who read this mission and already have a gratitude practice that works for them. To those I say, consider the mission completed! :-)
However, I also know that for myself, it took several attempts to find a way to practice gratitude in a way that worked for me. And until I did, I didn't stick to it consistently.
I've been learning so much since I've been on this joy rebel journey and one is that even if I think a practice is beneficial, I still have to make it my own for it to work. Take for example, my gratitude practice.
Gratitude lists are great. They are a wonderful way to shift your focus in life to all the good things-big and small-that happen in life every day. And since what we focus on expands, when you start focusing on the good, you start seeing more good.
Except, I could never just stick with a rote list: I am grateful for x, I am grateful for y, I am grateful for...
Then I had one of those moments that I've been having a lot lately. I started down an old path of 'why can't I...what's wrong with me..' when the joy rebel kicked in and said 'what works for me here?' (I love those moments)
That was what had been missing for me before. I saw worth and benefit in an activity (gratitude lists, exercising regularly) and thought that if I couldn't stick to an activity that I resonated with, there must be something wrong with me. Then it occurred to me that just because an activity is considered intrinsically good, doesn't mean it works with my natural rhythm and personality until I make it my own.
Regarding gratitude, what worked for me was writing down stuff that rocked, people that rocked and ways I rocked.
There's a completely different energy in phrasing it that way and that energy feels better to me.
I've gotta figure that there are ways to practice gratitude that works for you too.
So, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to explore ways to practice gratitude this week. Maybe it's a prayer of thanks in the morning, maybe it's going over your day while in the shower, maybe it's doing the gratitude dance.
If you don't have a practice and aren't sure where to start, here are a couple of resources:
*the Gratefulness website is a great place to explore.
*Bloggers like kiki blog their daily grace. (I love reading about the grace she finds in her day
*My life coach has creating something she calls the alphabet of gratitude where every day, she utilizes a letter of the alphabet to explore what she is grateful for.
If you have a gratitude practice that works for you, I'd love to hear it! I'd also love to hear about what you are exploring this week.
Happy missioning joy rebels!
20 comments:
Gratefulness is my home page, I love clicking on the computer and reading their quote each day. Sometimes in the middle of a hard day. I will finally get to the computer, and like a balm, the words there will fill me.
Joy to you...~!
Wonderful post on a wonderful topic. Gratitude is so important and it's something we often forget about. You've written a great reminder about it here!
Brandi,
It was a gratitude practice years ago (listing 5 things in a journal each day that I was grateful for) that shifted my life from angst-filled to joyous. Today I do Metta (I've posted on my blog about this today) and that prayerful practice just digs up all kinds of rich gratitudes--especially for the people in my life.
I'm with you. It is up to each of us to find the practice that works best so we will stick with it and allow the practice to transform us...because it will. Just give it 21 days in a row. You will see! (I love your little heart stones. Stunning!)
I am grateful for YOU, soulful blogger that you are. :-)
i am grateful about feeling joy!
I most respectfully & gratefully accept this mission!
Brandi, everyday I tell myself what I am grateful for, right now I am focussing on one day at a time and looking forward, especially with the death of my Dad, too much saddness can just bring you down, so i am grateful for so many things and all my memories...and there is a smile on my face once again. cinner
I'm on it Brandi.
Great post, and something I really want to incorporate into my daily life.
Great post - as usual!
:)
Me too. I'm so negative at the moment that I need to really focus on the things that cause me joy and gratitude not just today but all the time. Today's post is in the making. Thanks.
I love your method because gratitude rocks!
I have 7 years of gratitude journals. I'm actually keeping track of my life without trying.
I can go back any day in any one and remember what was happening in my life that day.
Rock on with your gratitude!
Hi Brandi, I love how you take ideas for living the best life ever and personalize them to fit your style. It takes a special kind of person to do that. Although the traditional way of practicing gratitude works for me, I appreciate your method here -- it actually sounds really fun and playful. The biggest impression you have made on me to date was your interview with Jan Lundy on Awake is Good, where you talked about your way of meditating. There was something about that which freed up something in me--because in the practice of meditating, the traditional way doesn't work for me and I couldn't appreciate my own way of doing it because I kept questioning if it was the "right way." You freed me to think that what works for me is right for me--no matter what! Thank you for being bold and original and sharing your musings with the rest of us! I think you are brilliant!
I have two practices where I have an attitude of gratitude. First I make a list each day of "5 Really Good Things", anything from a rockin' song on the radio on my way to work to sweet tea, whatever makes me happy that day. And every afternoon the kid and I take turns saying the things we are thankful for, trying to out thank one another. And that turns in to "I love you more than..." which turns me in to the happiest girl on the planet.
I've been writing gratitude lists ever since I read Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. (Have your read it Brandi? It's a beautiful book.) When I feel blue I read through them and they really bring me joy.
Thank you for the wonderful links. Gratefulness.org looks like a treasure. =]
Another fantastic mission, with perfect timing. I think this concept of "making it your own" is so important. Whenever I was having a hard time in college, whether it was writing an essay or creating an art project, if I remembered to stop and ask myself "How can I make this ME?" suddenly everything would go swimmingly. The problems occurred when I was struggling so hard to shove myself into a little box--whatever I thought they wanted me to be. No more!
My gratitude practice is similar--I love writing the lists, but challenging myself to be specific with them. That helps me to see the world in a whole new way. Small blessings suddenly seem like huge miracles. :)
I blogged more about this: http://persistentgreen.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-43-thousand-tiny-wishes.html
i love the feeling of release from the dark stuff that gratitude brings...
love the heart shaped rocks Brandi xxx
I just got a great idea!!
Thank you.
Peace & Love.
A gratitude dance! a gratitude alphabet, what gratefull ideas, things, concepts.
I liked a lot your post, and I think there is a lot of wisdom in what you tell here that can help people avoid innesesary suffering, and improve your and the ones that are around yourself life quiality.
Without gratitude satisfaction will never ever appear in your life.
I do my lists, but am always looking for new ways to shake things up. :)
Brandi, my podcast Project Uplift will be launching on Aug 1st and I'd love to highlight The Joy Rebel movement you have created. Let me know if you'd be okay with that.
Pleeeease Say Yes! :)
Tabitha
I Choose Bliss
sorrow-I have those sites I go to as well, those that can be balms. :-)
positively present-thanks for the compliment!
jan-is it a metta meditation? I love metta meditation-it is so calming and fulfilling
melissa-rock on :-)
muse-cool :-)
cinner-many blessings to you sweetie, on such a loss. I think it's also important to honor the grieving process. sometimes we just need to focus on other things than gratitude adn that's okay too.
boho-thanks!
baino-glad this could be a positive post for you :-)
melissa-I love your practices :-)
inkberry-glad the links could be helpful! I have read simple abundance..wonderful
amanda-"how can I make it ME"-that, my dear, is a perfect question :-)
faerian-thanks!
connie-so what's the great idea?? HUHHHH???
mariana-wow-great realization: without gratitude satisfaction will never appear in your life
tabitha-I would be honored for you to mention me darlin :-)
joy discovered-wow. I am humbled and thankful for your very kind compliments and frankly, always honored and a little in awe when anything I say resonates with people. Welcome. I'm so glad you commented so we could connect.
Wonderful post. I couldn't agree more.
All is well. Life is good.
Rebecca
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