A Guide To Complete Gratitude

The holidays is one of those beautiful times when many people take the time to give thanks for all the things in their life. We remember our families, our friends, our health, our abundance. It is truly a wonderful thing to take this opportunity to look around and see the good in your life.

But one person is always forgotten. One person is always left out in our thanks and gratitude. A very important person and the one most responsible for getting you where you are. Can you guess who you always forget to thank?

YOU.

How much have you gone through this year? How much have you faced? How much have you given? How much have you overcome?

The fact is that life isn’t easy. And everyday we are thrown into the mist of uncertainty and obstacles that challenge us to one degree or another. People and circumstances beyond our control are placed on our path and we face them and offer our assistance without giving it a second thought.

Therefore, I ask that today you take 1 minute. Just 1 minute and give an intentional and well deserved thank you to YOU. Be specific and allow yourself the moment to take pleasure in who you are and what you do. To see and acknowledge everything you have achieved to get you here today. All that you have given to help those around you. Everything you have endured and sacrificed to be the best you can be.

Lock yourself in the bathroom if you must. But for one minute list 5-10 things you are grateful for in YOU. It may seem difficult at first. You may even resist it a bit because you are not used to seeing how great you are nor giving yourself credit. But just try it.

To help you out, I will share some of my own with you. These are things that I am personally grateful for in myself and are directly connected to the values I hold dear. When making your list, do not judge it. No one will know nor hear it so what you give thanks to is yours and yours alone. Make it as personal to you as you are unique. Remember, it need not be fancy nor eloquent, just honest.

Start with “I give thanks to myself for….” Then add whatever you wish.

I give thanks to myself for loving those in my life wholeheartedly and without thought to what I get in return

I give thanks to myself for being genuine and risking the vulnerability of being honest.

I give thanks to myself for making the conscious effort to see the positive side of difficult situations.

I give thanks to myself for giving to my loved ones all I can to help them in their times of need.

I give thanks to myself for having the courage to face adversity when it would have been easier to run.

I give thanks to myself for standing up for myself and my values at times when they were challenged and it scared me to hold my ground.

I give thanks to myself for staying strong and learning from my pain instead of suppressing it and waiting for it to go away.

I give thanks to myself for trying every day to be a little better and a little wiser when I could have relied on routine to get me by.

I give thanks to myself for being smart enough to listen to my inner voice and follow its guidance.

I give thanks to myself for being me and the effort I put into every day to be at peace.

As you can see, there is no rhyme or reason to it. It is just about taking the time and letting yourself have just one minute where YOU matter. Where your efforts, your courage, your sacrifices, your pain, your pleasure, your values, your gifts, your lessons, your LIFE is acknowledged and rewarded for all that it is and all that it does.

I wish you all a beautiful and enjoyable Holiday Season.

Be well.