Gratitude. Gratitude. Gratitude.

I’m working on having a more grateful heart in this season of my life. When I focus on gratitude, I notice the ways that my heart and mind start to change. My life right now feels so full, so blessed, and so joyful. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have my challenges - there are plenty. But I’ve been spending more intentional time making space for gratitude. It really feels like my life is overflowing (in a good way) but I also recognize that it takes intention to see that. It’s easy for me to get caught up in what is not going right, what is in my way, what is hurting me, etc. There are certainly moments to hold space for negative feelings too. But I realize that when I’m able to focus on what I’m most grateful for, what I hold most dear, my heart feels different.

This current season of my life has been beautiful, difficult, busy (oh so busy!), and many other things. I could easily choose to get caught up in the stuff that went wrong. But I’m doing something different now.

I’ve learned that gratitude multiplies. Walking around the Earth with a grateful heart starts to multiply and reveal more blessings. I’ve been starting my day with intentional time to name the things I love most - usually people, sometimes moments or experiences I’ve had. It’s not lost on me that there is a whole lot of goodness in my life. I want to be a person who soaks in every possible second of joy that this life has to offer. I don’t want to walk around pissed off, upset or angry about things that are going wrong. It takes too much energy.

Part of this recognition begins with telling myself that I am deserving of happiness, joy, and love. If I believe I am worthy of those things, it becomes easier to recognize when those things are showing up in my life. If I choose to only see what is wrong, I can get stuck in an endless cycle of hopelessness. This work isn’t easy. It’s daily, it’s difficult and it requires the practice of returning. We are all human. That means that sometimes, we are going to get stuck in negative patterns and attachments. It’s okay. I’ve learned you can always return to gratitude. It is never lost, it is never hopeless, regardless of how heavy the weight on you feels. The battle isn’t won overnight. It means returning to the things you’re grateful for over and over again, as long as you need to. When things start to change in your heart, your mind, and inside of you, things start to change on the outside too. It doesn’t mean that all challenges disappear, but they get easier to carry.

I’m choosing to spend time soaking in all of the good things that my life has to offer. I’d rather walk around the world this way.