Hello! 

Today, I wanted to take a moment and talk about Gratitude, and why I believe it’s an important practice for everyone.

It’s a practice that has been the backbone of my life and my business for many, many years now. I cannot imagine my life without the gift that is practicing daily gratitude. It has changed my life, and the lives of countless clients, friends, and loved ones. 

Gratitude truly is a way of life.

I wanted to start November with a blog talking about this topic. The holiday season is naturally a time when people shift more focus to what they’re grateful for. Nearly everyone I know has some holiday tradition where everyone goes around the table and says what they’re thankful for. You might even be participating in the current Gratitude Challenge I have going on for all thirty days of November, happening on my Facebook page.

Any opportunity people take to practice gratitude is an opportunity I applaud. Gratitude doesn’t have to only be a holiday practice though. It can and should be something you do everyday. Real, definite change can come from practicing gratitude every day. The thing that I have found is that while most people understand what gratitude means, doing it daily becomes overwhelming and challenging. 

Why?

Most of my clients tell me they struggle to think of things to be grateful for. 

It doesn’t have to be difficult. 

You can be grateful for any number of things — large and small. Sometimes I like to focus on the big things I have in my life, like a safe house and plenty of food to eat. I am routinely grateful for modern conveniences like running water, electricity, and technology that gives me the ability to stay connected with loved ones. 

I am also routinely grateful for thousands of small things, things people often don’t think you can be grateful for, things a lot of us take for granted. Like the fact that I can see the color yellow, that my fingers can move freely without pain, and that I can hear. There are endless things I am grateful to be able to hear— laughter, birds chirping, and my daughter’s voices. 

Gratitude is acknowledging and honoring all the amazing little things in your life. I can guarantee that your life is full of many, many things to be grateful for. Really stop, and look around at all that you have, all that you can feel, and all of your senses and what they provide you with – tastes, smells, sounds, sights, and the tactile things you can touch. 

I think practicing gratitude gets muddled because everyone is comparing. You might think it’s weird to be grateful to have access to, say, a hot shower because there are people in other places with nothing, and you don’t want to feel like think you’re above others’ problems. Here’s the thing though— you can, and should, be grateful for whatever you want to be grateful for. It is okay that you might have more than others or less than some. 

Whatever makes you happy, brings joy, or gives you an appreciation for the beautiful life you have is worth acknowledging. 

Gratitude is a way of life. When frustrations take over, it’s a great way to center back into your day. Gratitude helps keep you in your center, so whatever happens in your day can flow around you, instead of taking you along with it. Gratitude keeps you in the present moment, helped by a few deep breaths, and when we live in the present moment, we get the most out of our lives, and our day. 

So, take a moment. Draw in a few deep breaths, and become aware of the exact moment around you. When you’re settled, look around and feel your body. Name three things you’re grateful for at that moment, understanding that your gratitude can be for anything and anyone. 

For me, I’m grateful to help people live more authentic lives. I’m grateful that I can take big, deep breaths. Lastly, I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned so far in my life.

What are you grateful for today? 

Big Hugs! 

-Robin