Be Grateful for Everything!‏

Be Grateful for Everything!

We set aside November as a special time to be grateful and to be thankful for all our blessings! I’m thinking that it might be a great idea to pause for a few seconds every day to think about something for which we are grateful.

Gratitude inspires kindness and connection.

I am most grateful for the power of choice. Every day we make thousands of choices about our thoughts, our feelings and our actions. Each choice brings with it it’s own consequences. Some are good and some not so good. I am grateful for the wisdom to make the right choices.

No matter what happens today, choose gratitude. If everything goes your way, choose gratitude. If everything looks as though it is falling apart, choose gratitude. Gratitude is the most powerful choice that you can make. Gratitude changes us so that we more deeply realize the abundance that is available to us.

Albert Schweitzer called gratitude “The secret to life.” He said, “The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole master of life: giving thanks for everything.”

Wouldn’t this be a better world and wouldn’t our relationships all be better if we could train our minds to be grateful for our blessings instead of focusing on our disappointments?

Resolve to make gratitude a daily habit. Gratitude is a muscle that needs to be exercised everyday, so give yourself a personal workout challenge. Experts say that it takes at least 21 days to form a new habit. Let’s all form the habit of gratitude by going 21 days without criticizing, condemning or complaining. It may be tough, and you CAN do it if you truly put your mind to it.

This Thanksgiving, may you celebrate in your own personal way and create a holiday you can be grateful for in the years to come. May you be grateful for all the ups and downs that shape who you are and who you are becoming.

It is my hope that you will start a tradition of meaningful celebration, whether it is an intimate dinner for two, a lively and spirited gathering of the whole family, a day of celebrating yourself, or a time to serve others.

Right now, think of something or someone you are grateful for. Take a moment to recognize what you can appreciate, speaking your gratitude out loud, letting the people you care about know how you feel. Send them an e-mail or better yet, give them a call.

My friend, Wes Hopper, publishes a complimentary “Gratitude Newsletter” each month.

Read “A Prayer of Thanksgiving!“

Copyright © 2007 – Larry James. This idea is adapted from Larry’s books, “How to Really Love the One You’re With: Affirmative Guidelines for a Healthy Love Relationship,” “LoveNotes for Lovers: Words That Make Music for Two Hearts Dancing” and “Red Hot LoveNotes for Lovers.” Larry James is a professional speaker, author, relationship coach and an award winning nondenominational Wedding Officiant. He performs the most “Romantic” wedding ceremony you will find anywhere. Something NEW about relationships is posted every 4th day on this Relationships BLOG.