Happy Thanks Giving
Isn't it cool that, as a nation, we have a day each year designated to be thankful? Isn't it too bad that most people live the other 364 days with their dominant feeling being one of lack rather than one of abundance? Or, maybe, it's the entire 365 days without the feeling of relief that gratitude brings. It is human nature, I believe, to unconsciously allow fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) of not yet happened events suck our energy and attention; to cause worry (rent your paying on something you don't even own!); to have us awfulize, thinking that our attention to what isn't working will help us make it better. What I know for myself and as a coach is what get's focused on expands.
So, this week is a great time to notice our dominate thoughts and question and become conscious of which attitudes are helping you feel better and which are sucking your joy away.
"Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely
the attitude of gratitude is the most important,
and by far the most life-changing."
- Zig Ziglar
5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Abundance
1. Find Something Good - Right now, stop and write down 3 things that are positive in your life. If you really want a rush of wellbeing, make a list of 100 just for the heck of it! Ignore what isn't working and notice what is (you have food in the fridge, a car, a fridge!, a friend, they aren't shooting at you today). Any time you start to worry during the day, STOP and reframe your thoughts with what IS OK RIGHT NOW. Take some deep breaths. Life IS good! We are above ground!
2. Share Good Thoughts With Someone Else -Speaking what's working is a good way to expand the feeling. Tell someone who won't argue you out of it what is working. Ask them what is working for them. Can you imagine if we each started the day doing this how it would change our immediate environment? Our groups and offices? Our cities? Our country? The world?
3. Acknowledge Someone - Look for someone doing something right and instead of just thinking it, TELL THEM! This may be a fun exercise to try with those people you feel perpetually do things differently than you'd like (read: you think are just wrong!). Try looking for what DOES work. Remember, everyone is doing the best they can, given what they see/perceive. We often have no idea what battles they are fighting. Be the person who sees other's as BIGGER than they see themselves. Then watch the difference in the feeling and energy. Or, just play a game to find 5 people to say something nice to today.
4. Share The Wealth - If every single day between now and the end of the year, you found a way to contribute to another, to the world, miracles would start showing up. My good friend Emily Link, The Queen of Referrals, says, "I get up each day and think who can I refer business TO today." No matter what your circumstances, you have something to give, the giving of which will enrich another. It may be your simple acknowledgment. It may be your time and attention. It may be a monetary gift. One of my friends shared the story of being in a fast food line the other day and having the person in front pay for their meal. One year I took 4 $5 bills each day and left them in places for people to find: under the windshield wiper in a parking lot; along the bike path I rode to the post office. If you live in this country, you are enormously wealthy and sharing it is about how it makes you feel. No matter how little you have, there is some to share. What you focus on expands.
5. Record Daily - Before you go to bed each night, share with someone or journal what you are grateful for. You'll train and feed your subconscious to be in gratitude rather than fear by this being the last thing in your conscious mind before you go to sleep.
My challenge to you is to try all 5 of these actions from now through the end of the year. May your Thanksgiving be joyful!
Comments(9)