you know you oughta...but why?

Writing down a few sweet things just won’t do it. Sharing triumphs on a group email list or on facebook ilooking for likes won’t do it either. (You know how that can happen.) Your gratitude practice can be inward AND outward, indeed, but DO check your motives. I know I always need to. Often I ask myself if m I adopting a gratitude practice for my inner spiritual development or to brag to the world how fabulous things are in debville? That said, a regular grat practice doesn’t have to be a grind, just consistent and authentic. On the next page you’ll find a worksheet that you can fill out on the daily and check off that gratitude box. It’s all an experiment. Try it for a week straight and see what happens… report your findings to deb@deborahlinehan.com. I’d be super grateful if you would share your experience with me!!

how it works

Each day, briefly reflect on your life, step back, look, get curious, and write down one thing you are grateful for in each life area* area. What can we acknowledge that is working well or that we might otherwise take for granted? These things can be quite simple or deeply complex. You choose. Warning: Don’t get hung up on getting it “right” or being “impressive”, this is just for you. Whatever you put down is perfect.
Then write a few sentences as to why you are grateful for each item. Dig deep but don’t journal. Marinate but don’t pontificate. What has this thing, person or experience provided for you, what feelings does it generate when you reflect on it? Write it down.
Ask yourself if there is anything you want to do to enhance the feelings generated by the gratitude items. This is especially good if you’re having a tough time pinpointing something in a certain area to be grateful for. Coming up empty in any life area is like a flashlight illuminating a place where we can get into action. Then out action items become less about things we should do and more about things that assist us in feeling the way we want to feel.
Marinating in gratitude has a wonderful side effect of training the mind to be present to more positivity. It may not be that better things are happening to us but the good things that are happening aren’t passing by unrecognized. On the other hand, cool things tend to happen to people who exude brightness and gratitude. It’s just the way. Positivity attracts positivity. Gratitude attracts more things to be grateful for. But don’t take my word for it, experiment for yourself. Report back

daily gratitude

* These life areas are based on the work of Danielle LaPorte’s The Desire Map, of which I am a coach and Licensed Facilitator. If you’d like to dig in and learn more about The Desire Map and yourself you can find me at deborahlinehan.com. I’m always here.

This post can be downloaded as a handy PDF WORKBOOK HERE