We live in a world where we can adopt two different philosophies: scarcity or abundance. Living in scarcity is having the mentality that we do not have enough: enough time, love, money or inner resources. In a world of scarcity, we are always searching for the next thing to make us feel whole, which usually doesn't fill us when we find it. We believe we need more to fulfill us and live in fear of losing what we need once we get it. On the other hand, we can choose to live in abundance, a knowing that we already have everything that we need. In an abundant world, all of our resources already lie within us and we don't need anything else to fill us up. When we live abundantly, we feel happy, whole and connected.
Most of us live in a world of scarcity day to day; we cannot help it as it is human nature to always be striving for the next big thing. This can lead us to disappointment, frustration and a feeling of emptiness. But there is a secret to shift your world from scarcity to abundance, and that secret is practicing gratitude.
When we embrace an attitude of gratitude, we automatically shift our mentality from scarcity to abundance. We cannot live in a world of scarcity as we embrace of all the things we are grateful for. A daily practice of gratitude rejuvenates our soul and grounds us, with all the craziness happening in our lives. By reflecting on all the things that we do have, no matter how small they may seem, and the qualities that make us the amazing individuals we truly are, we send positive energy out to continue receiving good things in our life.
How do we start a daily practice of gratitude? It is a simple process, the challenge is remembering to be consistent, even in times where we don't feel grateful. No matter how difficult life may be at any particular moment, there is always something we can be grateful for. We may not have the best clothes, but the clothes we have keep us warm. We may not have a huge home, but we have a roof over our heads. We can be grateful for the challenges that we have overcome and are still fighting through, for it is those obstacles that have made us stronger and the individual that we are today. It is up to us to acknowledge the things we are grateful for and not take advantage of these simplicities of our lives.
Here are four steps you can take to begin your gratitude practice and integrate all your blessings into your life:
1. Awareness: Be aware of things you are grateful for and notice the little things in your life. Gratitude is about thankfulness for the things that you have in your life. When you notice something, take note of it and tell yourself "I am grateful for... "
2. Write: Write down the things you are grateful for. Start a gratitude journal! By writing down things you are grateful for, you will begin to shift your mindset and see all the things in your life that you truly are blessed with.
3. Share: Share your gratitude experience with others. Tell them about the things you are grateful for and start a positive conversation about all the things you have or are blessed with, rather than all the things that you wish you had in your life. Positivity is contagious and a positive attitude of gratitude is as well. Let's share this excitement to create a positive life for ourselves and others.
4. Commit: Commit to your gratitude practice every day, not just during the holidays or when something unfortunate happens. An attitude of gratitude is a practice... and you need to practice! Write in your journal daily, or take a couple of minutes each day to tell yourself what you are grateful for. A daily practice of gratitude can begin to shift your entire life into one that is open to receiving positivity.
Above all, remember that gratitude is an attitude, so shift your perspective and start to see your world shift!
Melissa E. Kirk is a life coach and teaches people how to master modern mindfulness in today's crazy world. You can catch up with her at www.melissaekirk.com or find her on Facebook for daily inspiration.