MoHow Posted By Dr. MO Twice a day I pause and dedicate myself to uttering words of gratitude. I simply sit, in as silent a space as possible, close my eyes, and think about what I’m grateful for and who I’m grateful for, and say the words out loud if possible..

The result is I feel more peaceful and happier .

How does this simple act of thinking about who and what I’m grateful for make such a positive difference in my life?

Here is what I think happens by saying grace..

It reminds us of the positive things in our lives. It makes you happy about the people in your life, whether they’re loved ones or just a stranger you met who was kind to you in some ways.

It turns bad things into good things. Having problems at work? Be grateful you have work. Be grateful you have challenges, and that life isn’t boring. Be grateful that you can learn from these challenges. Be thankful they make you a stronger person.

It reminds us of what’s important. It’s hard to complain about the little things when you give thanks that your children are alive and healthy. It’s hard to get stressed out over paying bills when you are grateful there is a roof over your head.

It reminds us to thank others. I’ll talk about this more below, but the simple act of saying “thank you” to someone can make a big difference in that person’s life. Calling them, emailing them, stopping by to say thank you … just taking that minute out of your life to tell them why you are grateful toward them is important to them. People like being appreciated for who they are and what they do. It costs you little, but makes someone else happy. And making someone else happy will make you happy.

What I give thanks for when I say grace. It varies every day. I thank my loved ones, for all they do to me. I thank strangers who’ve shown me little acts of kindness. I thank people around the world for the things they’ve done to make the world better. I thank myself, for things that I’ve done (it’s important to recognize your own accomplishments). I say thank you for the many things that I used to expect, and take for granted, in my life.

I thank all of you who read my posts, for the encouragement and support you give me, and for the feedback you’ve given..

Here’s How to Live a More Gratitude-Filled Life. Simple acts of gratitude can make a huge difference in your life. If you’re interested in living a life with more gratitude, here are my suggestions:

Morning and evening gratitude sessions. Take 2-3 minutes each morning just after you arise and each evening before you close your eyes to give thanks, to whoever or whatever you’re grateful for. You don’t have to do anything, other than close your eyes and silently give thanks. These two acts will have a tremendous positive impact

Say “Thank You”. When someone does something nice for you, however small, remember to say “Thank You”. And really mean it.

Call to say “Thanks”. Sometimes you might think about something nice that someone did for you. Perhaps you remember during your gratitude session. When you do, pick up the phone and call the person, just to say thanks. Let them know what they did that you’re grateful for, and why you appreciate it. If it’s too early, or too late, to call, make a note to call soon. Even better is telling them in person, if you happen to see them or if they’re on your route. Almost as good is a thank-you email, keep it short and real.

Give thanks for “negative” things in your life. There are always at least two ways to look at something. Many times we think of something as negative…..it’s stressful, harmful, sad, unfortunate, difficult. But that same thing can be looked at in a more positive way. Giving thanks for those things is a great way to remind yourself that there is good in just about everything. Problems can be seen as opportunities to grow, to be creative.

Learn a gratitude chant or prayer. There are many chants or prayers that can remind you to be grateful. Find one you like, and print it out or make it your desktop wallpaper.

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