The Power of Gratitude + My Story

 Gratitude has the power to change lives, to transform our perspective and make us feel happier. When we notice that which we already have and that which we already hold within us, when we notice our unique gifts and inner resources, we realize that the key to success and happiness is already within us.

Yes, life can get stressful and chaotic. It is easy to become consumed by all the problems we have yet to solve, all the goals we have yet to achieve. We put pressure on ourselves and expect ourselves to find solutions quickly, and when we don't we become disappointed. All of this thinking focuses on the lack of and the future- what is still yet to come.

When we take a moment to come to the present. To observe our own being in meditation or stillness, we realize that we are filled with and surrounded by abundance right now.

We live in a world where happiness is objectified. We think that we need to get something in order to be happy. But happiness is not defined by a set of conditions, nor is it attached to any. What is it though, is a state of being that yes, can be achieved in the presence of certain conditions, but more importantly, can be found within us at any point in our lives.

For me, it took a breakdown to realize what life is really about, what is really important and that what is important has always been and is within and around me. Breaking down made me feel like a failure, like someone who was giving up. But really, 2010 was the beginning of a new life for me. It just took a little while for things to get better. Beginnings are often hard, and we can lose sight of how good they are in the long run, but they really are good. I can assure you.

Life is full of new beginnings, changes and shifts, but 2010 presented me with a beginning that I was not exactly prepared for. It was the first time in my life that I felt out of control. The more of life we experience, we know ourselves better and we learn more. We learn how to deal with situations and we gain confidence. So yes, while we will continually experience shifts, changes and new beginnings, we also gain perspective and learn how to better approach the situations that we are faced with.

Gratitude makes us realize that we are enough. That we have enough. Gratitude starts with awareness. Whether we write a list of what we feel blessed to have or if we are simply noticing what is making us feel good, this is practicing gratitude.

I really love the phrase, "the world is your oyster." Gratitude causes us to see this truth.

Blessings,

Julie