Practice the Art of Gratitude Everyday!

As Thanksgiving is upon us, we often start to think of all the things in our life we are thankful for:

Family, friends, our homes, pets, food, careers, etc. If everyone really understood how important it is to be grateful every day for everything in our lives, we would all find more peace and grace in the world. When we take just a few moments every day to be thankful for simple things, little things, and even seemingly bad things that teach us new lessons, we would find more joy in our lives.  

When the spirit of gratitude takes its place in our consciousness, we radiate life from the very center of our being to the world around us. This is part of The Law of Attraction, but it is also about choosing love over fear.  As ‘A Course in Miracles’ tells us, there are really only two emotions and all others stem from them: love and fear. Love, being of our divine spirit, breeds gratitude, joy, peace and all other wonderful feelings.  Fear breeds anger, impatience, hate, and other not so good feelings.

Keeping ourselves in a place of gratitude keeps us vibrating at the higher level of love consciousness.  When we do that, we attract more good things in our lives to be thankful for.
It is important to be thankful for everything!  I mean everything, even what we perceive as ‘bad’.  Although we might not always see the bigger picture at first, things happens for reasons. If we take the time to find something to be grateful for, even in what may seem as a difficult situation at the time, we will find peace rather than suffering. 

Being mindful and thankful every day for the seemingly small and simple things in life is a great way to start to keep yourself on the path of love, peace and joy in your heart and for those around you. 

On this Thanksgiving, I’d like to share one of my favorite poems from Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is a poem you can use as your holiday prayer before your meal.

    For flowers that bloom about our feet, 
    Farther, we thank Thee.
    For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,
    Father we thank Thee
    For the song of bird and hum of bee,
    For all things fair we hear or see,
    Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

    For blue of stream and blue of sky,
    Father, we thank Thee.
    For pleasant shade of branches high,
    Father, we thank Thee.
    For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
    For beauty of the blooming trees,
    Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

    For this new morning with its light,
    Father, we thank Thee.
    For rest and shelter of the night,
    Father, we thank Thee.
    For health and food, for love and friends,
    For everything Thy goodness sends,
    Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

I hope this Thanksgiving you find love, peace, joy in all the simple things. I hope you take time to be mindful of all the everyday beauty around you: the laughter of children, the barking of dogs, the leaves falling, the cool autumn breezes, the touch of a loved one, the smell of home cooking and so much more.  

I know I am thankful for having you all in my life!

Happy Thanksgiving,

All my love,

Lisa Alexander