Will You Join Me?

When I awaken in the morning, the first thing I do before I even open my eyes is to thank my bed for a good night’s sleep. I am grateful for the warmth and comfort it has given me. From that beginning it is easy to think of many, many more things for which to be grateful. By the time I have gotten out bed, I have probably expressed gratitude for close to 100 different people, places, things and experiences in my life.

This is a great way to start the day. I also end my day with gratitude because in the evening, just before falling to sleep, I reflect on my day and engage in a moment of giving thanks for all my encounters.

There are times where I also add the practice of forgiving myself if I felt that I made a mistake, said something inappropriate or made a decision that was not the best. This exercise fills me with a deep sense of appreciation that causes me to drift off to sleep peacefully, in a happy state.

I encourage you to spend as many moments as you can every day being grateful for all the good that is in your life. If it appears you have little now, you will find that what you have will increase with the practice of gratitude.

If you have abundance in your life, this practice will help you experience a deeper appreciation. This is a win-win situation. You are happy and the Universe is happy as you. The practice of gratitude increases your abundance, because as Jon Kabat-Zinn said in his book of the same name, “wherever you go, there you are.”

To make this a practical practice in your life, consider using a gratitude journal in which you write something to be grateful about each day; not just around Thanksgiving, every day.

Expand your gratitude consciousness by getting into the daily habit of telling someone how grateful you are for something about them. During this holiday season and beyond, tell sales clerks, waiters, postal workers, employers and employees, friends, family, your ministers and yes, even strangers. Sometimes we let opportunities to express appreciation to others slip by until it’s too late.

Each of us can do our part to help make gratitude a way of life; but why is it important? Why should we want to embrace gratitude, even if circumstances seem to encourage otherwise?

Gratitude brings more for which to be grateful.  Gratitude increases your abundant life.

Conversely, a lack of gratitude actually results in, or maintains, lack and limitation because complaining brings little to rejoice about but more about which to complain. Complainers always find that they have little good in their life and find it difficult to enjoy whatever they do have. The Universe always gives us more of what we put our attention on.

The choice is yours.

You can put your attention on what you are grateful for or on what you are complaining about, but you can’t do both. I don’t know about you, but I’m stepping up my already grateful gratitude attitude by starting a gratitude, appreciation revolution.

Will you join me?

Let me know what you’re grateful for on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Rev. Charles Taylor is the interim Senior Minister at the Universal Truth Center, 21310 NW 37th Ave, Miami Gardens. He may be reached at 305-624-4991 or Charles@utruthcenter.org.