An inspirational writer from the 1900s, William Arthur Ward, once wrote… “Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” In other words, gratitude is really just a shift in our perspective.
What Is Gratitude, Really?
Gratitude is a powerful human emotion that we sometimes unintentionally dismiss quite easily. In its most simple form, gratitude means a ‘state of thankfulness.’
Harvard medical school states that “a grateful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives … As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals–whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”
At our core, I truly believe that most of us are grateful, but it’s easy to take what we have for granted in today’s busy world. So how can we fix it? Have you ever asked yourself – How can I become more grateful?
There’s No Better Time Then Now
With the season of giving about to begin, there’s no better time than now to practice gratitude. So I thought, why not celebrate with a 26-day gratitude challenge.
If you have never practiced gratitude or just want to intensify those feelings, this challenge is an easy way to get started. Grab yourself a journal (or notebook), print our free 26-day challenge calendar, and let’s get started – I promise, you will be grateful for us when it’s complete ; )
You can download your free PDF 26-Day Challenge here.
How Gratitude Helped Shift My Perspective
I began practicing gratitude a few years back to lift a rough patch that my eldest daughter and I were going through. My approach was skeptical at best, but I kept reading about the immense change people experienced when they practiced daily, So, I figured why not give it a shot. I noticed a shift in me as I began focusing on the things that I loved so deeply about her. Instead of the things that were causing friction in our relationship, I focused on her sense of adventure, humor, and kind heart. I began to feel the healing effects quickly as I chose to change my perspective. A wise friend (Dr. George Guliani) once told me that “Happiness is a product of making good choices.”
I repeat this phrase quite often in my home – reminding my children to be conscious of what they say and do and make smart choices – helping them build a life they love.
Why 26-days of gratitude?
The harvest season is when many of us begin to focus our thoughts on being grateful. Since Thanksgiving is November 26th, I thought, why not introduce one new gratitude exercise each day leading up to our Thanksgiving celebration. My hope is to inspire you in creating a new routine that’s wrapped around a straightforward concept – Shifting your Perspective.
Studies show that it takes approximately 66 days to form a habit that will remain in place on average. If I could give you 26 days under your belt, You will have a pretty secure foundation to continue to build upon.
How much time will each excersise take?
I know we are all super busy, and the thought of adding another task to our already overwhelming lives seems impossible. That’s why I focused on exercises that will be thought-provoking but only take a few minutes to complete. As you continue to practice, you will begin to notice that your exercise time will shorten as your gratitude begins to flow naturally.
Keeping Gratitude Alive On A Regular Basis
There is only one rule in continuing your gratitude journey – Start each day with a grateful heart (and in my case, with a cup of tea in hand).
Whatever form your blessings take – recognize them, be grateful for them, and continue to nourish your soul with them. Remember that you do not need a special occasion to be thankful. Gratitude is your new superpower, and you can leverage it at any time.
Now that you have set the foundation for your change in perspective, I want your new habit to flourish. Tag #Edeninspiredhomes in your pics of living a more grateful life.
Follow along on Instagram – I will be posting lots of inspiration to get you through this challenge.
