Friday, March 20, 2009

Practicing Gratitude

Practicing Gratitude requires just that ..... PRACTICE! We have to TRAIN ourselves to live with a content and grateful heart. If you don't believe me find a 2 year old that is naturally full of gratitude!

An amazing thing happens when you CHOOSE to live with a heart of GRATITUDE: peace! A heart full of longing for more and discontent with today is a heart in turmoil. Gratitude is the key to living a content life, a life of peace! I think that this is the first key to Choosing Simplicity for your life.

Practice Gratitude today: Grab your journal (or a piece of paper), set the timer for just FIVE minutes and start writing down things you have to be thankful for. TRUST me.... as you start writing more and more things will come to mind. When the five minutes is up re-read over your list.... CHOOSE to spend the rest of the day thanking God for the blessings you wrote down. CHOOSE to stay in gratitude mindset... if you start to sway SWITCH back.

When you live with a heart of gratitude you live a life of contentment. Contentment keeps you from spending money on things that you don't need... your focus on the blessings you HAVE keeps your mind from focusing on what you don't have. So, my frugal Friday tip of the week is KEEP your heart/mind focused on thoughts, words and actions of GRATITUDE!!! Count your blessings, name them one by one. For more Frugal Friday tips visit LifeAsMom.com.

Please try this activity.... I have done it and it is POWERFUL!!! Puts things into perspective. It also works with relationships as well.... feeling frustrated with a spouse, a child, a friend?? Set the timer for five minutes and write down all the GOOD things about that person!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is just what I needed today! Thanks for sharing :)

tammi said...

Boy, that lowly little kitchen timer really has some serious power, doesn't it?! It really is amazing what purposely setting aside a small amount of time to do a specific thing can teach us!!

Wonderful post, Heather.

Brooke said...

i am thankful for a hardworking husband. not quite 5 minutes, but it'll work wonders!

Samantha said...

Found your blog through a friend
and have added it to my list to follow, I am always looking for simple living ideas. I really enjoyed your blog and look forward to following. Blessings to you and yours !

Rhonda Jean said...

I agree. Gratitude is an important part of a simple life and partners nicely with generosity which is also important in everyday life.