by Jan Shimano
There has been much written about the benefits of reflecting on things in our lives that we can be grateful for. One of the benefits of doing this, is that it puts us in one of the highest vibrational states possible. We are actually in a state of abundance when we are in a state of gratitude and appreciation.
The Law of Attraction states that when we actually focus on the various things that we are grateful for, we end up getting more of those very things that we focus on. During this time of year, we are exchanging gifts with our family and friends. I know for me, when I can see that the gift is warmly received and appreciated by the person I gave it to, it makes me feel like I want to continue to give to that person. The motive for giving is not to get something back in return, but it is human nature to welcome and enjoy an appreciative comment.
I think we have all had the experience at least once, when we have spent a lot of thought and time choosing what we thought was the perfect gift for a person. We might even have spent a lot of time making it ourselves. How do we feel when they open the gift and hardly even acknowledge it. If you are anything like me, you feel very hurt. You might even reason with yourself that you don't think you want to give any more gifts to this person in the future.
So we want to reflect on the things we are grateful for but let's not forget to actually express our gratitude to others for how they enrich our lives. Certainly, we don't have to receive a gift in order to lovingly express our feelings to others. Just remember, our sincere expressions could be just what they needed at that moment, and could even make their day.
Why don't you take a few minutes to write down ten things that you are truly grateful for in your life and meditate of each one of them. Here is a list I made of ten things I am most grateful for. There are many others, but these are the ones that came initially to mind.
* My family
* My faith
* My community
* The beauty of Nature
* Books
* Old and new friends
* Meditation
* Good food
* Health
* Mentors
Let's remember that gratitude and appreciation is a two-way street. Yes, we need to reflect and meditate on all the fantastic aspects of our lives right now and be grateful for all the blessings we have received, but we must not forget to voice our appreciation and gratitude to all those we come in contact with every day, who are warm, kind and considerate towards us. Just think for a minute -- how pleasant were you to the clerk at the grocery store today, or to the waiter that served you your lunch yesterday?
Trust me when I say that a smile and a kind word can make an enormous difference in a person's day. Try it and I promise you, you will not be sorry that you did. The joy that they feel will come back to you many times over.
About the Author: Jan Shimano was District Manager for Health & Welfare Canada for many years. She was also self-employed as a Nutritional Consultant and Master Herbalist. Jan is currently working as a Business and Health Coach and operating her own internet marketing company from her residence in British Columbia, where she resides with her husband of 36 years, Gerry.
