Being Grateful – A Key to Fulfillment

By Kristen Burgess

If you find yourself frustrated by your life and dissatisfied with where you’re at right now, you’re not alone. Many people find themselves in a place of aggravation and stagnation. It’s completely possible for you to change that in your own life, however, and it starts with being grateful.

You’ve probably heard that being grateful is important, and maybe you’ve even given it a brief try. Every year at Thanksgiving you mumble about being grateful for your home, your family, and maybe even for your job. However, it’s easy to forget what we’re grateful for and let the frustrations and challenges of life overwhelm everything.

The problem with this approach is that it’s very general and easy to gloss over. When you’re dwelling on the negative you tend to think very specifically about what’s wrong. In fact, you probably “nit-pick” over exactly what’s horrible about the current situation! You need to reverse that and apply it to what you’re grateful about.

Don’t say that you’re grateful for your home. Say you’re grateful for the hot water heater that lets you take long, steamy showers. Say you’re grateful for the comfy couch you can sink into every night. Don’t just say you’re grateful for your spouse. Say you’re grateful for how they make sure the trash is at the road every week, or how they hold you when you go to sleep at night. Say you’re grateful that your mom loves you and calls to check on you every week (even if that’s annoying sometimes!) Specifics help you remain grateful.

Make a list. Keeping a short list of things you’re grateful for can be very helpful. Put this list in your pocket, your wallet, or your purse. You don’t have to let anyone else see this. But if you’re having a really tough day, pulling this list out and reading it somewhere private can help you count your blessings. It can give you the inspiration you need to get back out into the world and take action. Taking action is very important to change and fulfillment – you’ll never have the life you desire if you don’t take serious action to get it. Gratefulness forms the raw power you need to achieve your dreams.

Now take what you’re grateful for specifically, and your list of things you’re grateful for, and put them in the eye of your mind. That’s right, you need to imagine them. See them as if they were a movie playing in front of your eyes. Look at how those thoughts make you feel. Happy? Pleased? Motivated? Take those feelings and a create a few affirmations from them. “I am happy I have someone that loves me deeply.” “I have countless things that bring me joy.” “I live in abundance.”

When you say those affirmations, bring those happy images and emotions from being grateful into the affirmations. You can even picture those things you’re grateful for. You can also create new, grateful images to go with your affirmations. This is a powerful technique for helping to keep yourself motivated and moving forward., and to find lasting fulfillment with your life.