It is New Years Eve. Today is the day when we should take stock of the year pass and make plans for the year ahead.
Most of us would never have guessed that 2020 would have been a whole humankind rubbish year. Most have had to put their lives on pause and forego all the things that make life bearable: hugs, kisses, get togethers, travel, simple human connection. Most would agree we have lost control of some of our lives either by choice or social duty directive.
Despite this, no matter how we are feeling at this moment, we have survived to this point. As 2021 is only hours away, we still need to take stock of the positives, no matter how small: spending more time with your most immediate family, learning to cook or bake, gardening, spending time in nature, tackling technological challenges to be able to connect on some level with loved ones, taking care of our neighbours more, coming to the realisation of what is most important in life.
We need to end 2020 with gratitude. If we don’t, than it has beaten us. We have the power to not let this happen.
We need to start the new year with gratitude as well. Have the attitude of gratitude in 2021.
Here are some Top Mindful Gratitude Strategies:
1- Guided Meditations: Some people have a hard time starting a practice of Mindful Gratitude. Our negative thoughts push away the positivity or we just don’t know where to begin. Start the day with a Guided Meditation for Gratitude. Allow the meditation to guide you through your exploration of gratitude. Here are some nice Gratitude Meditations: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL76Tcrfnqwv5Mxt47DEZaZ1s6Ps3L3tL6
2- Make a List… one thankful thought at a time. You don’t have to make a long list to develop gratitude. You don’t even need a fancy sheet of paper or notebook. Just start a list. Begin each day by writing one thing you are grateful for. You can make a rule that you always have to write something different or you can repeat things. It doesn’t matter. But, at the end of the year, you will have a list of 365 things that brighten your life.
3- Gratitude Jar: Get a Jar. Decorate it if you like. But, you don’t have to. Each week, write a little note with the date and what has made you grateful and put it in the jar. When you are feeling low, take out the jar and read your little notes and remember there is good in your life.
4- Thank You Notes/Cards: Each week, choose one person or group of people that have make a difference in your life (big or small). You can do this anonymously if you like. It doesn’t matter. Just write the note and ensure they get it. Expressing gratitude makes both you and the receiver feel better.
5- #AttitudeOfGratitude– Join me periodically on Twitter or my Facebook page ALL YEAR and share your moment of gratitude or read the moments of gratitude of others using the hashtag #AttitudeOfGratitude. It will uplift your spirits and the spirits of others to see the positivity even on the darkest of days.
How do you keep yourself doing any of these things? Set yourself an alarm on your phone. A simple daily or weekly alarm that reminds you to take that moment now to be grateful, to find the positives of the day, week or life in general and reflect on them for at least a moment. They will become little miracle moments where we can bask in positive thoughts despite the storm blowing around us.
Life will not always be a bed of roses and 2021 will continue to have some of the same challenges 2020 gave us.
How you react to those thorns in the bed of roses will set the scene for your everyday life. Mindful gratitude reminds us to appreciate the scent of those roses.