Welcome
to
7 Days of
Gratitude

Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to you for joining this mini-course and opening yourself to new possibilities.

We'll start by exploring a few concepts, or perhaps reminding you of these thoughts. And then count our first blessing.

Each day we'll focus on a blessing. This will give you an opportunity to develop or rekindle your "attitude of gratitude" - don't you just love that? An attitude of gratitude. Each day you'll discover and practice easy ways to express your gratitude and appreciation for the wonderful things that you do have in your life.

Why is this so important?

Gratitude and appreciation are some of the most transformative energies that are available to us. The Universe acts much like a giant photocopier - bringing you more and more of what you already claim to have.

Gratitude is becoming consciously aware of all that is there for us in life, and then acknowledging the gift.

Gratitude is definitely the mother of all creation.

When you do not appreciate and express gratitude for everything that's happening in your life, including your challenges, it puts you in a vibrational feeling that attracts to you more of what you do not have or what you are unhappy with.

Gratitude is an affirmation of ownership, responsibility, and appreciation.

It affirms your connectedness to and participation in the life force that sustains you.

Gratitude is a choice.

It is a choice to see things differently. When choosing to be grateful, you are focusing on all the things that are good or right in your life as opposed to the things that are not.

A great idea for expressing your gratitude is to keep a "Gratitude Journal".

You could purchase a journal. There are some beautiful ones at bookstores or you could create your own. Perhaps decorate a hard covered book with a montage of magazine cuttings of your favourite things on the cover?

Writing your thoughts down with pen and paper seems more satisfying for most.

Whatever time suits your routine best is your "time-out" to send notes and thoughts of gratitude - truckloads of thanks - to the force out there that you acknowledge as your source or creator, depending on your beliefs.

Walking Gratitude Meditation

For me, first thing in the morning is the best time to journal. Then, when I go out for my early morning nature walk or swim, I do a Walking Gratitude Meditation.

I thank every part of my body from my toes upwards, including every cell, muscle, bone and organ in my body. I say to myself silently: "Thank you toes. Thank you feet for carrying me and moving me forward in life. Thank you legs for being strong and carrying my body ... " and so on.

Then I look around me and express gratitude for the beauty and abundance of nature - the vastness of the sky, the green leaves on the trees, the smell of the forest, the bright colors of the flowers, the breeze on my face... do you get the idea?

When you start to focus on the abundance, rather than the lack in your life, you will start to design a wonderful new blueprint for your future.

As you express your gratitude for even the smallest things, really feel your connectedness and your sense of gratefulness and be open to miracles in your life.

Choose words of "light".

When you write or think choose words of "light"- grateful words, beautiful words, compassionate words, kind words, bright words, encouraging words, charitable words, joyous words and loving words.

Your words are expressions of you, your higher self, your soul.

Today, we are counting the blessing of holidays.

A time to recharge your batteries, to have some fun, to change your routine, to get off the treadmill, to experience the wonderful, wide world of beauty in which we live, to enjoy quality time with your loved ones, or to experience a new adventure.

Holidays are usually in the sunshine, and a relaxing time for me. I love to take time out to reconnect with nature and most of all the ocean. It's also a time for me to reconnect with loved ones and good friends. A time for laughter, a time for celebration and also a time to recharge and reassess my life.

I'm grateful that there are so many incredibly, beautiful landscapes to explore close by, not to mention on our wondrous planet.

Just having the time to take a long walk barefoot on the sand with the sea water washing away any worries is a joy. I'm grateful for the simple pleasure of this salty sensation signalling hey! You're in holiday mode.

I am truly appreciative of the freedom I feel ducking and splashing through the warm, clear ocean waves.

I live in awe of the ever-changing expanse of the sky stretching far into the horizon.

The red and pink bursts of the sunrise, the bright blue at noon, and the white fluffy clouds lazily drifting by in the afternoon.

I'm so thankful for the deep blue sea, and the delight of spotting the dolphins or watching for the whales to shoot their spray again.

Now over to you.

Write five things (or more) in your Gratitude Journal that you are grateful for about your holidays.

What is it that you appreciate most about days free of work?

Think of how blessed you are to have some time to relax and rejuvenate your soul.

Be specific. Remember that times that you felt joy.

Write them down and give thanks.

Count your blessings.