I hope you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday and honored it in a way that felt nourishing for you this year. I missed writing to you last week, but cherished the quiet time and memory making with my loved ones! ❤️
Moving on…I had a beautiful coaching experience with a client this past week as we got to abandon intentions, to let go of goals and instead, to step into celebration and Gratitude.
My client had found momentum and progress toward her goals in unexpected ways–through travel, adventure and time with family. In letting go of her tightly held ideas, she found that a shift in energy emerged. This week, she showed up to our coaching session lighter, more empowered and uplifted than ever before; all the while, holding tightly to this new spirit of Gratitude and Abundance that had emerged.
We celebrated by letting go of the need to set new goals for this week. We fully embraced the progress found in unexpected ways while honoring ALL the Abundance that already exists (for her) in full Gratitude.
So, it’s a reminder that when things go off plan, space is revealed and we create the opportunity for something new and beautiful to emerge (if we’re willing).
When travel takes us to new places, when we find ourselves lost on an adventure or amidst a detour, our resilience and resourcefulness show up right on time. And, wow…there is so much to be Grateful for within these unexpected experiences.
And so, I wonder…during this season of celebration, of busyness, of unexpected surprises…how might we create more space for Gratitude in our lives?
“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.” — C.S. Lewis
Something to Read
And, the science backs it up, Gratitude is good for us!
From NPR (this can be a listen or a read): Giving thanks is good for you. Here’s how to make it a habit.
Speaking of strating new habits, I have one client who has started a Gratitude practice that takes her less than one minute each evening. It was important to her to start this practice, but also to make it a sustainable practice. Time is an obstacle and so, the practice had to be efficient.
For this client, each night in a journal on her bedside table, she simply writes the date, one thing she did to nourish herself and a single gratitude for the day. Done. It’s a brief pause and a quiet moment for reflection. AND, the intention of journaling keeps her nourishing herself during the day and noticing abundance and Gratitude all around her. That’s powerful work.
It doesn’t have to be fancy, complicated or time intensive to be beneficial.
Something to Try
Perfect for this season of giving–try doing something nice for others in a “Micro-Act” of Joy!
This interview claims that “we have more control over our happiness than we know!” While “micro-acts” of joy aren’t a cure-all, they can be powerful tools in our toolbox and on our path toward joy and wellbeing.
You can learn more here from NPR (this can be a listen or a read): Can little actions bring big joy? Researchers find ‘micro-acts’ can boost well-being
Feeling inspired? You can sign up for the “Big Joy Project” here! “In 7 minutes a day for 7 days, discover which micro-acts of JOY work best for you, and be part of the largest-ever citizen science project on JOY.”
I’ve signed up! And, I’d love to hear if you do too. I’ll be so curious to learn what the experience is like for you!
Something to Create
Create a Gratitude list of your own–but not just any Gratitude list!
Have you ever listed specifically things that money can’t buy? I was inspired by this article from The Good Trade: 99 Things Money Can’t Buy
As a Gratitude Experiment this week, try making a list of Gratitudes that money can’t buy. I’m excited to set aside some time for this practice and I hope you are too!
Something to Consider
Are you in a messy season of life? Or perhaps a season of sorrow? Finding it difficult to cultivate Gratitude? That’s okay. ❤️ May you allow space for all of the messiness and to honor precisely where you are today.
Today might not be the day for Gratitude.
If you’re stuck, but still want to TRY giving Gratitude some space in your life, you might consider these journal prompts from Mindbodygreen: 30+ Gratitude Journal Prompts That Have A Stamp Of Approval From Therapists
The prompts are diverse and powerful, some light, some moving, all potentially effective.
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie
Thank you for being here, for being you.