Bad moods happen.
Yesterday was a perfect example. I had a nagging headache all day, and it impacted everything I was trying to do.
Whether things or going well or not, we are all prone to being annoyed, overwhelmed, or just pissed off.
If it happens to you, it’s just because you are human.
Whether it is big things, like an illness, job loss, or a breakup…
Or little things like a flat tire, an unexpected tax bill, or someone saying something hurtful, we take it in and we take it on which creates stress in our minds and bodies.
You cannot prevent annoying stuff from happening, but there is a daily practice that can improve the quality of your mood each and every day.
That is the Practice of Gratitude.
Everyone talks about gratitude being the antidote to stress, but sometimes it is tricky to know how to create a DAILY practice.
While there is no right or wrong way to practice gratitude, here are three different ways that I practice it:
1) Sometimes I practice gratitude before I get out of bed by thinking about 10 things I am grateful for. It might be the softness of my sheets, the warmth of my blanket, or the fact that I am awake and breathing.
2) Sometimes when I am struggling during the day, I will stop and write down 10 things. I might write them on a piece of paper, my computer, or my phone.
3) Sometimes I practice gratitude before I go to sleep by writing in a journal. This helps me clear out the clutter in my mind, which helps me get a more restful night of sleep.
Gratitude is a powerful shift-shaper in managing my energy and my mood. While it can be difficult to find gratitude when I am going through a rough patch, focusing on the small stuff that I often take for granted, can often be a good place to start.
On today’s list, I am grateful for my family, friends, my dog, my amazing clients, the roof over my head, indoor plumbing, clean drinking water, a good night’s sleep, being headache free, and for this photo that reminded me of the wonderful trip, we took to Italy last October.
What is ONE thing you are grateful for today?
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
xo, Jackie
P.S. If you want to create more gratitude and joy in the New Year, let’s talk about coaching! I have a few spots open in January, and I would love to help you. You can book your free consultation with me here.
