Maria Gonzalez Blog
Mindful Leadership

Mindful Leadership in Action – Tip of the Week – To Experience Deep Joy in Your Life Cultivate the Habit of Gratitude

Some people seem to be naturally grateful.  But for many people, especially when they are busy or experiencing difficult circumstances, gratitude is not top of mind.  But, if you would like to experience deep joy in your life the most effective way to do it is to cultivate the habit of gratitude.

Anything we pay attention to and do over and over again becomes a habit.  Here are some suggestions:

– When you wake up in the morning, before you get out bed, think about all the things you are grateful for and all the things you look forward to in your day.  Then just get up and go about your business.  You will notice that over time you will feel more energized.

– Before you fall asleep, review your day itemizing everything for which you feel grateful.  You are then more likely to settle into peaceful sleep.

– And if it happens that there is a day that you don’t find anything to be grateful for, remember that life owes us nothing.  All good things we have and receive are blessings and can be taken away at any time.  Just remembering that everything is impermanent can remind us to be grateful for impermanence.  If things are truly difficult, know that they too will pass.