We’ve all heard the saying, “Count your blessings.” Sometimes the most common and well-meaning phrases are repeated so often we forget what it is the words are actually trying to convey. I find when we allow words or phrases to become commonplace in our language, the original intention of the thoughts are shifted onto the heap of impetuous jargon.
I have heard for years and years how important it is to express and show gratitude for everything in our lives. This includes the bad stuff, which is exceptionally difficult to wrap my head around, to be honest. Everything that we receive is there for a reason, so I’m told. Whatever the ‘it’ is, and regardless of whether we have conscious awareness of it, gratitude for our blessings, lessons, and everything in between brings with it opportunities for growth.
Interestingly enough, when we show gratitude and appreciation for what appears to be a sudden stroke of luck, good timing, or a seemingly unexpected nice surprise, we get more of it. But I think it is important to focus on the words of gratitude we express, and not revert back to the use of empty words; you know, saying or thinking without meaning or feeling. When we grasp the true feeling of appreciation or gratitude for something, (I mean really feel joyful or, at the very least, a little feeling of gee, that is pretty great and I sure do appreciate it), the energy of our feelings and thoughts comes back to us exponentially.
Whenever you say, “Thank you, I am really grateful”, do your thoughts match your words? Or is your sentence met with the same feeling as if you said, “I think I shall move this book over to this side of the table.” Gratitude is a game-changer. I want to invite you to accept a little challenge (and I’d sure be grateful if you accepted)! For today, think about anything and everything you are grateful for, no matter how small or insignificant you might think it is. That’s the entire point of the exercise; getting in tune with the tons of things we have in our lives that truly deserve our gratitude!
The amazing thing is, as we continue to FEEL the gratitude, more awesome things, situations, and people begin to show up in our experiences. I can tell you first-hand that I experience this a lot. I don’t understand everything about it or why it works; then again, I don’t understand how electricity works, but I know for sure that it does!
Here’s another thing I would like to mention. Sometimes we have difficultly in feeling happiness and gratitude for someone else’s goodness. That does not necessarily make us the worst person in the Universe; after all, it is a human characteristic to fall into the trap of, “Oh, that’s great for them, but what about me?” Why yes, what about you? What about you indeed! If we can get to a point of truly and gratefully feeling happiness for the good fortune of others, it does not negate that which we can experience as well. It’s as if we feel there is a tradeoff of sorts. This person got this and that and I didn’t. You have this and I don’t have that.
Our gratitude for the good fortune of others is just as important as it is for ourselves. For in the feeling and thoughts of happiness for others, we are still feeling and expressing the same energy. In other words, by the very act of feeling gratitude for ourselves or for others, we draw more of it back to ourselves. The energy is identical.
I enter a lot of contests. It’s great fun and I am truly grateful when I win a prize. About a year ago I won a bottle of a moisturizer that I normally would find too expensive to purchase. About two weeks later, I won a similar product from the same company. The woman who sends out the prizes wrote me a note and said, “You sure are a lucky person; we pick names randomly and yours was picked twice in the past two weeks.” “How are you so lucky?” I wrote back to this woman and said, “I think it is because I am truly grateful for getting a product I would love to use, but can’t readily afford.” “So it’s because I’m grateful.” She never wrote back. I sensed she thought I was full of it or something.
Points to ponder; oh, by the way, I am really grateful to you for reading this post!! And that is how I FEEL! 🙂 What about you, are your feelings a match to your words of gratitude?
I have to feel it in order to mean it and have been practicing this more. Great Post! Happy Week – Enjoy 🙂
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I know exactly what you mean my dear! I have been practicing this more as well! Ah, thank you so much!! Happy Week to you too!! Cher xo
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Great post Cher and I accept your challenge: -)
I agree that to show gratefulness make us attract even more to be grateful for.
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Ah, bless you dear Irene! Thank YOU so much! I look forward to a good report from you!! Cher xo
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You will, tomorrow 😉
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*biggest grin* 🙂 xo
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Thanks for writing this post!
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*biggest grin* Thank you for the thank you, Mike!! 🙂 Cher xo
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Cher! I always enjoy visiting your blog, great photos and fascinating information! 🙂 ❤ xo
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Ah, bless! Thank you so much, Amy! I really appreciate that! And right back at you my dear! How I love your blog!!! Cher xo
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Same here, Cher! 🙂 ❤
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🙂 ❤
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I completely agree with you. The way you look at life effects the way life happens to you.
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It truly does, doesn’t it, Phil? It’s never the other way around, despite the fact it can appear that way. Thanks, Phil! Pumpkins for everyone! *LOL* Cher xo
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Love, love, love this post, Cher. I see what you mean about “out of the box.” For us both today. Gratitude. You are right. Almost like “paying it forward,” because it has to be sincere if it’s going to work and have a great impact on those who receive it. To be felt, it must be sincere.
About your winning that beauty product the second time – I guess we can take away from that experience that people are having a hard time accepting at face value what someone says! Glad you were so lucky, Cher. Enjoy it. Talk to you soon, and thanks again for your lovely comment on my blog. 🙂
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Ah, thank YOU so much, dear Carol! Yes, “paying it forward”; exactly!! Our sincerity needs to be at the forefront, I feel. Yes, *LOL* I think the woman at the company must have thought, hhhmmm, okay, I don’t get it! Had she been able to understand that it is all about gratitude, she would might have written back. Ah, you and I were both writing “outside of the box” today and I think that’s great! My pleasure my dear! Your post was wonderful! Cher xo
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Reblogged this on georgeforfun and commented:
count our blessings, but don’t take them for granted, indeed.👀 ♥ * ͜ * ♥ 👀
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This is good timing. My meditation theme this month is ‘Appreciation’ and i’m really enjoying it.
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That is wonderful to hear, Hilary! I’m so glad you are enjoying this month’s meditation theme! I’m really happy the timing of my post was meaningful! Thank you! Cher xo
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Indeed! As Eckhart Tolle said: “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
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Oh my dear, that is precisely it! Thank you so much for your comments; Eckhart Tolle ‘gets it’, doesn’t he? Cher xo
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He sure does! ; )
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🙂
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Gratitude rocks! It is indeed the highest vibration (other than unconditional love) that we can put out, and it tells the Universe that we are lined up with abundance and good. And gratitude for even “tough” things…its all an opportunity, even the challenges. It’s just up to us to look at it from that angle. Great post – thanks for sharing your Light with the world!
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Ah, thank you, Julianna! I agree with everything you said! And bless you for your wonderful comments!! Please come back anytime my dear! Cher xo
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This is so true, Cher! Such a lovely post xx
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Thank you so much, Helen! I really think gratitude is so important in our lives!! Thank YOU, Helen! Cher xo
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Thank you too, Cher! I agree 🙂
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🙂 xo
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You’re such a good writer Cher. It just flows so beautifully. And I am very grateful for You and will try to live my life, being grateful and happy about all our blessings. Like you said; good or bad, it’s all for our good. Xx 💕
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Well how incredibly sweet are you, Amber! Thank you so much! You just made my entire week! Bless you for your lovely comments! If we can truly see our lives filled with blessings and be grateful for all of it, the amazing stuff begins to happen all the time. And those around you will wonder what are you doing? “Gratitude” is the answer! Cher xo
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A sign on a wall I saw on my travels this week went like this: Someone is happy with less than what you have. That put’s it in perspective I think. Gratitude should be practiced much more often !
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I love that! It’s perfect and so very true, isn’t it, dearie? I agree completely!! Cher xo
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Reblogged this on Kev's Great Indie Authors and commented:
good post with a great quote at the end. 🙂
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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