Gratitude & Good Vibrations: Developing Gratitude for the Good, the Bad & the Ugly

"Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all the abundance."

- Eckhart Tolle

It’s easy to find gratitude when things are going well in your life. But when you’re, what I call, “stuck in the muck”—working a job you don’t love, not landing that promotion or getting that raise, struggling to see eye to eye with your spouse or partner, falling off the healthy-eating bandwagon for the umpteenth time—gratitude tends to get lost. But truly believing that everything is exactly as it should be in your life, and finding gratitude for even your most painful struggles, will serve to bring you closer to that amazing life you desire.

Of course, it’s easier said than done. Finding gratitude for the painful experiences of your past or present may feel impossible. But what if you think of it this way: without those experiences—without all your experiences, for better or for worse—you would not be sitting here, reading this blog, trying to unlock the magic of your most magnificent self.

For many years, I wished my past had happened differently. Today, through practicing abundant gratitude, I am at peace with my past. I not only understand why it unfolded as it did, but I am grateful for it for I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Adopting a grateful state-of-mind is a powerful way to adjust your mindset and begin generating and attracting what you desire most in life. Gratitude, next to love, is the emotion with the highest vibrational frequency. When we’re vibrating at this level, we attract (and are attracted to) other beings operating at this same amazing level. The science behind emotional vibrations is truly incredible! Gratitude brings your level up, up, up!

So, how can we deepen our practice of gratitude and develop an intuitively grateful response to adversity in our lives? Here are three easy ways to become a more grateful person:

1. Keep a gratitude journal: At the end of every day, jot down a few things you’re grateful for. There is no wrong way to do this – just start! Your list can include anything, from your family and friends, to the barista who ran after you with the sunglasses you left on the counter, to a client who shared some kind words with you that day.

2. Find gifts in every struggle: Whatever you’re struggling with in life, there are gifts buried beneath the pain. Find them! Make a list of your struggles, and under each struggle, find three gifts. If your struggle is with a difficult colleague, one gift may be that you’re learning patience and tolerance with problematic personalities. There’s a silver lining to every rain cloud!

3. Send Thank You notes: In a world where most communication happens via email, text, or social media, sending a handwritten thank you card is truly a standout occasion. When I take the time to write, address, and mail a note to someone I’m grateful for, it keeps my gratitude front-and-center in my life – with the added benefit of making someone else feel really special!

Get started on your own gratitude practice with these three simple activities, and when you’re ready to dive deeper into embracing the art of gratitude, pick up a copy of my book, Be the Magic of You: Tools to Transform Your Life, which includes an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) exercise for a grateful mind, body, and spirit.

Be the Magic of You: Tools to Transform Your Life

I wrote Be the Magic of You: Tools to Transform Your Life because I was once stuck in the muck of a mediocre life, in desperate need of magic. I found my way to a wonderful life, and I want to help you to break through your barriers to experience magnificence in every aspect of your existence.