It is always the season to embrace an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE, but there is something special about the weeks leading up to and following Thanksgiving and into Christmas. There is a feeling in the air inspiring us to sip hot cocoa, pour bolder reds in our stems, and cuddle by the fire… Around here, those activities always lead to reflection on what we are grateful for – in this current season.
In honor of being thankful, here are 11 ways to keep your heart, mind, body, and soul in the grateful zone – now and always!
1. Surround Yourself With Positive Words (#MoxieMemo Time!)
What are you reading every day? Are you focused on only reading the news or your manic, uncontrollable social media feed?
Your feelings of gratitude are manifested in your environment. If you want to feel more focused, more passionate, and more driven, or more grateful, surround yourself with quotes and books that INSPIRE THOSE FEELINGS.
Check out my page filled with #MoxieMemo pics here: debratrappen.com/moxiememo
2. Be Present.
Slow down. Enjoy each moment. Take a DEEP BREATH. Ditch the hustle mantras and soak in life.
Stop planning your life all the time and start living it.
Put down your phone and experience life. Not everything needs to be recorded.
I remember reading somewhere that when you wiggle your toes – really concentrating on scrunching them up, moving your big toe only, etc… you don’t think about anything else. Try it… it is an awesome way to slow your mind down and BE in the moment.
3. Say THANK YOU more often.
Gratitude is a conscious decision. You have to practice it consistently. Speak it out loud. Write it in a thank you note. Pop on Facebook and post a gratitude note on a friend’s wall.
SPREAD THANKFULNESS!
Also, consider switching out the tired “I’m sorry I’m late…” to “Thank you for your grace over my tardiness.” (That is likely what you really mean, anyway!)
4. Flip your failures…
Let’s face it – most of us need to do something more than once to get it right. Helllooooooo! Not doing something perfectly on the first try is PART OF LIFE. I am betting it took you several tries before you learned to tie your shoes. What if you let this fundamental lesson elude you because you didn’t master “the bunny ears”, “magic fingers” or the “circle technique” the first time? Looking at failure negatively sets you up for a life of many more negative moments than positive.
Remember, by definition, learning something new requires finding something you don’t already KNOW. View flops and failures as reminders to find a new mentor or coach… and celebrate the journey.
Failure is fabulously inevitable. Let’s make it more FUN to fail… and always be focused on failing forward.
Read more on this:
Sabotaging Success
Don’t Fear Failure
5. Mind your self-talk manners.
We have all heard it – we are our worst critic. Research has shown that the majority of our self-talk is negative. That means OUR OWN WORDS are working against us rather than for us! So, let’s take control and slay our self-talk into submission. Let’s start with LOVING and honoring the magnificent, vibrant woman you are today.
You have invested so much in becoming her!
You passionately continue to work on and embrace becoming the best version of yourself every single day – that deserves some serious love-filled self-talk! Next time you hear negative thoughts running through your mind – take them captive and replace them with words of affirmation and encouragement.
Take a moment to prepare some I AM statements so you are ready!
Here are some examples to get you started: debratrappen.com/selftalkfire
Bonus tip: Instead of calling a friend to complain about something… use the time to talk about good things that have happened since you last spoke!
6. STOP comparing yourself to other people.
It is time to stop holding yourself back by comparing yourself to others, focusing on what you don’t have or what others do, and start to embrace your unique, quirky self. All of you – curves, lines, successes, and yes – your glorious failures!
I love this saying:
“There is no competition among wild women! They are too damn wild to be caught in a tiny space of envy. Instead, they dance together and allow the good to flow abundantly to them.”
Cast aside your desire for small-minded comparisons.
Focus on being your best YOU and nurturing a tribe that will encourage, empower, and love you along the way.
7. Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep
The happiest people are those who are content with and grateful for what they currently have, not with what they lack. When you apply an abundance mindset in your way of thinking – magic happens. Every action and outcome STARTS in our thoughts and minds. Choose where you focus your thoughts very wisely.
A fun exercise is to create a Gratitude Jar! I did this in 2017 and have LOVED IT! The idea is simple and I can’t wait to read through all of my “gratitude statements” on New Year’s Eve!
Read more here: debratrappen.com/gratitude-jar-2017
8. Uncover Your Negativity Triggers
What activities or people tend to send you plummeting into a state of scarcity, self-doubt, or fear?
- Do you find yourself scrolling your Facebook feed and constantly stopping political posts that make you angry or feel hopeless? STOP IT. Unfollow these friend’s feeds or scroll faster, but don’t stop and subject yourself to this social torture. No one is forcing you to read these posts.
- Maybe you find yourself feeling negative or exhausted every single time you get together with {your friend’s name here}. For goodness sake, stop spending so much time with that person. If they are extremely dear to you, talk with them about their negativity. They may not even realize it!
- You may turn into a Mean Girl every time you look at yourself in the mirror. STOP… start writing words of encouragements, scripture, quotes, etc on your mirror. I use a dry erase marker and update my verses and quotes often. When I feel like beating myself up for that extra jiggle – I read my words on the mirror.
Some of my favorite scriptures around this are gathered here.
9. Serve Others With JOY!
This is one of my favorite quotes on the matter:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” “No one has ever become poor by giving.” ~ Emerson
Serving others is a win-win. It is a LIFE GIVING activity for everyone involved.
Here is a list of ideas to spark you:
1. Homeless Shelters
2. Volunteer At Your Local Food Bank
3. Grant Wishes for Children
4. Clean Up Your Neighborhood
5. Be A Tutor/Mentor – for a child in need
6. Volunteer At Your Local Animal Shelters
7. Visit Hospitals
8. Give Blood
9. Volunteer At Your Local Museums
10. Entertain Seniors At Local Convalescent Homes
11. Decorate Homes For The Elderly In Your Neighborhood
Every little thing counts. You have the ability to feel more grateful inside every single choice you make AND inspire that feeling in others!
10. Embrace Me Time.
Taking time to recharge your soul is far too underrated in our hustle and hurry world. Schedule time to fill your soultank… you don’t always have to be with others to fill your tank – so be sure to add “alone time” activities like meditation, hot bubble baths, and quiet walks in the park to your ME TIME!
11. Surround Yourself With Champions!
Be sure you are sharing time with people who lift your spirits and elevate your thinking. On the journey to grateful living – it is imperative to surround yourself with positive, life-giving people… and important to release as many energy vampires as you can.
- Write a list of the 5 people who fill your soultank, embrace your dreams with you, and cheer you on every step of the way.
- Write a list of the 5 people who drain your energy and leave you feeling sad, angry, or unsettled every single time you are together.
NOW, WHAT?
Share more time with the people on the first list… and less time with the second. (wink)
What are your favorite tips and truths around staying in and coming from a place of gratitude and thankfulness?
Please share them in the comments below!
xxoo,
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