This Week's Little Life Notes From Me to You

These day's I'm to be getting out and about painting in nature, with the East Toronto Plein Air Group. Here's a peony I did at the Oshawa Peony Garden recently. Taking time for doing the things you love is one way to stay happy and healthy,  so I look at it as feeding my body and soul so I'm better able to contribute my gifts in my work as a yoga therapist. This is one of the many things I'm grateful for!

Accessing the Power of Gratitude

by Francie Adamson

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude's many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That's why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn't a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It's more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What's on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.
• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.
• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.

Cool Resource for You to Explore Creativity 

A great resource for you is The Artists Way: A spiritual path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. My favorite takeaway was the morning pages- she gives plenty of  writing prompts, and one of them is to express gratitude for the good things in your life. If you're not an artist, you can check out the other books she's written, for business people, parents and spiritual seekers.   

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday at noon: Join us for a 30 minute lunch and learn to level up your gratitude practice! There'll be a quick stretch, sharing- so bring your celebrations and accomplishments you're grateful for- and some targeted strategies so you can build your gratitude muscles in a way that works for you.  Grab your spot now, I'll be sending a quick prep exercise so you're ready to start  building the right practice for you.

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