Many thought leaders, teachers, and gurus have spoken about the power of gratitude.  In working with some of my clients, that can be hard to grasp though.  How does this help me?  Is it just this power of positive thinking mumbo jumbo?  Is it ignoring all the stuff that is challenging in life?  How can life work like that?

Here is my take on it.  There are two paths I take with this.  The first is the energetic aspect of it, as stated in the Law of Attraction: like attracts like.  This states that those things you are in vibration with, in alignment with, focused on, will be coming towards you at the same speed you are heading towards it.  This is happening all the time, with a bit of a delay between your wish, and receiving that gift.  The delay helps you become ready to receive that which you wish for.  The movie, book, and audiobook of The Secret cover this pretty well.  I personally got the best experience from the Audiobook.  The teachings of Abraham Hicks also goes into this process in much more detail, and there are several videos on YouTube that cover this.  When listening to Abraham Hicks, it took me a bit to wrap my head around the concepts, but once I embraced them it flowed so much more easily.  It extended my connection with the Law of Attraction.

The other path comes from the logical part of me, being a relatively rational minded person wants to incorporate the physiology of it all as well.  The part of the brain that filters out the data we are bombarded with every day is the Reticular Activating System (RAS).  This part of the brain is said to be programmed by what you say you want.  The more often you repeat what you are seeking, desire, and enjoy, it filters that out less.  This then allows the rest of your mind to build up evidence, opportunity, and new ideas of how to accomplish that which you seek.  As you focus on these items, knowing they are possible, and in your future, the better your brain opens up all the stops to get you there.

How are these three things related?  If you are showing appreciation and gratitude for what you have in your life, especially for those things you want more of, you are already getting into the vibration of what you want more of.  If you are focusing on things you enjoy and appreciate, aren’t you programming your RAS to be more aware of those things in the future, so you can feel good that much more?  This feels quite a bit like a book series I remember as a kid by Piers Anthony called the Apprentice Adept Series.  One world ruled by magic, the other by technology, yet mirrors of each other.  Both achieve similar ends, with different avenues to get there.

So I appreciate the little things:  the sun shining, waking up to my lovely person, being of service to my community, and having food to eat.  Though simple, it is worth every ounce of energy I put into being grateful for them.  It keeps me mindful of the amazing time we live in.  The abundance of great people, adventures available for a bit of creativity, and lessons to be learned around every corner is ever expanding.  I thank The Force for the divine ocean in which I get to swim.  Use whatever divinity works for you, be it The Universe, God, a Higher Power, your Higher Self, Jehovah, Hashem, Allah, Brahma, the Creator, Great Spirit, or something else.

This sets my day off on the right foot, and ends my day with a moment of reflection.  What do you have to be thankful for in your life?