Day 24: "30 Day Gratitude Challenge"

Day 24: Today I am grateful for the feedback which I received from a friend and follower on my 30 Day Gratitude Challenge

If we're not doing things for ourselves, then who are we doing them for? 

I started this 30 Day Gratitude Challenge for myself, but wanted to share it with family, friends, followers - EVERYONE! When I started blogging, I had no idea, this is where it would lead me - having this new found passion for inspiring others and reminding not only myself but others to see things different (get a different perspective) and perhaps filter in a change in people to BE more positive and happy.

For me, the gratitude challenge part is easy - I have a gratitude journal which I write in every morning - what's been challenging is the actual blogging everyday!  But I have completely embraced it and enjoying the process.

I certainly have a much better appreciation for the little things as well as those who are writers full-time, where writing is their number one passion!

How has your world changed since you took on the Gratitude Challenge?  I'd love more feedback!

Day 21: "30 Day Gratitude Challenge"

Day 21: Today I am grateful for the rain

I usually love, love, LOVE the sunshine because for me, it brightens up my day, it makes me happy and I associate it with growth.  But you can't have one without the other - if we only had sunshine, how will things grow without a little rain?

Today I am grateful for this beautiful rainy day - it didn't start off that way, but it's been raining for a few hours now and it's rather refreshing on this humid day.  It waters the dry land, my herbs and garden, it cools down the warm air. Today, there was a moment, where I found it peaceful, calming and soothing - the light pitter-patter of rain drops.  Almost meditative...

How do you view the rain?  And what about the ups and downs in life?  We know HAPPINESS because we've experience sadness... the two compliment each other! It allows us to appreciate the good times, the happy times and the UP moments in our lives :)

Day 5: "30 Day Gratitude Challenge"

Day 5: Today I'm grateful for having the opportunity to work with and collaborate with such a great creative team

I think it's important to do what makes you happy because in return you end up loving what you're doing - you enjoy going to work each day, or you love turning up to that yoga class or going for that swim or waking up early just to see the sunrise. 

Do you love what you do? Does it make you happy?

If you're not in the most ideal situation, what could you be doing right now, in this moment to change your situation - either short term or for the future?

Find Your Inner Energy

This is such a great quote!!

Recently I've been feeling a bit flat and a bit less motivated than usual. Now I know, that when I'm that little bit more irritable (ok, I accept, there are the pregnancy hormones at play here but let's not use them as an excuse!) - then I know I've not been giving enough to myself. 

It's really important to look after No.1 - yes, that's right - YOU! and I don't mean this in a selfish way. Wayne W. Dyer says it well - by giving to yourself first, showing yourself some self-love, self-respect, self-compassion, then you're more able to give to others. You are definitely a better person and did I mention happier too?!? :)

Once we've fulfilled our needs of nourishing ourselves, then we're much better at coping with everything else that comes our way.  I know I'm a much more giving, understanding, energetic, patient and LOVING human BEING which allows me to do what I love to do and give back and be there for others. Whether that be to have the energy to uplift my husband after he's had a tiring hard day at work or be it that I can be a good listener to a friend who needs to offload her problems for a different perspective.

What you choose to give to yourself will be different for everyone. My suggestion would be to find something small that you can do regularly or daily that gives you more energy.  

It could be creating a habit for daily meditation, treating yourself to wholesome food and making sure you're eating well for the week - fuelling your body with nutritious food like green smoothies, or walking regularly after work to clear your head and to breathe in fresh air.  It could be a commitment to increasing your yoga sessions to more than once a week or start that gratitude journal you've been meaning to and commit to writing in it everyday. Some might treat themselves to a massage, a mani & pedi or a weekend away.

What ever it is, you do it because it's for you.  No one else.  Just for you!

Call these "self-loving" moments :)

If you're feeling uncomfortable about giving to yourself, perhaps try this exercise:

1. Look at yourself in the mirror
2. Now say "I LOVE YOU" to yourself - feel what comes up for you, does it feel good? uncomfortable?
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2
4. Repeat step 3 - keep repeating it until you're comfortable with saying it to yourself
5. Try it again the next day

Attitude of Grattitude

A while back I started on this path of personal development, getting to know me, finding the meaning of life, you know? that sort of thing...surely you've contemplated to find the meaning or purpose of your life at least once!

A lesson I learnt was to have an "Attitude of Grattitude". Now this takes practice. Now and again over the years it slipped through for me as it hadn't really been ingrained into my subconscious. But these days I totally believe in this little motto. 

Let's take what Paul Coelho says: "Life has many ways of testing a person's will, either by having nothin for by having everything at once". How true this is! But what an help keep us grounded and same is having an Attitude of Grattitude. For whatever the situation may be, in order to find happiness and contentment rather than overwhelm and stress is to just 'let go'. Easier said than done right? Well what if you just were grateful for whatever the universe was throwing you at that moment. What if you were grateful for the opportunities, the people in you life, the fact you are healthy and fit?

Want to try it? No better time than to start today! What 3 things are you grateful for?

For me: 

I'm grateful I have a day off so I can go hang out with my dad. 

I'm grateful for the winds blowing to dry the laundry outside

I'm grateful I did some grocery shopping yesterday so that I had some breakfast this morning

Super easy!!! Happy Dayz! :)