For those of you following me on twitter, (@ElevatedMag) you know I decided to embark on an experiment last week – no matter what happened, good or bad, I would be grateful for it, knowing it would lead me down the right road.
Now, this is nothing new or evolutionary. We all know gratitude is one of the highest vibrations when it comes to the law of attraction. But how many of us actually commit to testing it for an extended period of time. I know I’ve turned to gratitude before, and try to list things I am grateful for each day, but I never took it on for 24 hours, 7 days a week in a conscious way.
I’ve personally noticed the role synchronicity plays in my life, and often look back and make the connections, which in the moment don’t always make much sense. But this week, I decided to incorporate gratitude and happiness into each moment, rather than waiting for the realization and meaning to eventually reveal itself. And boy did I learn a thing or two!
I noticed how easy it really is to create a positive thought from any seemingly negative situation, and by the end of the week, I realized it’s actually fun to do!
For example, I was on a flight to San Antonio last Tuesday evening and found myself surrounded on all sides by three very unhappy babies. Instead of sleeping, which didn’t seem very possible at the time, I read a great new book by Michael J. Fox called “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist,” and found myself grateful for the opportunity those babies provided me. Of course, I was also grateful for my noise cancelling headphones and iPod, but that’s another story! I even found myself feeling compassion for both the babies and the parents who must have been anxious themselves. Meanwhile, a friend of mine found herself in a rage throughout the flight, which continued loudly as we exited the plane. This just reminded me how grateful I am that I chose not to react to my surroundings in a negative way, and how we really do get to choose how we react to outside circumstances.
And despite having to take a connection both to and from San Antonio (who wouldn’t rather be on a direct flight) I was grateful that all my flights were on time and went smoothly, which for me isn’t always the case. In fact, many friends and family members tease me about not wanting to fly with me because my fights are always delayed.
By Thursday I was on a gratitude role. Now, I am not a morning person, so the 7 a.m. flight home was not the highlight of my day, but I was grateful for the quiet passengers around me who allowed me to sleep, and I was grateful to be back home by early afternoon to enjoy the rest of my day and get some things done.
However, looking back now, I think the most important thing I learned this week was by staying in a state of gratitude, and uncovering the positive in all that came my way, I had a fun, happy week, and I felt really good! Nothing that came my way managed to bring me down because I was able to find the good in all of it. I understood what it meant to be “in the flow” of the universe, and in a state of allowing. In fact, it felt so good, I think this experiment may just turn into a new routine way of thinking for me. And I hope my positive results encourage you to do your own experiment.
Leave a comment, and let me know how it goes!
Tammy Mastroberte
Founder, Publisher and Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
Founder, Publisher and Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
Tammy, I too have been trying to walk the gratitude path here recently! Yes, it has been a challenge, but I've also learned if I look for the positive light in the dark tunnel my walk will be a little better.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessed & Loved,
Karma Eve
Tammy, I too have been trying to walk the gratitude path here recently! Yes, it has been a challenge, but I've also learned if I look for the positive light in the dark tunnel my walk will be a little better.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessed & Loved,
Karma Eve
Tammy,
this is great ! I always love an article that will give me food for thought.. I am excited to try this for a series of "just for todays" (If i say a week or so I end up rebelling:))
thank you.. Iwill let you know how it goes!
namasteh
I started a routine this year, and part of it is what you say about taking a moment each day and feel that gratitude towards everything, and actually what I do is as you say, analyze each situation of the day before and turn anything that can be felt bad into a good experience, and oh my!!! how things change this year. I think its the year Ive been accomplishing more in my life. Going with the flow!
So, great advice, great post, thanks.