How to Count Your Blessings

If you were requested to list ten things that you are most grateful for in your life, what would be included in it?

Do have to think for a while, or do you know exactly how blessed you are? When you ask someone how they are doing, the answer would depend on the level of comfort between the two of you. It could either be an indifferent “fine” or you might get a list of complaints about what is wrong with their life and how they unable to get out of the rut they're in.

It's uncommon to get someone who will tell you how thankful they are for having certain things in their life, unless they are trying to impress you. People often focus on what they don’t have as opposed to what they have already been given and are continuing to enjoy.

Have you ever paused in the middle of your day to quiet your mind for a few minutes and appreciate all the blessings that are bestowed upon you?

When you consistently thinking about what you lack, you tend to forget to be thankful for all the things that are available to you. For instance, you may have a family who loves you, a job that provides you with the means to support them, excellent health, a talent to share with people, good friends who are always there for you, and a whole lot more.

Most life coaches recommend that you focus on the things that you're grateful for. You'll feel better about your whole life, and it will help you to attract more of those good things into your life.

These are small miracles that you may take for granted each day. You just receive the blessings without recognizing how fortunate you are. However, if you imagine even one of these not being the way it is, your life might be much worse.

So, how do you count your blessings? Here are some simple steps:

Make a List – It is easy to tell yourself that you know what you are thankful for and that you can think of it without effort. However, taking time to write it down each day and stating the reason why you feel gratitude for that particular aspect will help you to reinforce its positive effect in your life.

Read it out Loud – When you say the words, it creates a different impact than when you just read it with your eyes. The acknowledgment is stronger and you allow your conscious mind to absorb what you are saying.

Feel the Gratitude – The way you feel about each entry on your list gives it the power to change your life. Do not just say the words for the sake of saying it, but let the words flow through your consciousness and feel the appreciation for each one.

You will be surprised that there are so many positive things in your life that you have forgotten to appreciate. After a few days of practice, you will find that it all comes naturally. You may even want to expand your list to more than ten each day as you find more and more things to be thankful for. The changes that it will bring will affect not just you but everyone around you.

So give it a try and see what happens. You'll notice that you feel better about your life. Living in gratitude feels great. So go ahead and start appreciating all the things you already have in your life. And you'll find you have many reasons to be happy.