Growing up, my parents taught me to say “thank you” and to have good manners. I tried to play the role of a “good son” around people, so that they would praise me and think I was a good son. If I look back now, never once was I *truly* grateful. I just said what needed to be said to get the responses I wanted. I was very cunning.
As I grew up, with a bad attitude and hot temper, I tried desperately to change myself and my habits, but no matter how hard I tried, I would always revert back to that person I grew to hate. Totally enslaved to that way of being. I was gorging myself on self help books, documentaries, sprituality, philosophy, and every kind of religion (even Satanism!).
THE MOST PROFOUND LESSON, BUT THE HARDEST TO IMPLEMENT?
I saw many common themes, but I could never really put many of them into practice. But the 1 common theme that I never really understood was the simplest of them all.
Be grateful. Every day. For everything.
Videos like the one below actually frustrated me, because I couldn’t be grateful, I just didn’t know how!
How simple! But I always over analyzed the simplicity of this message and wondered:
“What does it even mean to be grateful?! How can I be grateful when I feel so depressed? How can I be grateful that my ex wife has left me? How can I be grateful that I just lost all of my money?”.
It was so frustrating!
I then reached a point where I stopped trying to analyze it and understand it, and just started to put it into practice…. I learnt how to discard all the ideas of negative self in my mind, and my deep rooted habitual minds, which I learnt was the foundation of the mind that I was enslaved to, that there began to be space in my mind to allow gratitude to enter… And by God (literally), I swear from there I have built the tiniest, most transformational, life changing habit I’ve ever built into my life.
WHAT ARE MY PRACTICAL DAILY HABIT TIPS?
- Each morning, I wake up with the words “Be Grateful” on my wall and say “thank you” to the Universe, preparing my mind for a day of gratitude.
- Each day, I do my best to give thanks to everyone and everything, no matter how bad it is (that’s tough, but it’s magic, trust me!)
- Each night, I write a letter to the Universe, giving thanks for all the things that touched my heart throughout the day.
THE MAGIC OF THIS TINY DAILY HABIT
It is exactly as all the spirtual and religious texts suggest – you get closer to the Universe, God, Buddha, Allah, Source, Emptiness, Nature (whatever name). You get closer to *IT*. As I started to change my mind from a mind of expectation, to a mind of gratitude, EVERYTHING in my life changed. I began seeing the lessons in everything – from the biggest to the smallest things! And as I started to embrace those lessons, especially the “hard times”, the real magic happened.
I started to see the Universe which is living, in everything and everyone. That great, loving, eternal existence. A grateful life is a miraculous life, because every day is truly a gift and a blessing. The more grateful I am, the more magic my life is.
Everything I ask for is given. Everything I wish for is granted. My deepest desires are attracted into my life in the most miraculous ways. Every day there are abundant “coincidences” and synchronicities – more than I could ever imagine.
My life has flipped right around. From a life of 99% depression, sadness, anger, resentment, negativity and judgements to a life of 99% fullfillment, happiness, peace, wonder, positivity and connection.
Who knew such a tiny habit, could reap such profound rewards? Gratitude is the real Secret….
