What’s so great about gratitude? Well, it’s November, and talks about gratitude are in the air! It IS so great to be grateful for all the things we have in our lives and how fortunate we might be, HOWEVER; what if we aren’t grateful? Are we just doing it wrong?
WHAT IF we are just honest about how we are feeling? Let’s just get rid of the cheese, shall we? The cheesy, “Let’s pretend we love everything and slap smiles on our faces to simulate happiness and joy” Let’s go ahead and just be real. Gratitude is HARD sometimes. It just is. It’s okay to acknowledge that and FEEL your feelings. Covering up our concerns with false positivity will do us no good other than give us an endless supply of pretty Instagram photos. If gratitude is not honest and truthful it can turn into pain struggle and bitterness.
That’s certainly not very Thanksgivingish is it? If we use gratitude as a weapon to tell us what we “should” be feeling it will most certainly not serve us well. Forced gratitude is NOT gratitude. So breathe. Feel your feelings – use some of the practices we discuss often at Further Up (self-compassion, how to “feel” better, being at home in our bodies, grounding, and centering, etc. – they take practice but even giving them a few minutes of our time will make a big difference). And after we feel those feelings we’ll be able to express genuine gratitude. And being thankful for small things is not a small thing. Your statement of gratitude may not be, “I’m so grateful for my loving and supportive husband who always tells me every morning how beautiful I am.” It could be, “I’m so thankful that my husband fixed that garage door sensor so the sunlight doesn’t keep it from closing every morning when leaving the house.” Because that’s real. And it’s good stuff. We can find the things to be thankful for – TRULY thankful for. If we practice being honest with ourselves and cultivating a mindset of AUTHENTIC gratitude, it can transform our lives and empower those around us. In this blog post, we will explore how embracing gratitude as a tool can create self-empowerment and foster positivity within yourself, your community, and the world.
Gratitude is more than just saying "thank you" for the good things in life. It is a powerful force that goes beyond surface-level appreciation. When we practice true gratitude, we shift our perspective from focusing on lack and negativity to recognizing abundance and blessings. It becomes a game-changer in combating negative self-talk and rewiring our thought patterns. Imagine having a tool that helps you overcome self-doubt, insecurities, and overwhelm. That's exactly what a coaching program infused with practices to rewire your brain aims to achieve for women. By incorporating mindset shifts, practical tools, and strategies into the program, it provides a roadmap to boost confidence and cultivate self-compassion. Self-care, setting boundaries, and prioritizing personal well-being are crucial components of this journey. It's essential to understand that taking care of yourself is not selfish; it's a prerequisite for showing up as your best self in every aspect of life. When you prioritize your well-being, you create a ripple effect of positivity, inspiring others to do the same. One powerful strategy for dealing with stress is the 4 A's - Avoid, Alter, Adapt, Accept. By employing these techniques, we can effectively manage stress and regain control over our lives. But let's take it a step further. What if we could shift our perspective and reframe stressful situations as opportunities for growth and learning? By embracing this mindset, we transform challenges into catalysts for personal development. Narrative therapy offers another valuable tool in our gratitude arsenal. It empowers us to rewrite our narratives, challenge negative self-talk, and cultivate resilience.
By changing the stories we tell ourselves, we can overcome limiting beliefs and create a more empowering narrative of our lives. Did you know that engaging your senses and practicing presence can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress? Taking a moment to truly appreciate the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and textures around us can ground us in the present moment and foster a sense of gratitude. But remember, authentic gratitude is not just about personal growth; it's about being aware of others and the world too. As you harness genuine gratitude, your newfound self-empowerment and positivity will radiate outward, inspiring those around you. When we uplift and support one another, we create a domino effect of goodness that spreads far and wide. So, let's embrace authentic feelings and let those practices bring us to honest and true gratitude. Let's shift our perspectives, rewrite our narratives, and healthily cultivate resilience. If you’d like to ask questions or learn more about what coaching programs look like at Further Up, make an appointment for a Discovery call and we can talk about it!
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