Eight Simple Ways to Finding Your Grateful Heart

By Alane Brown Email Article

1. Wake up at the same time everyday.

You choose the time. Just be consistent. Say good morning to God and give Him your day.

2. Think of at least five things you are honestly grateful for and write them in your gratitude journal. Do this before even getting out of bed - and thank God for them. This is a guaranteed way of knowing you are starting the day off right. It puts one a mindset of joy, peace and harmony.

3. Find a quiet place to spend time with God. Again, be consistent - go to the same place every day. Some place where you can be alone. Examples: A living room chair, your kitchen table or your favorite room.) Read your Bible or daily affirmations/meditations. After/during your alone time with God make sure to note in your gratitude journal anything and everything that came to your heart.

Nothing is too small to be grateful for. We need to remember to be grateful for everything. Not just the big stuff or the stuff that we specifically asked for but everything.

4. Take "Spiritual Shower" as you take a natural one. Stay in an attitude of gratitude! Be grateful for the hot clean water etc. Think this way: you are cleaning yourself spiritually as well as physically. Confess and praise. Then once again - Write any thing that you are grateful for - during your shower time in your gratitude journal.

5. While Cleaning – Pray and bless everything in your home. Remember to focus on gratitude and love. (This can be difficult while cleaning) Focus on keeping a Spirit of working for the Lord. When you are done cleaning, quickly jot down the things that came into your heart that you are grateful for. Again, it doesn’t matter how small.

6. While Driving, walking, gardening (anytime you are outdoors) – Turn your eyes to nature. Look for the beauty. Some of God’s most beautiful art work is found in nature. Look with in others. Look for the good in everyone. Speak well about others. Praise and encourage one another always. Not just in your business with family and friends – everyone. Examples: The cashier at the store. The gas attendant etc...

7. Right before you dose off – read all the things you are grateful for. Add any that were left out. This fills your heart with "right thinking" and "right attitude" while you sleep and encourages good and peaceful dreams!

8. Prayer time then… sleep.

If we continue in this attitude of gratitude for 90 days, our hearts and attitudes will change and we will see and feel gratitude "automatically". We will have successfully changed our mindset. Let’s give it a try and watch what happens in our lives and our business.

Kindness is contagious! Have you even been driving and when you come to a tool booth, the attendant has said, "You’re all set. The gentleman in the car before you paid the toll for you."? Well, I have and it felt so good that I in turn, paid for the vehicle behind me! Who knows how long the attendee had been asked to pass the paid fee back to the next car coming or how long it continued forward!
Smiles are also something that are easily passed on to others. Try smiling at everyone you see on your next trip to the mall or grocery store. I am sure you will find that most people DO smile back. I bet you’ll even notice that many people needed your smile and that you have helped to brighten the day of many!

Alane Brown, Life Style Mentor and Successful Entrepreneur, is helping many become the next success story. Whether you're looking to create an extra few thousand dollars per month, be an ex-corporate executive, or the next millionaire Mom, Alane can assist you to create a second stream of income and greater peace of mind. visit : Time Freedom

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There's nothing to forgive... Ever!

By Michael Watson

Have you ever had trouble forgiving someone for something they "did to you"? We all experience various aspects of life that are challenging, and if these challenges involve the behaviour of another human being being unacceptable, it can be easy to hold a grudge. But how can we forgive if we truly believe that another person has done wrong? Simple, we can't. If we still believe them to be wrong, then we havent yet forgiven.

The inability to forgive arises solely from the mistake of identifying a person as their thoughts. An average human being currently experiences many thousands of thoughts every single day: I must clean my teeth; What should I cook for dinner?; I wonder what the weather will be like today?; My bum looks big. The internal dialogue goes on and on. To believe that we are solely the collection of all such thoughts is absurd, yet people make this mistake all the time, and it is at the core of all problems.

Your true self is beyond all description. It cannot accurately be put into words. We can point you towards a realisation of this in the following way: Imagine all of the actions that you could potentially carry out here on earth: Mastering the game of golf; Cooking a great meal; Riding a bike; Looking at a bird; Cracking jokes. There are literally an uncountable number of actions that you could potentially perform. Then imagine all of the things that havent even been invented yet, and all of the things happening all over the rest of the Universe that you could in theory become engaged in. A little thought and you will realise that there is an infinite number of possibilities. And so it could be said that you ARE a field of inifinite possibilities. You cannot be defined. You are unlimited potential. Another way to see that you are not your thoughts is simply to meditate. When you experience being without thought it becomes obvious that you cannot possibly be a collection of those thoughts you sometimes experience.

Thoughts are a part of your human experience, just like seeing, smelling, tasting etc. They are a tool, nothing more. Yet You are so much more. Not only are you a field of infinite possibilities, but as you detach from your thoughts you realise that you are pure joy and love. Without identification with thought it is impossible for you to commit acts of harm on another.

With this realisation, if someone does something that initially upsets you or makes you angry, remember what is really going on here. If you are blaming them for something then you are making the ultimate mistake: you are seeing that person not as they truly are, but as a collection of thoughts and actions.

Consider the kinds of thoughts that are going through the head of someone conducting an extreme act of violence. Imagine the pain associated with those thoughts. To commit such an act, that person must be identified with their thoughts, completely unaware of the infinite depth of their true being lying beneath. In the moment of violence, they believe that they are hatred itself. Without the identification with hateful thoughts, violence could not possibly happen. Once you realise this, there is no need to hold a grudge. They did what they did because they were unconscious; lost in a stream of thoughts. There really was nothing to forgive. In fact it was just a mistake, and you can offer help. This is where compassion arises and transforms the situation.

If you find this hard to get, then you are not yet in touch with your own true self to a great enough depth for the realisation to occur. This too is absolutely fine. Simply spend time in meditation, or in nature, or doing more of the things that really inspire you. These will all serve to deepen your awareness of your true self. The deeper this awareness, the more love, joy and compassion you experience. We would actually be closer to the truth if we say that you uncover your true characterstics of love, joy and compassion.

When you realise there is never anything to forgive, you are also completely accepting of what comes into your experience. You are non-judgemental. When something arises that would have previously made you angry, you feel compassion and want to help the so-called other to experience the true joy of their own being. You therefore respond with love.

And when you no longer fight the hand dealt by life, circumstances begin to effortlessly transform into something more inline with your desires. The Universe is on your side. You become lucky.

With this comes gratitude - a wonderful place to be. Wishing you great love: a realisation of your true self.

Know How to Flow. Profound teachings, realizations and poetry to enjoy and draw inspiration from on your spiritual journey. http://www.knowhowtoflow.com .

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