Everyday Gratitude

It can be hard to remember the simple yet important aspects of life that contribute to our well-being and overall sense of contentment. We are often chasing more than we need or looking for answers in the wrong places. Everyday gratitude reminds us to be grateful for what we have and observe the simple things in life.

Transcript

Not every day is going to be a huge success.

Not every day is going to deliver the results that we hope for.

And not every day is going to help us feel content that we have achieved everything that we planned to achieve that day.

It's understandable to feel disappointment and perhaps anger when we feel like we haven't reached our full potential.

For we are always being told that life is short and we must embrace every moment to the best of our ability.

Being busy is being productive.

And while it may be true that wasting time or being idle can be a far from ideal way to spend time,

We also need to be more forgiving and accepting of the fact that sometimes things just don't go our way.

And perhaps this is due to something we have done.

Or perhaps it's due to circumstances beyond our control.

But life has its own paths,

Its own ways and its own ideas about how our days plan out.

And learning to accept that some things are beyond our control is a very important lesson to learn.

For this meditation,

I want you to focus on the simple act of gratitude.

The act itself may be simple,

But remembering to observe gratitude and implement it into our daily lives is far more challenging in itself.

Wrestling against the perceived failures of our day,

It can be very difficult to acknowledge what we're actually grateful for if we feel that we don't deserve that gratitude.

But as we know,

Meditation is called practice for a reason.

If it was easy to do,

It would be called a perfect.

So this simple gratitude practice is designed to help you acknowledge,

Recognize and be thankful for the small things which are often overlooked,

Which form a part of our daily lives.

Features that are so well ingrained in our routines and our habits that we often forget to notice them.

A gratitude meditation practice can help to reground us after a difficult day,

But can also help to focus our minds in a more positive way regardless of how the day is planned out.

We can also use it at the beginning of a day to set some simple but effective focuses to help keep us on the right path,

Regardless of what the day may have in store for us.

All,

Some or none of the suggestions for gratitude in this meditation may or may not be true to you at this point in time,

And that's okay.

The intention here is to remind ourselves of the everyday,

And this may well be different for each of us.

After all,

Differences should be embraced and celebrated.

So to begin,

Just take a few moments to find comfort where you are.

You can either sit or lie down,

But whichever position you choose,

Try to ensure that your body is supported and that your breath can flow freely.

Lying upright either on the floor or in a chair,

Or lying on your back is usually best.

However,

If you are likely to fall asleep,

You may wish to sit up instead.

So just make small,

Gentle movements to connect with your body,

And help to disperse any tension which may distract you from your practice.

Many of us carry tension in our shoulders and necks,

So some gentle head tilts,

Looking from side to side,

Or just rolling your shoulders can help to relax these muscles.

You may wish to raise your arms above your head and just stretch.

Maybe you'll feel like yawning.

If you do feel any pain while doing these movements,

Make sure to stop.

Adjusting your sitting position or lying position so that you're resting evenly on the ground or on your chair.

Place your hands on your knees,

In your lap,

Or by your sides if you are lying down.

And close your eyes.

For a minute,

We will bring our focus to our breath.

The innate ability to draw air in and out of our bodies.

When was the last time you thought about breathing?

Don't try to force anything now that it has your focus.

Just notice how it feels as you breathe with your body's own natural rhythm and patterns.

How does your body move with your breath?

Do you feel your tummy,

Your chest,

Your shoulders,

Your nostrils expanding and contracting?

Can you hear the sound of your breathing?

Don't worry if your mind wanders to other thoughts while you're building awareness of your breath.

The practice of meditation is not to clear your mind of thought.

It's to provide focus for your thoughts.

So if you do find that your thoughts are elsewhere,

Simply gently guide them back to your breath.

And it doesn't matter how many times you may need to do this.

It's all practice.

Nothing else is required of you at this time.

Now that we have found some stillness,

I will guide you through some affirmations.

Remember,

If they don't apply to you,

That's okay.

You can simply observe the intention instead.

I am grateful for my breath.

The breath which energises my body.

The breath that keeps me alive.

I am grateful for my body,

Though it may not be perfect,

Though it may have its struggles.

I am grateful for the shell which houses my personality,

My emotions,

My energy and my soul.

I am grateful for my home,

Whatever format this takes.

There is a roof over my head and home is where I choose to rest.

I am grateful for the food that is available for me to eat,

The vitamins,

The sustenance and the life-giving energy.

I am grateful for my outdoor space,

Whether this is private or public.

I am grateful that I can connect outside,

In nature,

With the elements.

I am grateful for the sounds of birds,

The unique energising voices communicating and filling the air with their songs.

I am grateful for the sun,

Whether it shines or is hidden behind clouds.

I am grateful for the energy that it provides to the earth,

Enabling everything to grow and to thrive.

I am grateful to the air which I breathe,

The air which enables me to power my body with oxygen.

I am grateful to the plants and to the trees,

To the leaves and to the flowers,

For their visual appeal and their strong standing.

I am grateful to the earth.

I am grateful for its solid foundation on which I stand,

Walk,

Sit and rest.

I am grateful for my connections,

Whether they are with friends,

Family,

Pets,

Colleagues or encounters with strangers that bring those opportunities for connection into my life.

I am grateful for my work and for the duties which I perform,

Which help to house me and feed me.

I am grateful to wildlife,

To the animals and the birds and the insects which I share this world with.

Our kindred spirits,

Our kin.

I am grateful for my hobbies that allow me to connect with different parts of my personality,

That allow me to express myself,

Develop my skills,

Connect with others and create.

I am grateful for the opportunity to live today,

For today is the only time I can really make a positive difference.

I am grateful for the experiences of yesterday and I am grateful for the opportunities which tomorrow may bring.

If you would like to stay in your meditation for longer and perhaps focus on other areas of your life that you would like to feel gratitude for,

Please do so.

Otherwise,

Start to gently bring your awareness back to your breath and to your body,

Noticing again the way in which you physically work with your in and out breath.

Use this relationship to bring your awareness back into the present and make small movements with your fingers and toes.

Carefully moving your head,

Turning from side to side,

Tilting back and forth.

Maybe stretch your arms out to the sides or above your head,

Feeling that energy moving through you and bringing you back to the present.

And last but by no means least,

Acknowledge the gratitude to yourself for allowing the time to practice this meditation today.

And when you are ready,

Open your eyes.

Reviews

This meditation was lovely! Exactly what I needed. Easy to follow, timing was perfect for me. I will be using this one again and again! Thank you!

A wonderful meditation 🙏 that reminds us to be grateful for the simple things in life. Thank you 🙏💚