Laughing Ladybug Yoga

As many of you know, I’ve been consciously practicing gratitude with the help of GratitudeLog.com. I have really grown to love this site. It’s been great support in this practice. If I don’t post for a couple of days, I get a reminder. The reminder I got today was especially thought-provoking, and I’d like to share it with you:

Did you know that there is an effective and
an ineffective way to express gratitude?

Unfortunately, the ineffective way is far more common.
It is sort of the default form of gratitude that most
people fall into.  I was stuck here for a really long
time until I found a far more powerful way to practice
gratitude, one that moved me into perfect alignment
with abundance and greatly accelerated the Law of
Attraction.

First, let me talk about the ineffective way to express
gratitude.  This is gratitude that you express that is
related to what is happening in your life right now. 

It is closely related to the gratitude and appreciation
we learn to express as children (i.e. to say thanks) and
that is probably why it is often the default and why
so many people get stuck here.

Ineffective gratitude includes things such as:
* your health
* your relationships
* your material posessions
* your friends and family
* a nice vacation

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with this
form of gratitude.  All I am saying is that it is not
nearly as powerful as what I am about to show you. 

Often the problem with the above form of gratitude is
that it comes from a place of lack.  If you have ever
expressed gratitude while thinking “at least… I am
healthy, or at least I have a great family” then you
know what I mean. 

This form of gratitude is extremely week because it is
based on the present circumstances.  In other words,
this form of gratitude is conditional.  It makes it
sound that you are grateful “only if you have good
health, a great relationship, etc.”

Unfortunately, conditional gratitude fails to activate
the law of attraction.  The universe does not respond
to conditional requests.

The second form of gratitude is complete in that it is
a celebration of life itself, for all the experiences
you are having. One other key difference is this. 
Effective gratitude comes from an underlying attitude
vs. a temporary focus on one item or thing to be
grateful for.

With practice, this holistic form of gratitude can
become second nature.  When it does, the law of
attraction will flow far more easily into your life.

The more powerful form of gratitude includes items
such as:

* your life
* this awesome planet
* for being who you are
* for future events
* for problems, challenges, and hardships
* for your mistakes
* for your mind
* for your freedom

In other words, you become grateful for this amazing
journey of your life regardless of what happens and
where it takes you because you know that it is just
right for you and that everything is happening for a
reason.

When you are expressing effective gratitude, fear and
loss disappear. There is no focus on any lack and when
you reach this state, that is when abundance can truly
start flowing into your life.

Being grateful for what you have in your life (your
health, relationships, etc.) has its place.  But when
you start feeling truly grateful for everything that is
happening in your life and open your heart, you will be
amazed at how quickly the universe will start to answer. 

So, start creating these feelings now, even in the most
unlikely or unpleasant circumstances and notice how you
begin to attract whatever you focus on into your life.

With love and passion,

Mike

Makes you think, doesn’t it? Made me think. About all the challenges I’m personally facing right now and how they’re part of the journey that’s taking me toward my enlightenment and my true self. It’s hard to find a way to be grateful for those challenges, isn’t it? But I guess it’s the same kind of gratitude you feel for a really good medicine that tastes awful.

I’m learning a lot from GratitudeLog.com. You can join me there, if you want.

Last week, I had the great pleasure of teaching a group of ladies at Girls Night Out, which is part of North Texas SNAP. We had a great time learning poses and talking about all the ways that practicing yoga can help us. I can’t wait to work with them again!

As we leave the old year behind and look ahead to the new one, it’s time to set intentions that will help make our new year joyful. I have four intentions for 2010: