Well, here we are at another new year. I don't like to admit how quickly the years fly by at this age! And it's my first one without my wonderful mother and I bet some of you are in the same position - the first year without a loved one. So I decided to dedicate this new year newsletter to not only those who have passed, but to all those who have ever given us gifts in our lives.
This is the year I'm writing my book on "Joy," which is actually turning out to be a book on gratitude! A gift from my precious Mum. I woke up one morning and the first pages of the book streamed from my fingers so to speak, and it seems the key to joy is gratitude. So 2007 is the year of gratitude! And Gore's Law of Gratitude is: "Every day, find something for which to be grateful!"
When you wake up, make it a ritual that the first or second thing you do, is find something for which to be grateful. It doesn't really matter what it is - even if the only thing you can think of, is to be grateful you are breathing. (And if you are not grateful to be breathing, think of the millions who would be thrilled to be breathing!)
During the day, any time there is a little glitch (the weather, traffic, some person is annoying you, or a work scenario - anything which might provoke a negative reaction) find something for which to be grateful.
And then before you go to sleep at night, reflect on your whole day and find something for which to be grateful. Find one thing and focus on it and the appreciation you feel for it.
Or maybe there's a person at work with whom you have "issues!" Try to find one thing (just one thing should not be too hard) for which you can be thankful. And then focus on that…a lot. Especially during a meeting with them or some other kind of interaction.
Or the "jerk" driving ahead of you who is slowing you down - it might be worth being grateful because they could be a guardian angel in disguise, keeping you from some accident that would have caused you harm!
What about relationships with spouses, significant others, family and friends? If you have difficulties with anyone close to you - do you know that those difficulties are teaching you something? Usually fairly major life lessons, too.
In fact, the greater the difficulty, the more you typically learn about yourself. And our relationship partners are often our greatest spiritual coaches!
Breakups are not always the worst things in the world, even though they might seem so at the time. Often they are doors that open up a whole new (and usually better) world - if you can view them with gratitude!
If you have lost someone you love like my Mum, grieve, but also send them gratitude for all the wonderful memories you have, the gifts and lessons they gave you. I try to focus on that all the time if I feel sad…and I am sure she would not want me to be sad for too long. Somehow it makes it easier for her to know that I am focusing on gratitude rather than sorrow. And there are SO many things for which I am thankful to her.
Being grateful - having an "attitude of gratitude" as my great friend and mentor Keith Harrell would call it - can transform any situation. Gratitude gives you hope. It helps you stay positive no matter what happens to you. It keeps your brain chemicals in balance and is more likely to stop all those anxiety hormones from taking over. A person full of gratitude is a joy to be around because they are joy-ful and it spills over to everyone they're around!
There is not enough room to talk about all the benefits gratitude brings - you will just have to experience it. It may take a while to find something for which to be grateful - but you CAN do it!!! You just need to make the conscious effort to find something every day for which to be grateful!
Make being grateful your new year's resolution. It's as important - if not MORE - than all the rest. It might just transform your year and your life!
For me, I am incredibly grateful for my precious Mum's gifts, for all the people who have supported me through the year, and to all of YOU - my 15,000 readers - who have encouraged me and given me inspiration. Thank you and bless you all!
Happy new year from me and I hope 2007 is influenced by Gore's Law of Gratitude!
