Day 3:
Over the years I have been working on getting more yoga into my regular routine. One of the messages I hear regularly when we are on the mat is that yoga is a practice and I don’t just mean that you have to practice to be good at it but that the practice is a way of life, a way of living.
It’s not just a verb but also a noun.
This message rings loud and clear here in the Attitude of Gratitude.
The Attitude of Gratitude is both a practice (verb) and a practice (noun).
What we know about human behavior is that practice (verb) yields results. The more we consistently practice ANYTHING the greater we embed that behavior into our every day living (practice as a noun).
If that was all too confusing BREATHE and let it all go. Keep it simple and read on.
If you implemented day 1 and day 2 you now have morning gratitude practice ideas so now you need ideas on how to regularly fuel your days with more gratitude.
Day 3 is an exercise that supports your practice of gratitude all day long by adding ‘gratitude notes’ to a Gratitude Jar.
Here is how it works:
Gratitude Jar Recipe:
- Small Pieces of Paper to Write on
- Decorations, i.e. ribbon, glitter, markers, etc.
- 1 Gratitude Jar, Box or Bowl
- Gratitude
1. Cut out 30 pieces of paper (to begin with) so you can write down something you are grateful for easily and effortlessly. A couple fun offshoots are:
*Use a different color for each day as a built in reminder of how many you added that day.
*Use a different color or shape for each family member.
2. Create your ‘Gratitude Jar’ (or whatever you are using to hold the collection of your gratitude). This can be as elaborate or simple as you’d like. Avoid the need to create the perfect jar at the risk of not doing it at all – I know, I know I am guilty of this as well. Just do it.
3. When you are writing the gratitude take a deep breath, slow down, and let it settle in. Absorb it like it is fresh, pure clean oxygen that is nourishing you mind, body, and soul – because it is.
4. Place your gratitude note into the gratitude jar.
5. Celebrate with a smile after each note (science shows that the practice of smiling creates happy hormones that course through your body – oh YEAH!)
6. Watch your jar go from empty to half empty to half full to FULL!
Optional: Establish a goal for how many pieces of gratitude you would like to contribute each day.
Note: If you want to add more oomph to your gratitude jar practice, at the end of each day, read your gratitude notes out loud to yourself or to your family, a friend OR post them on FB. Voicing your gratitude is a profound way to deepen the impact. Spread the love!
“Nobody is more responsible for filling your glass than you are.
Happiness is an inside job.”
See you on Day 4.
Thankful for you,
Coach Jill