Start by creating a “Thank you list.” Remember how many people you’ve seen at the Oscar’s/Grammy’s/etc. get up to receive their award and they go blank?
Even though they spent all this time working with people to create the movie/album/whatever, when stress levels go up – memories tend to get stuck in the chute.
They spit out whatever names they can think of. Then when life goes back to normal, brain function begins again, they regret forgetting some of the people they were thankful to.
That happens to us too. When things are going well and when things become stressful. We forget what and who we are thankful for.
So for today, start your “award winner speech” by listing every person you can think of whom you are thankful to/for, what they did and how it affected you/what it mean to you.
When you get done, really pay attention to how you feel. Are you overwhelmed with thankfulness, encouraged, hopeful, energized?
Now you need to do two more things going forward:
- Keep that list handy and easily accessible so you can reread it. Often.
- Every time you think of someone else – put them on the list. It won’t take long to update the list, but set a time once a week at least, or once a day, and write down all of the info. That list is a living, growing symbol of your gratitude and attitude. This list is worth more than gold and jewels. Treat it like that. Have a special place you keep it. And for heaven’s sake, make a back-up. No, make lots of back-ups. And share your list to encourage others.
Oh, two more things:
- Take the opportunity to thank the people on your list.
- Then determine to do something today to make yourself eligible to be on someone else’s list.
Pay it forward, backward, sideways, anyways! It will make you both feel better.
When was the last time you made a literal list of what you are grateful for? Feel free to share in the conversation over at my Facebook page – Click Here.