Years ago, I learnt from the controversial DVD; “The Secret” how valuable a gratitude rock could be in my life and why I should be grateful.

I tested the theory. I found myself a rock and wrote on it; “I am grateful because …” and I implemented the following practice. I would hold it in my hand and I would complete the sentence; “I am grateful because … “; so that my ears could hear what my heart was saying. I would repeat this practice at least once a day.

It made me aware of how often positive things would occur around me every day. I learnt that a positive experience does not bring gratitude. It is gratitude that makes the experience positive. Melody Beattie says that gratitude makes sense of your past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. I can say for sure that I have never used my “Gratitude Rock” practice and then felt worse. It always lifts my spirit with a positive vibe and instils hope that all things will come together for the good.

They say great things never come to comfort zones and that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Isn’t it amazing how often, when you step away from your comfort zone that you realise it was not so comfortable at all, to begin with?

At first, it felt weird to hold the rock and to declare boldly what I was grateful for, but that simple practice has helped me many times to feel positive throughout my day. Positive energy begets positive energy.

You too can find your own way to feel and experience positive vibes through being grateful for your blessings. Gratitude also allows us to see the best in those around us.

In my corporate environment, we developed a habit to have a retro and review session every second week. We would get the chance to mention what could be better and it was compulsory to share a positive experience with the team. It was amazing to see the uplifting effect it had on the team and it created such a positive vibe in the office.

We may not be able to control someone’s negative behaviour, but we can control how long we participate in it. Surround yourself with positive people. The question is though; do people want to be around you? How positive are you? An attitude of gratitude takes us a long way with other people and it breaks those uncomfortable barriers that separate us. Gratitude brings warmth to the person who gives it and the one who receives it too.

Another technique that works for me is to reflect with the praise technique. This is how it works – write down what happened when you praised somebody for what they had done. Then record why you praised the person, group or team. Then record what you saw when you gave the praise. Repeat the praise, using the exact words before you reflect on the experience. I find it is impossible to praise or compliment somebody’s behaviour without feeling grateful for what they have done.

Gratitude turns what we have into enough. Zig Ziglar said that gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.

So, to answer the question what am I grateful for today. I am grateful for the Valueneurs platform that allows me to connect with people who I can help in thirty minutes. The other day I reached out to a Valueneurs Mentor Coach to help me with courage. By the end of the call, I felt so encouraged and I am still grateful for it.

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