Gratitude

Practicing gratitude daily has a transformative effect that can feel almost magical, as many people say. When I needed a spiritual reboot, incorporating a gratitude practice into my daily routine was the first thing I did.

I began a sales internship last year, where the company owner gave me a gratitude journal early on in my role. It proved to be an extremely valuable tool. By utilizing this journal, I cultivated practices that allowed for personal growth, spiritual breakthroughs, and better self-control throughout the day.

Here is my personal strategy for a productive gratitude, prayer, and meditation session that can be completed in 5 to 10 minutes each day or even broken up into pieces if you want to focus on one area! It’s important to tailor this approach to your personal needs. Although I don’t always follow a strict routine, having a basic framework helps me maintain a positive outlook throughout the week.

KEMI’S GRATITUDE PRACTICE FOR EFFECTIVE RESULTS

1. If you plan to do this, eliminate all distractions or at least keep them under control. Turn your phone off or put it on silent mode, and explore doing it in a serene location like a park or somewhere comfy and low-traffic at home. If you have kids, encourage them to take some extended quiet time away from electronics, too.

2. As part of my daily routine, I practice gratitude by incorporating a brief meditation at some point during the day. I find it particularly helpful to start by filling my mind with something positive such as scripture, a devotional, or a healthy self-development book that will add value to the start of my session. Then, as I process what I've just read or digested, I like to close my eyes and repeat a chosen mantra, such as "Thank you, God" or "Thank you, Holy Spirit," for at least 30 repetitions.

3. After completing my meditation, I open my journal and start writing down things I am grateful for at that present moment. I use positive "I AM" statements to anchor my heart in a solid state of belief and re-affirm my identity. When I say, "I am grateful for my ability to read" or "I am grateful for my family," I pause, acknowledge my gratitude, and allow the sensation to fill me.

4. Once fully immersed in this state of positivity, I take 1-3 deep breaths. After meditating on the present moment, I shift my attention to the future and begin writing down five things I am grateful for that haven’t happened yet, but as if it already happened. For example, "I am grateful now that I have been focusing on improving my health for years, and my body is in pique physical condition.”

It may sound cheesy, but it works. You'll see powerful results by appreciating everything you have, whether big or small. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with your inner thoughts and open yourself up to even more opportunities to heal and grow. So why not give it a shot? It’s especially helpful if you’re going through a tough season in life. You’ll feel great afterward.

HIGHER CALIBER

As I practice gratitude daily, I've realized how it can shift our vibration and align our intentions with God's overall plan. The law of attraction is activated when we use gratitude to rewire our neural pathways in a positive direction. Read What to Say When You Talk To Yourself by Shad Helmstetter for more on this.

Through my gratitude practice, I've also learned how to surrender and trust that my dreams and goals will come true when they're supposed to. To be honest, there are times when I have a strong desire for something, but when I take a moment to be still and focus on my spiritual guides, (which may be different for you, I’m sharing my experience) I often find that God has a bigger and better plan for me than I had originally aimed for. No matter how difficult the road ahead may seem, I thank God daily for giving me vision, a purpose for why I now choose to wake up in the morning, and the courage to make radical changes in my life.

Make daily gratitude practice a part of your daily walk and see the changes for yourself. It has brought me joy, clarity, and transformation; I know it will do the same for you.

5.8.23