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The Power of Gratitude

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My “Gratitudes” – this story is really important right now if you’re faltering either in your attempt to find out what your “Successes” are for 2012 or if you think you’ve made the correct list but are floundering around and not feeling very successful. Infusing your life and your goals with some gratitude may help get you back on track – IF you’ve followed the steps to creating your Success List.

I may have shared this before but it’s never too late to reiterate it since it was such a powerful moment in my life.

I have always been a big proponent of the power of gratitude but I don’t think I ever really applied it with a strong “need” before the spring/summer of 2004.

You see, I had just been “blessed” by getting a job offer in San Antonio – I was living in Virginia then.

Let me digress a bit and explain that part of the story. I was in the Navy and had been for almost 30 years. In 1985 I had been stationed in San Antonio and absolutely loved it. In fact, that was where I became exposed to New Thought. As I was transferred to the East Coast I declared “I’ll be back here” – my friends laughed at me because there weren’t any other Navy opportunities for me in San Antonio.

But, over the years I held on to that idea in the back of my head. In 2003-2004 I began to talk to my friends in Virginia about a non-profit organization that I want to start. They would ask where it was going to be – out of nowhere I replied “Texas” – I have no idea why I said that – usually those types of responses are the ones you must pay attention to.

Anyway, in the spring of 2004 I was at a conference and my boss forwarded me a notice of a job opening in Washington DC (where I was already working) doing the SAME job I was already doing and had been for 11 years. Of course, my interest was peaked. For once, fortunately, I scrolled down and you won’t believe what popped up right up in front of my eyes. There was the same job offer in SAN ANTONIO, Tx – right where I was stationed 20 years prior. Imagine my joy at this.

However, I never imagined I would get the job so I did a very sloppy job of filling out the application, hit send and forgot about it. Several weeks later I received a phone call and the conversation went something like this “Everyone here loves you, Terrie and the job is yours” – how’s that for an interview? The Universe was really working for me. Of course, I said ‘yes’!

So, I flew to San Antonio to try to find a house. I had two dogs and had certain things I wanted to have in my property – I’ll tell you about my “outside access” manifestation in another post. I had four days to find a house. I wasn’t being successful. My realtor was wonderful and she drove me around looking at this place and that place and on and on. Nothing was right. I can’t even remember the reasons they weren’t right but I was getting desperate because I had to return to Virginia and had to start getting ready for my retirement from the Navy and a move to San Antonio, Tx! But, things didn’t seem to be working.

Then I began to question whether or not I should do this, whether or not it was right for me, was I acting too impulsively, etc. I even went so far as to talk to my boss and tell him I wanted to withdraw my request for retirement. Fortunately he told me he didn’t think that was going to to be possible – however, that just increased my anxiety.

So, the next to last night I was to be there, I laid down on my friend’s couch and all these horrible things were going around in my mind. What to do?

Suddenly it came to me. I started to say my “gratitudes” – I remembered that gratitude was the most powerful “action” anyone could take. I told myself that I had nothing to lose so I started in my anxious state to just be grateful for simple things – things that were easy to come up with – my mother, my father, my life in the navy, my health etc. I said “I am grateful for…..” over and over until I fell asleep very calm and serene.

The next morning I woke up still calm and relaxed, I knew things were going to work out – and they did. I found the house of my desires that day. As soon as I walked in that door I knew that this house was meant for me. But more about that in another post.

The primary point here (other than the power of manifestations) is that being grateful and showing that gratitude to the universe brought me everything I needed and wanted at least 10 times over. It took away all the external anxiety and as a result, all the internal anxiety. It allowed a direct route to me from the Universe. It was like a laundry chute. The Universe poured all that good into the chute and once I had said my “gratitudes” I opened the door and put the laundry bin under that chute and all those wonderful, good things fell into my life.

So, next time you’re feeling anxious, try saying or writing your “gratitudes”. You can use the Gratitude Journal that I had made for this purpose. It really works and it means lot to be able to look back and see what it glorious things have happened to you..but the fun part is to also record the small things, the things that happen everyday – “I found a parking space up close to Target” for instance. “I didn’t hit one red light on the way to work this morning” – anything you’re grateful for – put it down.

Enjoy the power of gratitude!

Terrie

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More on Why You Don’t Want To Make New Year’s Resolutions

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Although the numbers vary, a very large percentage of people never keep their resolutions to the end of January! How is that for setting yourself up for failure? I don’t like the phrase “keep your resolutions”. That sounds like a “do or die” type mentality instead of the way life works. We are all human and a resolution should not include things like “I will NEVER…..” or “I will ALWAYS…..”. If you’ve been a part of our site for very long, you know that we do not like these types of generalities anyway. It’s like “shoulds” – they don’t belong in our language because they are not realistic.

Here’s an excerpt from the FranklinCovey article (which was about 2009 and 2010 Resolutions but in all probability has not changed since the psychology is the same no matter what the year).

“The New Year’s Resolutions Survey found that respondents’ top three New Year’s resolutions for 2010 were similar to those in 2009: (1) improve financial situation, (2) lose weight, and (3) develop a healthy habit like exercise or healthy eating. The top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2010 were ranked as follows, as compared with last year:

TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
FOR 2010		 TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
FOR 2009
1. Improve financial situation 1. Get out of debt or save money
2. Lose weight 2. Lose weight
3. Develop a healthy habit (e.g. healthy eating, exercise 3. Develop a healthy habit (e.g. healthy eating, exercise)
4. Change employment 4. Get organized
5. Develop a regular savings plan 5. Spend more time with family and friends
6. Break an unhealthy habit (e.g. smoking, alcohol, overeating) 6. Develop a new skill or talent
7. Spend more time with family and friends 7. Work less, play more
8. Other 8. Other
9. Get organized 9. Break an unhealthy habit (e.g. smoking, alcohol, overeating)
10. Develop a new skill or talent 10. Change employment

Despite these well-intended New Year’s resolutions, the FranklinCovey Products survey found that a “lack of commitment” was cited by 30 percent of respondents as the primary reason their resolution won’t be reached. “Having too many other things to do” was cited by 22 percent of respondents followed by “forgetfulness” at 18 percent.”

Their 2008-2009 Survey found that 35 percent of respondents break their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January and only 23 percent of those surveyed don’t ever break them. Nearly 40 percent of those surveyed attribute breaking their resolutions to having too many other things to do, while 33 percent say they are not committed to the resolutions they set.

I don’t want you to be in this high percentage of people who do not achieve their goals. Remember that achieving your goals (or successes/achievements/accomplishments or whatever great word you choose for them) has NOTHING to do with the time of year. So, if you find that you’re not committed to an item or that you “don’t have enough time”,  go back to step one and perform an inventory and then look to see if the successes you’ve picked are really YOURS. If not, start over. If they are YOURS, then work on identifying what’s holding you back (and what’s been holding your back). Doing this preparatory work will really help you stick to what you want to accomplish.

Don’t be a number! Be the success I know you can be.

If you want some additional help, consider picking up your copy of “Goal Setting For You“. But if you follow the steps I outlined for you last week, you should be fine!

Terrie

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Don’t Tell Anyone About Your Goals…

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How are things going with your 2012 Achievement List?

I’ll be having a few pointers for you as the weeks go by so drop back here to check on the latest tip.

It’s important that you keep your goals to yourself.

Although this may be contrary to what you hear from everyone about needing a support system to help you, think about that statement. That may be good for your New Year’s Resolutions (you know I don’t like that phrase) like going to the gym or quitting drinking or maybe for losing weight but all you have to do is look at your past and see how well that has worked for you. How often in your life have you kept your resolutions. I look at a “resolution” as something you want to change in your life (I actually look at it as something you feel you ‘have’ to change). But is it always a goal? No. Sometimes it might be but not always.

Why do I want you to keep your goals to yourself? Because the last thing you need is to have someone derail you, whether consciously or subconsciously. People will do that but if they don’t think your goals are “right”, they aren’t going to be supportive. Why might they not think your goals are “right” and may actually sabotage your efforts?

  • They are envious of you having a goal
  • They don’t think you can achieve it and are “trying to save you” from the “eventual failure”
  • They are afraid that if you achieve your goal, you’ll outgrow them and have no need for them
  • They are afraid that the effort you’ll have to put into achieving your goals will take time and attention away from them
  • They don’t want you to succeed for any number of other reasons
  • etc….

So, keep your goals to yourself or to someone you totally trust and evaluate that person’s personality, history and attitude even more before you confide in them.

Keep on Achieving!

Terrie

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Tip of The Month – January

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January can be a let down month as well as an even more hyped up month. As I went to the gym yesterday to continue my working out with my wonderful personal trainer, I noticed a marked increase in population at the gym as well as a sort of fevered atmosphere. It’s as if people want to achieve their 2012 fitness goals in a one hour workout.

This month’s tip is to slow down and to persevere. You will get there if you’ve followed the guidelines I gave you last month for creating your 2012 Achievement List. Step back now and reassess your life and your plans now that the fervor of New Year and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is over.

Constant reassessment of where you are, what you’re doing and where you want to go is what’s required to successfully reach your Achievements! Don’t just make a list and then expect it all to happen. Go back and review the process for coming up with your plans and identifying your limiting beliefs and then reassess your denials and affirmations.

Terrie

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Affirmation For Your Goals

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Try this on for size. Use this affirmation (modify it to suit your needs and your style) when you’re working on your goals and the associated denials and affirmations:

“I plant the seeds of my 2012 goals with love, happiness, enthusiasm, confidence and joy! I nourish their growth with positive thoughts of abundance, success and prosperity. I water these seeds daily with well chosen words and phrases. My goals flourish and their roots spread rapidly because I’ve appropriately cleared the land and removed all weeds by using my denials.”

Terrie