“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you,
and to give thanks continuously. And, because all things have contributed to your advancement
you should include all things in your gratitude.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I like this Writing Meditation because as I write it mindfully, I am doing so with gratitude in my heart. Gratitude for everything that I can enjoy in my life. Gratitude for the moment that I am in. Gratitude for enjoying life in full consciousness.
In fact, as you live more mindfully, you find that you become more grateful for what you have, rather than ungrateful for what you don’t have. So for example, when I am eating a plate of food mindfully, as well as experiencing, the colour, the aroma, the flavours of the food – I am acknowledging the presence of this food – and how grateful I am for this food – when so many in the world don’t have food.
Some people write their Gratitude Journal once a day, some a few times a week and some weekly. I don’t have a set time. I don’t want to put myself under any pressure to achieve – I don’t want it to be something else that I have to do. Something on my endless lists of things to do. Instead, I want to pick up my Gratitude Journal whenever I feel like it – and write in it whenever the urge takes me.
Here is an extract from my Gratitude Journal:
Date: 18 May 2014
1) I am grateful for the sunshine on my back today.
2) I am grateful for the purring of my cat who curled up on my lap.
3) I am grateful for the beautiful cup of tea that I drank mindfully today.
4) I am grateful for my empty email inbox!
5) I am grateful for Jeremy making me laugh today.