Do you take time to count your blessings?  Is it only once a year on holidays?  Do you only feel grateful when something really nice happens?  Maybe you are a part of the minority of folks who keep a daily diary of things for which you are grateful and you reflect on these things on a regular basis.  Keeping a journal of your blessings can be a very beneficial habit to cultivate.  However, taking action can change your life when you make conscious choices as you go through your day. 

Thinking in a negative manner is a habit most of us have.  When pain comes into our life, it is easy to sink into a negative frame of mind.  These negative feelings can range from annoyed to angry to disappointed.  Realizing that you do not have to feel this way will be an effective start to changing how you think and taking on an attitude of gratitude.

Even when you do not make a choice in how you choose to view the world, that in itself is a choice.  You are choosing to let life happen to you rather than taking life by the horns.  Think of all the ups and downs you have gone through in your life where you felt you had no control.  The thing is, you have always had the control.  If you want to be conscious of your thinking and make gratitude an ingrained part of your life, you have to make that choice.  Here are a couple of ways to do that in a very powerful manner.

1.    There is a reason to be grateful in every situation.  Find the reason.  Admittedly, this can be a challenge in more intense times.  But, remember that we just decided that gratitude is something you CHOOSE?  There are always two sides to every situation and you have to choose whether you want to focus on the negative or positive side.  Just stop for just a few minutes and make the choice.  The more often you choose to be grateful, in whatever way you are able, the better your life will be.  Your focus will gradually shift so that you are able more often to feel gratitude rather than get pulled down by the negative. 

2)    Start a journal of positive statements that lift your spirits.  Start a list and keep it going of all the things in your life that you are grateful for every single day.  Add to that list everything you possibly can.  Start a mantra that you say to yourself every morning:  "I am grateful for ______ and I choose gratitude."  This takes practice but the payoff will transform your life when this becomes a part of your routine and importantly, part of who you are.  Your whole attitude and how you view your life will shift. 

Once you really get into this routine, the changes you will see in your life will be amazing.  When the change happens, you will also notice that the people around you are more positive.  Other positive things will occur in your life as well.  Just choose the gratitude option and watch the transformation!

Jack Canfield, Co-Creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series said:  “You can invest the next 30-40 years searching for answers or can buy this book now."  You will see why Jack made such a powerful statement by going  HERE.