Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Several posts have mentioned gratitude lists. Here's my experience: Having had several people who know me well suggest to me that I begin a Gratitude list, I started one a little over a year ago, and made the commitment to myself that I would write something (small or large) on it every day. I was skeptical that it would make any difference in my life, but for once, I chose to have faith in some folks I have chosen to hold close. Of course I have missed some days, but when I miss, I make it up the next time I write, so that I do have something written for every date since the day I started. So I've honored the commitment to myself. I have no idea how this has worked but somehow I now find myself more open, more willing, more content, and in far better humor than ever before in my life. I KNOW that at least some of it has to do with the brief--sometimes 30 second or less--contemplation of finding something to be grateful for every day. ________________________________ To: insideoutweightloss Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:01 PM Subject: Re: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation Thanks everyone! I like the alphabetical gratitude. I have a problem with the whole gratitude thing. I get stuck on all the things that are wrong. I like the idea of just thinking about little things that are right. Even if it's just little things like air and gravity.... although I'm not so sure about the gravity thing, either. Thank you all for the great ideas. I really appreciate the kindness. Patti On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 12:24 PM, Ford, S wrote: > ** > > > LOL! > > > Ford CPhT > 340B Coordinator > Mercy Sisters of Mercy Health Systems > > Pharmacy Services > Springfield, MO. 65804 > Ph# > linda.ford@... > > " Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle. Sometimes God allows us to BE > the miracle. " > St. 's.... One of the Nation's Top Integrated Health Systems > > From: insideoutweightloss [mailto: > insideoutweightloss ] On Behalf Of Corinna L Mulligan > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 2:23 PM > To: insideoutweightloss > Subject: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation > > > I'm not so grateful for gravity since " the girls " started heading south.. > Just sayin'.. > > *sigh* > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 , the first time I heard of a gratitude list was from my OA sponsor. I was feeling really sorry for myself, and when she suggested I make a mental list of the things I was grateful for I wanted to rip her nipples off. I insisted I hadn't a single thing to be grateful for, thank you very much, and with a ponderous sigh, she suggested, " I am thankful I can breathe; I am thankful for the sun ... " You can see where this was going. ;-) I was COMPLETELY against it, but did it anyway (mostly because she was on the other end of the phone waiting for me to come up with something), so no one was more surprised than I when I actually felt better! I finally accepted that sometimes if I act " as if, " a good feeling follows a good thought/action. Usually it's the other way around for me (thoughts + action = feelings) but I can work myself out of a real snit by forcing a smile and being thankful for at least one thing, even if it's " Thank god I didn't walk into that meeting with my skirt tucked into my undercrackers. " Yes. Yes I have done that. Chloe ________________________________ To: " insideoutweightloss " <insideoutweightloss > Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 7:34 AM Subject: Gratitude Several posts have mentioned gratitude lists. Here's my experience: Having had several people who know me well suggest to me that I begin a Gratitude list, I started one a little over a year ago, and made the commitment to myself that I would write something (small or large) on it every day. I was skeptical that it would make any difference in my life, but for once, I chose to have faith in some folks I have chosen to hold close. Of course I have missed some days, but when I miss, I make it up the next time I write, so that I do have something written for every date since the day I started. So I've honored the commitment to myself. I have no idea how this has worked but somehow I now find myself more open, more willing, more content, and in far better humor than ever before in my life. I KNOW that at least some of it has to do with the brief--sometimes 30 second or less--contemplation of finding something to be grateful for every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 I played the " gratitude game " on Facebook in November, listing something I was grateful, everyday. Some days were easy, and some were very difficult. One thing I noticed as a result was that I spent the day thinking about what my " thankful for " should be the next day. I was focused on looking for positive things in my life! Talk about a whole new mindset for me! On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 4:34 AM, Gower wrote: > ** > > > Several posts have mentioned gratitude lists. Here's my experience: > > Having had several people who know me well suggest to me that I begin a > Gratitude list, I started one a little over a year ago, and made the > commitment to myself that I would write something (small or large) on it > every day. I was skeptical that it would make any difference in my life, > but for once, I chose to have faith in some folks I have chosen to hold > close. Of course I have missed some days, but when I miss, I make it up the > next time I write, so that I do have something written for every date since > the day I started. So I've honored the commitment to myself. > > I have no idea how this has worked but somehow I now find myself more > open, more willing, more content, and in far better humor than ever before > in my life. I KNOW that at least some of it has to do with the > brief--sometimes 30 second or less--contemplation of finding something to > be grateful for every day. > > > > ________________________________ > > To: insideoutweightloss > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:01 PM > Subject: Re: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation > > Thanks everyone! I like the alphabetical gratitude. I have a problem with > the whole gratitude thing. I get stuck on all the things that are wrong. > I like the idea of just thinking about little things that are right. Even > if it's just little things like air and gravity.... although I'm not so > sure about the gravity thing, either. > > Thank you all for the great ideas. I really appreciate the kindness. > > Patti > > On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 12:24 PM, Ford, S <linda.ford@... > >wrote: > > > ** > > > > > > LOL! > > > > > > Ford CPhT > > 340B Coordinator > > Mercy Sisters of Mercy Health Systems > > > > Pharmacy Services > > Springfield, MO. 65804 > > Ph# > > linda.ford@... > > > > " Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle. Sometimes God allows us to > BE > > the miracle. " > > St. 's.... One of the Nation's Top Integrated Health Systems > > > > From: insideoutweightloss [mailto: > > insideoutweightloss ] On Behalf Of Corinna L Mulligan > > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 2:23 PM > > To: insideoutweightloss > > Subject: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation > > > > > > I'm not so grateful for gravity since " the girls " started heading south.. > > Just sayin'.. > > > > *sigh* > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 One of the things I have done several times at the advice of a respected friend was to do the 30 day love and abundance experience. In a nutshell, I was to get a journal. I was to start the day by writing over and over something similar to this... " I am open to the love and guidance my Higher Power has for me this day and I give thanks for it. " I didn't understand why I had to write it over and over but did it anyway. What I found was that the affirmation popped in my mind all day long...maybe because I wrote it so many times. On the second page for the day, I was to write down all the things that happened that day that would be representative of love and abundance. Found money, a card in the mail, a loving phone call, miracles, a hug, a golden sunset or sunrise, etc. Doing that changed the way I looked at things and brought me really close to God. It definitely gave me an attitude of gratitude. I was amazed at how many things went in that 30 day journal each day. It made me a firm believer of gratitude journals. Even today some 15 years or so later, something will happen and I'll think... " That would have gone on my love and abundance list. " Ford " Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle. Sometimes God allows us to BE the miracle. " From: insideoutweightloss [mailto:insideoutweightloss ] On Behalf Of Gower Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:35 AM To: insideoutweightloss Subject: Gratitude Several posts have mentioned gratitude lists. Here's my experience: Having had several people who know me well suggest to me that I begin a Gratitude list, I started one a little over a year ago, and made the commitment to myself that I would write something (small or large) on it every day. I was skeptical that it would make any difference in my life, but for once, I chose to have faith in some folks I have chosen to hold close. Of course I have missed some days, but when I miss, I make it up the next time I write, so that I do have something written for every date since the day I started. So I've honored the commitment to myself. I have no idea how this has worked but somehow I now find myself more open, more willing, more content, and in far better humor than ever before in my life. I KNOW that at least some of it has to do with the brief--sometimes 30 second or less--contemplation of finding something to be grateful for every day. ________________________________ From: Patti L <pattilbear@...<mailto:pattilbear%40gmail.com>> To: insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:01 PM Subject: Re: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation Thanks everyone! I like the alphabetical gratitude. I have a problem with the whole gratitude thing. I get stuck on all the things that are wrong. I like the idea of just thinking about little things that are right. Even if it's just little things like air and gravity.... although I'm not so sure about the gravity thing, either. Thank you all for the great ideas. I really appreciate the kindness. Patti On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 12:24 PM, Ford, S <linda.ford@...<mailto:linda.ford%40mercy.net>>wrote: > ** > > > LOL! > > > Ford CPhT > 340B Coordinator > Mercy Sisters of Mercy Health Systems > > Pharmacy Services > Springfield, MO. 65804 > Ph# > linda.ford@...<mailto:linda.ford%40mercy.net><mailto:linda.ford@...<\ mailto:linda.ford%40mercy.net>> > > " Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle. Sometimes God allows us to BE > the miracle. " > St. 's.... One of the Nation's Top Integrated Health Systems > > From: insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ > [mailto: > insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ >] On Behalf Of Corinna L Mulligan > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 2:23 PM > To: insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ > > Subject: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation > > > I'm not so grateful for gravity since " the girls " started heading south.. > Just sayin'.. > > *sigh* > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 LOL on the skirt/undercrackers thing.  I have done that, too! For me, the Gratitude list is ongoing, almost like brushing teeth now--though I don't write every day, and I do brush my teeth every day--but I write something FOR every day.  As it has become a habit, I believe it has shaped my thinking in the same way that exercise shapes a muscle. And, today, I am grateful for that! ________________________________ To: " insideoutweightloss " <insideoutweightloss > Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 12:46 PM Subject: Re: Gratitude  , the first time I heard of a gratitude list was from my OA sponsor. I was feeling really sorry for myself, and when she suggested I make a mental list of the things I was grateful for I wanted to rip her nipples off. I insisted I hadn't a single thing to be grateful for, thank you very much, and with a ponderous sigh, she suggested, " I am thankful I can breathe; I am thankful for the sun ... "  You can see where this was going. ;-) I was COMPLETELY against it, but did it anyway (mostly because she was on the other end of the phone waiting for me to come up with something), so no one was more surprised than I when I actually felt better! I finally accepted that sometimes if I act " as if, " a good feeling follows a good thought/action. Usually it's the other way around for me (thoughts + action = feelings) but I can work myself out of a real snit by forcing a smile and being thankful for at least one thing, even if it's " Thank god I didn't walk into that meeting with my skirt tucked into my undercrackers. " Yes. Yes I have done that. Chloe ________________________________ To: " insideoutweightloss " <insideoutweightloss > Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 7:34 AM Subject: Gratitude  Several posts have mentioned gratitude lists.  Here's my experience: Having had several people who know me well suggest to me that I begin a Gratitude list, I started one a little over a year ago, and made the commitment to myself that I would write something (small or large) on it every day. I was skeptical that it would make any difference in my life, but for once, I chose to have faith in some folks I have chosen to hold close. Of course I have missed some days, but when I miss, I make it up the next time I write, so that I do have something written for every date since the day I started.  So I've honored the commitment to myself. I have no idea how this has worked but somehow I now find myself more open, more willing, more content, and in far better humor than ever before in my life.  I KNOW that at least some of it has to do with the brief--sometimes 30 second or less--contemplation of finding something to be grateful for every day.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Yes, maybe this is the magic. ________________________________ To: insideoutweightloss Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 12:46 PM Subject: Re: Gratitude  I played the " gratitude game " on Facebook in November, listing something I was grateful, everyday. Some days were easy, and some were very difficult. One thing I noticed as a result was that I spent the day thinking about what my " thankful for " should be the next day. I was focused on looking for positive things in my life! Talk about a whole new mindset for me! On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 4:34 AM, Gower wrote: > ** > > > Several posts have mentioned gratitude lists. Here's my experience: > > Having had several people who know me well suggest to me that I begin a > Gratitude list, I started one a little over a year ago, and made the > commitment to myself that I would write something (small or large) on it > every day. I was skeptical that it would make any difference in my life, > but for once, I chose to have faith in some folks I have chosen to hold > close. Of course I have missed some days, but when I miss, I make it up the > next time I write, so that I do have something written for every date since > the day I started. So I've honored the commitment to myself. > > I have no idea how this has worked but somehow I now find myself more > open, more willing, more content, and in far better humor than ever before > in my life. I KNOW that at least some of it has to do with the > brief--sometimes 30 second or less--contemplation of finding something to > be grateful for every day. > > > > ________________________________ > > To: insideoutweightloss > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:01 PM > Subject: Re: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation > > Thanks everyone! I like the alphabetical gratitude. I have a problem with > the whole gratitude thing. I get stuck on all the things that are wrong. > I like the idea of just thinking about little things that are right. Even > if it's just little things like air and gravity.... although I'm not so > sure about the gravity thing, either. > > Thank you all for the great ideas. I really appreciate the kindness. > > Patti > > On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 12:24 PM, Ford, S <linda.ford@... > >wrote: > > > ** > > > > > > LOL! > > > > > > Ford CPhT > > 340B Coordinator > > Mercy Sisters of Mercy Health Systems > > > > Pharmacy Services > > Springfield, MO. 65804 > > Ph# > > linda.ford@... > > > > " Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle. Sometimes God allows us to > BE > > the miracle. " > > St. 's.... One of the Nation's Top Integrated Health Systems > > > > From: insideoutweightloss [mailto: > > insideoutweightloss ] On Behalf Of Corinna L Mulligan > > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 2:23 PM > > To: insideoutweightloss > > Subject: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation > > > > > > I'm not so grateful for gravity since " the girls " started heading south.. > > Just sayin'.. > > > > *sigh* > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 Thanks for sharing this, .  It made me think of another outcome of doing my Gratitude list--it really is a journal, since it is ongoing--and that is that sometimes now when I am presented with a difficult situation, and I don't know how to handle it any other way, I can take a deep breath and say, " Thank you " and even if I don't " get " the lesson at that moment, I usually do eventually. ________________________________ To: " insideoutweightloss " <insideoutweightloss > Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 1:12 PM Subject: RE: Gratitude  One of the things I have done several times at the advice of a respected friend was to do the 30 day love and abundance experience. In a nutshell, I was to get a journal. I was to start the day by writing over and over something similar to this... " I am open to the love and guidance my Higher Power has for me this day and I give thanks for it. " I didn't understand why I had to write it over and over but did it anyway. What I found was that the affirmation popped in my mind all day long...maybe because I wrote it so many times. On the second page for the day, I was to write down all the things that happened that day that would be representative of love and abundance. Found money, a card in the mail, a loving phone call, miracles, a hug, a golden sunset or sunrise, etc. Doing that changed the way I looked at things and brought me really close to God. It definitely gave me an attitude of gratitude. I was amazed at how many things went in that 30 day journal each day. It made me a firm believer of gratitude journals. Even today some 15 years or so later, something will happen and I'll think... " That would have gone on my love and abundance list. " Ford " Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle. Sometimes God allows us to BE the miracle. " From: insideoutweightloss [mailto:insideoutweightloss ] On Behalf Of Gower Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:35 AM To: insideoutweightloss Subject: Gratitude Several posts have mentioned gratitude lists. Here's my experience: Having had several people who know me well suggest to me that I begin a Gratitude list, I started one a little over a year ago, and made the commitment to myself that I would write something (small or large) on it every day. I was skeptical that it would make any difference in my life, but for once, I chose to have faith in some folks I have chosen to hold close. Of course I have missed some days, but when I miss, I make it up the next time I write, so that I do have something written for every date since the day I started. So I've honored the commitment to myself. I have no idea how this has worked but somehow I now find myself more open, more willing, more content, and in far better humor than ever before in my life. I KNOW that at least some of it has to do with the brief--sometimes 30 second or less--contemplation of finding something to be grateful for every day. ________________________________ From: Patti L <pattilbear@...<mailto:pattilbear%40gmail.com>> To: insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:01 PM Subject: Re: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation Thanks everyone! I like the alphabetical gratitude. I have a problem with the whole gratitude thing. I get stuck on all the things that are wrong. I like the idea of just thinking about little things that are right. Even if it's just little things like air and gravity.... although I'm not so sure about the gravity thing, either. Thank you all for the great ideas. I really appreciate the kindness. Patti On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 12:24 PM, Ford, S <linda.ford@...<mailto:linda.ford%40mercy.net>>wrote: > ** > > > LOL! > > > Ford CPhT > 340B Coordinator > Mercy Sisters of Mercy Health Systems > > Pharmacy Services > Springfield, MO. 65804 > Ph# > linda.ford@...<mailto:linda.ford%40mercy.net><mailto:linda.ford@...<\ mailto:linda.ford%40mercy.net>> > > " Sometimes God allows us to see the miracle. Sometimes God allows us to BE > the miracle. " > St. 's.... One of the Nation's Top Integrated Health Systems > > From: insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ > [mailto: > insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ >] On Behalf Of Corinna L Mulligan > Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 2:23 PM > To: insideoutweightloss <mailto:insideoutweightloss%40yahoogroups.com\ > > Subject: Re: A New " Away From " Motivation > > > I'm not so grateful for gravity since " the girls " started heading south.. > Just sayin'.. > > *sigh* > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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