Increasing Gratitude and Awareness of Abundance in Your Life: The Benefits and How-To

“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune in to.” Wayne Dyer

This guest article is submitted by Michele.

One of the greatest gifts I have given to myself is the conscious awareness of the beauty and abundance in my life. All this awareness led to an increased level of gratitude. I think this is a natural progression. I think gratitude and awareness of abundance are inextricably linked.

By definition, abundance means plentiful. But it also means fullness: a fullness of spirit that overflows. Gratitude is this fullness. And that which overflows is easy to give away.

Gratitude is high frequency vibration. The more we feel, think and express gratitude:
-The more we will attract things to be grateful for into our lives.
-The more we will become aware of how truly abundant our lives are.
-The higher our vibrational frequency will become, making our chakras, energy bodies and thus, our physical bodies healthier.

The more conscious I become, the lengthier my prayers of gratitude get and the more often I give thanks. Aside from working, most of my thoughts are of gratitude and of sending blessings to the sources of what I am grateful for.

My clear mind has allowed for space for me to hear the guidance of my Higher Self and my Spirit Guides. I receive most of my inspiration and good ideas from them.

“Whatever we are waiting for – peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach

I am continually striving for constant awareness but life-issues can interfere and block it. I have learned not to dwell for long in any place that is far from that peace of mind, because I desire and deserve peace. Peace is my Divine birthright and I claim it! It’s my choice! And you have that choice too! Inner peace is the greatest goal we can achieve.

I spent a good portion of my life being depressed because I was focused on things that were missing and wrong. I know I am not alone in this preoccupation. Is this part of the human condition? Is this something that we are all plagued with so that we may learn to overcome it? I think so.

I have been betrayed and let down by many people throughout my life. I have since come to understand that every one of those hurts was an opportunity to practice forgiveness and understanding.

You may recognize repeating themes of hurt, frustration or fear in your life. Try thinking of them as opportunities to practice what ever virtue or skill they seem to be requiring of you. Whatever they are requiring of you is meant to lead you to peace of mind.

The hardest part of bringing new concepts into ones awareness is remembering, especially during times of stress. But it is during stressful moments that the benefits of conscious awareness of the beauty and abundance in life are most profound.

How to Increase Gratitude and Awareness of Abundance

We’ve all seen movies where someone was programmed to do something by subconsciously planting a trigger word, phrase or image in their subconscious mind.

Like it or not, we’ve all been programmed with any number of beliefs, either positive or negative. We have also had experiences that left us scarred and wounded which trigger emotional and often physical responses. (My stomach still gets queasy when I smell tequila!)

Triggers occur from neural pathways that have been well used over time and generate stock emotional, mental and/or physical responses. Through repetition, you can create new neural pathways, new habits, in an average of 21 days.

Here is an opportunity for you to choose what triggers you.

Create triggers for awareness of abundance and gratitude. The following list of triggers outlines some that worked for me.

Feel free to create your own. Choose:
– Ones that are common in your life
– Activities you do regularly or frequently
– Ones that resonate with you
– Ones that are easily related to the goal.
The goal is to help you connect to all the things there are to be grateful for and to increase your vibrational frequency.

Simply by reading this list, some of them will work their way into your consciousness without you doing anything. The more times you read it, the more that will work their way into your consciousness.

Choose one to start with, and once that one is integrated into your consciousness, choose another, then another. Keep going. Eventually, they will replace most of your other spontaneous thoughts. Gratitude will become the primary focus of your thoughts.

I could list hundreds of triggers and things to be grateful for, so the following represent the ten most beneficial ones.

There is one other suggestion I would like to share. Substitute the word ‘grateful’ for ‘glad’ in your vocabulary. For instance, “I am so grateful to see you” carries a much higher vibration than “I am so glad to see you.”

Being born into the age of ever growing convenience and technology, many of us have become numb to how marvelous it all is. We tend to take it all for granted and give little or no thought to how it comes to us. I am really grateful I don’t have to walk miles to go shopping, go out and harvest my own food, make my own clothes, and so on. Think about life in the 1800’s or a third world country if you want to inspire your gratitude.

In order to become aware of all the beauty in your life, you must become present in the moment. You must, as they say, take time to stop and smell the roses. Beauty is all around us and it is often our perception and our constant mental chatter that prevent us from perceiving it.

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.” – Khalil Gibran

This quote exemplifies how I have come to use my mind. I highly recommend it!

So, be grateful for the abundance of joy and beauty in your life and send blessings for and to all the sources regularly.

About the Author

Michele is a Spiritual-Interfaith Minister and Life Counselor who works with individuals, children and families, and wants to help you Return Love to your life, your relationships, and the world.

Editor’s Note: Share Your Thoughts

I take the opportunity to wish you Happy Thanksgiving! Share one thing you are grateful for today in the comments below.

Photo credit: Julia Jordan Scott

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