Remember, the old fashioned saying of ‘Count your blessings’? Well, it is not such bad advice.  Counting your blessings, makes you grateful for what you have, rather than resentful for what is missing in your life.  When you are grateful for life, you tend to get more.  You also get a reality check, and appreciate what you have, rather than behaving in a way that might mean you lose what you lucky to have.  It balances the mind, makes you more present, and therefore more able to achieve your goals and to do’s.  It can even calm you after a stressful encounter, and relax you when you are wound up.

Ok, so here are some hints and tips for counting your blessings.  It sounds simple enough doesn’t it, just lie down and before you fall asleep, start to count your blessings.

BUT, you’ve had an awful day, you are still stinging with resentment about what your boss or partner did, and it is difficult enough to concentrate on counting sheep, let alone blessings!  Ok, don’t panic, yes, our objective is to re-center you, but you do not have to know how you are going to be able to find the blessings in the day at the start.

Step 1 Prepare

Have a small glass of water, take a deep breath, and have a stretch.  Then lie down if you are about to go to bed ;o)

Step 2 What can you be grateful for that you currently have today?

Maybe, your big toe?  If you didn’t have your big toe, you would not be able to balance easily.  You would fall over, and be unable to catch your child when they ran away, or that train when you were in a hurry.  Your child might have been being irritating at the point in time that they ran away, but at least you could catch them and keep them safe.

Not got a big toe?  How about your eyes, ears, nose, skin, teeth?

What would life be like without these things that we often take for granted?

Have you watched some of those programs on the TV or read books about people, whose lives are challenged by not having these amazing feats of mechanical genius that make up our bodies.

Step 3 What can you be grateful for that you own?

Do you have a house, car or clothes?  Several Personal development ‘gurus’ with huge global success, have at times spent their lives begging on the streets; it makes you think want can be achieved in the face of adversity.  If you are grateful for what you have, the universe is more likely to give you more.  Think about a parent with the choice of giving something to the whiney child who is never satisfied and the grateful child who appreciates everything.  Who will they choose?

Step 4 Who can you be grateful for that you know?

Do you have a good friend, family, someone who was kind to you this week?  Whilst someone was upsetting you today, who do you think was doing something supportive?  Did they phone, text or email you.  Or did they write a review that you wont get until tomorrow?

Step 5 What else can you be grateful for today?

What about the weather, food, a good cup of coffee, a kiss from your child?

Tackling stressful issues or people

Now, are you beginning to feel a bit more centered?  The key is to start feeling gratitude for something, before you tackle what bothered you today.

If you aren’t already asleep, lets have a look at what or who upset you today. I will go into this in more detail in ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’, but for the time being, go with me, and have a look for what you might have got from the event.

1. What can you find to be grateful for in the event, situation, or person that upset you today? 
   

2. How will it help you with what you love to do? 
   

3. Why is it for the best?
   

For Example:

-My little boy not feeling well and wanting me to sit on the sofa with him, rather than get my jobs done.  Without it, I would have kept doing and forgotten to relax, and rejuvenate for a bit watching daft TV.

-My husband not doing something he promised to do.  Reminds me that there are times when I behave like a hopeless female who cant do practical things herself, which is completely daft and dis-empowers me.

-The stupid woman in a car park.  Helps me to learn to pick my battles and take a breath, something it is good to practice every now and again, incase of important emergencies.

-The person who accused me of something I didn’t do.  Encourages me to stand my ground, and speak my truth.

Go on, have a go, there is nothing to lose!

Hope you have a restful, revitalizing, gratitude filled nights sleep ;o)