Attract Abundance through practising gratitude:
Have you ever noticed when you are planning to buy a new car or looking for a particular make or colour, you suddenly see a lot more of them on the road than you had noticed before. Why does this phenomenon occur? Does that mean that after you started paying attention to something, it starts manifesting itself out of nowhere. Or could it mean that they were always around but now that you are aware of it, you are able to notice them? And this is true not just for cars alone, isn't it?
I believe that what you pay attention to in your life, grows. What you ignore dies. If we all understand this simple law, can't we just manifest the perfect life for ourselves by picking the things we pay attention to.
Last month, I hadn't thought of all this when I'd started to post one gratitude per day on facebook. This was triggered by a post on a friend's wall where she posted a gratitude since it was December, last month of the year and she felt like thanking some aspect of her life. That motivated me to post one gratitude per day for one month and sign off the year on a string of gratitudes.
It was easier thought, than done. The first few days was a breeze, but there were days when how much ever I dug into my memories of that day, I couldn't find a single thing to be grateful for. However, buried deep within, there was something I could find that I could be grateful for.
After 3 weeks, it seemed to get easier since I was constantly looking around at what I could be grateful for and things just started to go my way or you could say that I only noticed things that went my way.
I've given below the whole string of gratitudes that I'd posted on FB. There may be 2 or 3 days missing since they were the darkest or the busiest and I couldn't find time to do them.
Year 2012 - Gratitude
December is here..... End of the year......
I'd like to have a daily thread of gratitude... I'm going to pick one thing I'm most grateful for in this year and post one per day for the rest of the month. Hope you guys share one of yours too daily on this post.... Let's see all the things that we are grateful for in our lives and bid this year goodbye from the high ground of gratitude..
Gratitude #1:
I'm thankful for my family for having stood by me through thick and thin and still shower love, warmth and affection, come what may..... Thank you one and all for being in my life and for being who you are.
Gratitude #2:
I’m thankful for my dog Alfie, who greets me with so much enthusiasm every time I come back home that I instantly forget everything that happened in the day and am brought to the here and now instantly. He has no bad moods, holds no grouses, doesn’t expect anything more than a pat, hug or scratch and brings me back to what is, rather than what could be or was.
Thank you Alfie for coming into my life and being a big part of it
Gratitude #3:
I’m grateful for all my new friends and family in DLF Garden City who have come together to create a vibrant community – going beyond all the problems, irritants, poor quality, late delivery, increased costs and myriad other issues that DLF has created for us.
This community has come together like early settlers and have bonded and worked as one unit to create a happy, energetic and vibrant life in DLF Garden City.
Thank you DGC-ians for being so positive and helpful to each other
Gratitude #4:
I’m grateful for this new project that I’m working on right now. It has given new meaning to my life and everything that I’ve learnt, experienced or felt before has come of use today. It’s almost like God was preparing me for this all along, and the time has come to give birth to our world this fabulous thing called TGR Happyness Circle. Every member and every person who has come to the sessions have been wowed by it and have taken away real benefits.
I’m so looking forward to witness its growth and I am so grateful that I’m involved in this great initiative.
Gratitude #5:
I’m grateful for my temperament that allows me to live amongst all these stressors and challenges and still come through right side up. Life is a roller coaster and though we are bumping from one challenge to another, it still feels worth it and the muscles of the soul are getting bigger and tougher.
So I’m grateful for this inner thing called temperament or whatever that is, that allows me to smile though it all and keep looking ahead to every new day for new adventures and challenges and to enjoy this dance of life.
Gratitude #6:
I’m grateful for my country India. In spite of being labeled backward, third world, or whatever other demeaning sobriquet, it has a rich history as well as ancient wisdom. We are a democracy and whatever problems we have are all created by us only.
We are what we are and the western world can seldom understand us. Our traffic, our queue system, our head shaking, the smells, our sense of karma and our ability to be cheerful under extremely trying circumstances are all puzzling and annoying for most foreigners.
But it’s still India and our home and I’m grateful that we are still one nation and we will be no 1 very soon. At least in sheer numbers ?
Gratitude #7:
I’m grateful for the staff who work so tirelessly to do all those little things that make our life easy every day. Security, maintenance staff, maids, vendors and all those people who are toiling away to make sure that we have electricity, water, security, communications lines, lifts, milk, paper, groceries, vegetables and all those zillion things that I use daily without even acknowledging the effort that has gone into bringing it into my life. Where will I be without them? I’m connected to so many millions who have contributed to making my life here and now possible.
Thank you all those nameless beings who have contributed to keeping me alive and making my life easy.
Gratitude #8:
I’m grateful to the scenery outside my windows and balconies. Vast greenery, some buildings in the far horizon, flocks of migratory birds flying below us, the mist shrouding the scenery on some mornings, the peep of the sun as it shyly comes up from sleep, the spreading glow of daylight, the magical star lit nights with lights twinkling in the far background, rain filled fields and the ever changing kaleidoscopic changes during dawn and dusk.
It’s better than I imagined and makes the whole experience of buying a flat from DLF more bearable than it otherwise would have been.
Thank you dear scenery, may you always dazzle me with the magical changes through the days and months ahead.
Gratitude #9:
I’m grateful to my heart which is tirelessly working day and night to keep me going. Every second, every minute that it is pumping, it is toiling for me. It has been working well without me sparing it a passing thought let alone acknowledging its efforts.
Without any effort from my side, without any special care, this organ keeps going on and on.
Thank you my heart for keeping me alive and thank you for making me who I am.
Gratitude #10:
I’m grateful to all the conveniences in my life. My car, cellphone, laptops and the myriad electronic and electro-mechanical devices that clutter my life and make it easy for me to do 10x more work or live richer than it would have been possible without them. Life has become so easy for us and so abundant. I can watch and hear stuff happening thousands of miles away on my TV as it’s happening. Who would have imagined this 50 yrs back? We can travel 1000s of kms in a few hrs, what would have taken months just 100 yrs ago.
I take so much for granted so many things. Even the richest kings 200 yrs back, couldn’t in their wildest dreams, have wished to do the kind of things that I can so effortlessly do nowadays.
I’m living more abundantly than the kings of yore and I am grateful for that and for all those people who have created these magical devices that make this possible.
Gratitude #11:
I am grateful to all those people who feel passionately that India should offer her best to her citizens; reliable electricity, safe drinking water, good roads, clean governance, good civic sense, excellent civic amenities, reliable law & order and a trustworthy & speedy judicial system.
As long as their tribe grows, we have hope and when this tribe reaches critical mass, all of these dreams would become reality.
Two of this tribe had reacted passionately to my Gratitude #6 and I am grateful that they pointed out what they did and wish them well and hope they spark more such people to join this movement.
Gratitude #12:
I’m grateful to all those people who have taught me valuable lessons this year. Consciously or unconsciously, you were meant to teach me these lessons and I acknowledge with love that you have done it for my good and my development whether you are aware of it or not.
It may have pained you or troubled you at times that this was happening. But, I believe that there is a larger design and this was just an episode in our relationship that was meant to happen and we need to move on and seek our own development
Thank you for doing what you did and may the force be with you.
Gratitude #13:
I’m grateful to all my friends out there. Those who keep in touch, those who just send out those warm fuzzy thoughts, those who are too busy and have no time to do either, you have all added big time to my life and your good wishes, thoughts, words and deeds have contributed to my growth and happiness.
Some of you have known me like forever, and some of you have just recently come into my life, but each of you were meant to be here and connected with me. I’m grateful we’ve had our times together now and then. We may not be able to meet anymore for various reasons, we may not be able to speak anymore, but just a few kind thoughts now and then are enough to keep us connected and add meaning to our lives. I wish you all well and hope that you are having the time of your life.
Thank you for being you and thank you for gracing my life with your presence.
Gratitude #17:
I’m grateful for birthdays. I’ve been surrounded by people wishing me the best and generally making me feel good and wanted. It’s fabulous to have so many friends and family share your happy moment and make it extra special by taking the trouble to visit; taking the trouble to call or email; or taking the trouble to send warm wishes or just thinking about you in some way.
My brother and sisters took the trouble to drive 30 kms last nite to wake me up from sleep and flood me with their bonhomie, wishes and gifts that it was truly worth giving up my sleep. Birthdays help remind me that at the core of our life is all these relationships that we’ve built over the years and that though we may be separated by distance, yet we are all still together.
Thank you all for making it beautiful and a truly memorable day.
Gratitude #18:
I’m grateful for the one hour I get every morning to myself soon after I wake up. The stillness, the promise of a new day, new beginnings, new adventures, a possibility to do more, some time for a dialogue with the Creator, some exercise, walking Alfie, the morning pages (the days I do it) and just pottering around the house while the rest of the household is asleep.
It’s easily the best time of the day and I can’t imagine any other way to start the day. And when dawn breaks, the sun slowly rises on the horizon, the colours change every second and the sky gets streaked with yellows, pinks, orange and reds that chase the indigos and turns them into myriad shades of blues.
The early morning sky, pre-dawn and during sunrise is such a beautiful sight that makes your heart skip a few beats each time you see it.
Thank you dear mornings, you energise my day, every single day.
Gratitude #19:
I’m grateful for the drive that I have every morning where I get time to spend with my son. Whether we are chatting or not, we’re getting to know each other better, bonding better and get to discuss stuff that we otherwise wouldn’t get the time or space to discuss at home.
I’m grateful that I drive him to school every day ‘cos I’m getting to know him a little better than I did before. And I’ve also discovered that he is grown up enough to discuss events and ideas almost like grown-ups.
I’m grateful for the time that I’m getting to spend with him on these morning drives.
Gratitude #20:
I’m grateful for being alive today. Whether today or tomorrow is the last day of the world, I don’t know. But I am alive today and ready to take on this world and determined to spread cheer and happiness to everyone I meet or interact with.
I believe that this is the only way to lead one’s life, full-on and in-the-face, come what may. Doesn’t matter if I drop down dead the next minute, ‘cos I’ve lived fully every moment of every day at my terms and in full communion with my creator and all the other beings he’s created for our collective enjoyment. So how does it matter when the world will end? I’m alive now and that’s all that matters for now.
I’m glad to be alive now and I’m glad to have lived the life that I have till now… and looking forward to more God-willing.
Gratitude #21:
I’m grateful for my Samsung Galaxy Note II that was gifted to me by my wife and kids on my birthday last week. It’s a super cool phone with a ton load of features to make life easier and more productive. My children have researched which one to get and have been picking my mind on what I would want and not want in a phone for 3 to 4 weeks before they zeroed in on this model. They’ve bought this 2 weeks before my birthday and have kept it confidential till the D-day.
It’s a truly amazing phone where I can speak and a text message or email can be sent out, I can draw and edit photos, find directions to a new place, do banking, book movies tickets and do a host of stuff that I never thought possible in a phone.
Thank you Samsung for putting all this into a handheld, thank you my phone for being so handy and thank you my family for researching this and getting it for me.
Truly handy and useful gift:
Gratitude #22
I'm grateful today for the empty roads. It's such a pleasure to be able to travel at a steady speed and reach our destination in half the time it usually takes. Thanks to all those who have left for vacation.
Gratitude #23:
I’m grateful for Mother Nature. She’s so bountiful and generous irrespective of how we treat her. On my morning walks, I find that any patch of land, will have some life form or other – starting with the lowly grass to shrubs and flowering plants. There is patches of colours under all the construction dust and debris that we see thrown all around us just outside the DLF GC complex, some brave flowers have sprouted out and displays their radiant colours to observant passer-bys.
Whether we chuck plastic or paper or cloth or other debris, nature finds a way to build life around it and sprouts up plants and best of all flowers through all this.
What if we could help her and ourselves by reducing the rubbish that we throw outside and ensure the cleanliness of our surroundings. Then these flowers would be more visible and show their full beauty for all to enjoy.
Thank you Mother Nature, we owe so much to you and your large-hearted contributions to our well-being.
Gratitude #24:
I’m grateful to the water I drink every day. It’s just water you might say. But it’s what makes me who I am. What thoughts I carry as I drink it, goes deep into me and determines how my day pans out.
The thoughts I think, as I have my bath, flows along with the water and enters my pores and permeates my very being.
This water, goes in and becomes my body. Remember, I’m 70% water. And every thought, every word and every action is coloured with the same intentions and thoughts that I’ve been carrying while I drank it or bathed in it.
Thank you water for energsing me and for giving me the life force to lead my life well.
Gratitude #25:
Thank you for Christmas, a day when most parts of the world celebrate as a time of peace and a time to shower love, especially family love. This day that Jesus was born, changed the world order. He brought love, peace, forgiveness and compassion to a savage land and filled people with hope of reaching for something higher, call it heaven or whatever. It is now also known as the time to give… Give gifts, hugs, presents, parties, love, good will, cheer and more. It is filled with memories of good things and is a season of giving and sharing.
I’m grateful for the midnight mass at St. Theresa’s Church with the lovely decorations and the beautiful messages shared by the priest. The massive turnout would be a testimony to the spirit of the season and I hope this spirit is being carried into each of their lives and benefitting lots more people. I’m grateful for the party hosted by my sister which kept me awake till 2 am and all those who joined in the merriment?
Thank you Christmas for ending our year with gratitude, sharing, compassion and appreciation of all our loved ones.
Gratitude #26:
I’m grateful for all of you out there who have been following this string of gratitudes this month. Some of you like Swapna Simon have actually contributed to the thread many times and seems to be the only one who read my first gratitude where I’d requested others to join in with their own.
I’m grateful to Nishith Kl Bhandarkar and Gomathi K Reddy who have had the courage to tell me that they are waiting to see their name in one of my gratitudes, you guys rock.
I’m grateful to those of you who chose to disagree to some of my gratitudes, and cared to put it down as a comment. Your forthright views goes towards shaping our collective consciousness and will ultimately make our world better.
I’m grateful for those of you who have left comments, pressed like, called or emailed to let me know that you love reading these posts and that it has made you think on similar lines and looked within yourself to feel good about the many things in your life that you can feel grateful for.
I’m grateful to those who have passively watched along the sidelines and have either sent silent thoughts of appreciation or disbelief or plain disinterest, you have your reasons and you are doing what you believe is best in this situation. Hope you have spared a few moments to think of what you are grateful for in your own life and in some small ways made you feel a little better.
I'm grateful to every single one of you for sparing some time to read and hopefully sparing some time for self examination and discovering gratitude for whatever blessings you have in your life.
(Btw, just started reading a book by Rhonda Bryne "The Magic",ur a birthday gift by my sister, on this same topic)
Gratitude #27:
I’m grateful to those countless people out there who are daring to stand up against the establishment and voice their views, organize protests, whip up movements and do their bit to build public opinion and force governments to change laws or policies so that people can be treated in a more humane and caring manner than it currently is.
In the US, India, and many other countries, the common man and woman are standing up for their rights and the rights of others and are creating ripples and waves that can build momentum to bring about radical change in laws and policies that could build a more humane society.
I’m grateful that people care enough to care for the plight of others and I hope that this spirit of caring grows and grows to envelope the whole world so that each will look out for the other and become truly one.
Gratitude #28:
I’m grateful for vacations. It stretches and challenges me (as well as most parents) to find ways and means to keep the kids engaged and happy. Those who can go away for extended vacations find their life a little easier. Others like me who have been at home this vacation have to get creative and be challenged to stop the kids from uttering the b**** word.
It’s not a four letter word.
I’m grateful that vacations are here and we’re able to bond with our kids and I’m grateful that it is short enough to send them back to school so we can miss them badly, till the next vacations ?
Yes, I’m still grateful for vacations. There is something so relaxing and yet so challenging in it. The dread of hearing the “bored” word from my child and the pleasure when we get through the day without once hearing it ?
Gratitude #29
I’m grateful that these string of gratitudes is coming to an end. It has taught me that it is tough to feel gratitude for an extended period of time. It has taught me how tough it is to keep an habit like this going for 30 days.
It has made me dig deep to find things to be grateful for. It has evoked mixed reactions from friends and acquaintances and showed me how differently each issue can be looked at by different people and that there is no right or wrong. Only perspectives and opinions.
I’m grateful that this is coming to an end. ( Except that I’ve now bought a little diary where I’m going to pen 10 gratitudes every day for the next one year. Want to see if I can have 3650 unique things to be grateful for next year. ) Wish me luck!
Gratitude #30:
I’m not sure whether this can be termed as a gratitude, but here goes…
I’m grateful for this brave soul who gave up her life in such a painful way after extreme suffering to awaken a nation steeped in apathy for such a long time.
She’s broken this nation out of its stupor and brought the spotlight on how badly we treat our women – from small daily harassments in the form of lecherous looks, comments, thoughts and actions to far graver crimes such as suppressing the right to live for a female foetus to the right to move around freely and choose freely in life.
She’s broken the blinds that had us pretending that we are a nation that reveres our women as Mother and God (in words and platitudes) and shown us to be a nation that truly treats its women as mere goods and symbols of power and greed.
She’s no less a martyr than many many before her, and her short life has taken a whole new meaning by the way she fought for her rights and the rights of half our nation.
I’m grateful that there are countless more souls who have taken upon themselves to stand solidly behind this braveheart and braving the fierce cold, lathi charges, water cannons, govt apathy and cold hearted official reactions are demonstrating day and night for the past 13 days and is moving our cumbersome and lethargic political class to take heed and worry about their survival for the first time in 65 years.
May her soul rest in peace by achieving what billions of Indians before her couldn’t, making a lasting change that will build a more responsive, compassionate society that celebrates freedom and security for half its population and change the justice delivery system in our country.
