Being grateful and saying 'I love you'

I recently returned from a wonderful vacation with Zac. On our return I had some time on my flight to re-read one of my books - The Key by Joe Vitale. I began reading the book again before I left for the vacation and I couldn't wait to start reading it on my way home.

He has some very useful tips about getting clear, discovering what you want and creating the mind-set to attract it. It is a must read for everyone. His style of writing is easy and very concise.

There were two things that I have began working with in the last week. One of the first methods he describes is being grateful. We have all heard this from time to time from many of our self-help gurus but what really stuck out for me this time around was being grateful for even the smallest things around me. As I was noticing everything and articulating the things that I was grateful for, I began to feel lighter, happier and even excited to be alive. In case you missed that, I will say that again. As I was noticing everything and articulating the things that I was grateful for, I began to feel lighter, happier and even excited to be alive. When I am grateful for what is, no matter how small, there is a definite shift in how I feel. That feeling allows more life to flow and keeps me from being stuck.

The other technique he recommended was repeating the words 'I love you'. When I come across something that upsets me or become frustrating I silently say I love you. Something shifts in my thinking and subsequently my feelings. This technique is best described using an example.

The other day I was sitting at a public place and I was looking at a lady. Her appearance was shaggy and I remember beginning to make judgments about her. Look at her nails, her hair, her face. I caught myself in this degrading moment and immediately shifted to saying I love you. Not that I love her per say but instead of looking for everything I didn't like I just began saying I love you. I noticed that I was feeling at peace and happy. It took absolutely nothing on this woman's part but just a shift in my thinking!

Now while this is probably a tame example of the use of this I love you exercise, I assure you that I have used in almost every moment and especially when I begin to feel tense. It has been a great way to let go if the stress and feel happy and in gratitude for what is.