You’ve likely heard about the practice of starting your day with gratitude and how it can set a positive tone for your day. As someone who’s been exploring this practice, I want to share with you a particularly effective approach that I’ve discovered.
In the past, my gratitude practice involved writing down a paragraph filled with qualities and traits I was grateful for, phrased in the form of “I am” statements. For example, I would write things like “I am healthy,” “I am disciplined,” “I am excited,” and “I am witty.”
And yes, this practice did yield results. I did find myself experiencing more of these positive qualities. However, the reality I was creating for myself wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped. Here’s why:
The universe seems to have a way of putting us to the test, of showing us if we truly embody the qualities we claim. If I declared that I was witty, the universe seemed to present situations where I had to be witty, often when surrounded by people who weren’t particularly witty themselves. It was as if the universe wanted to prove me right by challenging me to be witty in circumstances that weren’t naturally conducive to it.
The same pattern emerged with other qualities. If I claimed to be kind and loving, I found myself facing scenarios where I had to exhibit kindness and love, especially in interactions with individuals who were anything but kind and loving.
Even traits like discipline and creativity seemed to invite situations where I needed to be disciplined and creative, often among people who were the antithesis of those traits.
So yes, the outcomes of my grateful affirmations were accurate, but they weren’t necessarily enjoyable or aligned with the reality I wanted to create.
To change this pattern, I decided to shift my focus. I realized that we are indeed products of the environments we inhabit, and these environments are largely shaped by other people.
With this insight, I restructured my gratitude practice. Instead of repeating affirmations like “I am fun to be around,” “I am outgoing,” or “I am creative and smart,” I started saying:
“I am surrounded by people who are fun to be around, outgoing, creative, and smart.”
And the results were remarkable and continue to be so.
By expressing gratitude for the presence of these positive traits in others, I began to witness manifestations of such people in my life. As I aimed to be around such individuals, it naturally became easier to attract and connect with them.
Here’s a valuable piece of advice I want to share with you:
If you’re aiming to cultivate certain characteristics within yourself, consider being grateful for the people who already possess those traits. Instead of claiming “I am,” express gratitude for being surrounded by individuals who embody those qualities. For instance, say “I’m grateful that I am surrounded by people who are _________.”
This simple shift in perspective has a powerful impact on the reality you create. It aligns you with the energy of the qualities you seek to cultivate, and it draws those qualities into your experience through the people you encounter.
In conclusion, the practice of gratitude is indeed transformative. By directing your gratitude toward the people who possess the traits you wish to embrace, you open the door to a reality that supports your growth and development. Remember, you have the ability to shape your reality, and gratitude is a key that unlocks its potential.
Jay Bialecki – You are awesome!