The Gratitude Project

Gratitude is something I thankfully find with ease, a gift instilled in me by my mother. Her ability to see the good in people and maintain a bright outlook on life has always inspired me, and I am deeply grateful for her influence.
For me, gratitude is the cornerstone of navigating life's frustrations and setbacks. It serves as the foundation for everything. When faced with anxiety or frustration, I turn to gratitude in several ways. Two of my favorite approaches are:

1. Learning from Challenges: When someone does something I initially perceive as wrong or upsetting, I ask myself, "What has this taught me? How can I use this to become a better person?" Sometimes, I'm simply grateful not to be in the mindset of the person causing distress, understanding that their internal struggles must be challenging. This perspective allows me to extend compassion toward them, freeing myself from feelings of frustration or disappointment.
2. Refocusing Energy: We've all experienced moments when we can't stop thinking about something, whether significant or trivial. Telling yourself to stop thinking about it often doesn't work, much like trying not to think about a pink elephant. Instead, shifting focus to something positive, like gratitude, is the perfect solution.

Initially, finding things to be grateful for might seem challenging, but once you begin, you'll notice how different the world appears through the lens of gratitude.
Recently, I made a significant life change, transitioning from a job I loved with reliable paydays to reigniting my desire to be an online entrepreneur in the health, wellness, and personal development space after a 4 year hiatus. The content I will now be teaching is something I know deeply, and I am confident in my ability to make a meaningful impact on those seeking change. Despite this, I occasionally fall into the trap of imposter syndrome, doubting my knowledge, equipment, and social media experience. However, I recognise this as part of the process and continue moving forward, which brings me to "The Gratitude Project."
This project is my small step into sharing content online. While I plan to launch several online training programs in the coming months, starting with a simple blog post is manageable. Here, I share what I am grateful for since embarking on this new journey:

• Being home when my teenage kids return for university holidays.
• Buying fresh fish from the local vendor, who visits for just two hours on Fridays.
• Saying "Yes" to spontaneous lunch invitations with friends.
• Enjoying daily runs and gym visits without rushing to work.
• Educating and handling my young horses.
• Connecting with amazing mentors online and collaborating on projects.
• Being part of a supportive mastermind group that encourages business growth.
• Creating programs and learning tools that will positively impact lives.
• Traveling to competitions with my husband.
• Crikey, even being able to compete myself and go to an event only needing to worry about myself
• Staying on top of household chores.
• Turning off phone notifications and forgetting where my phone even is.
• Planning my day each night before bed.
• Enjoying sunny days after a week of cold weather.
• Anticipating the arrival of spring in just six weeks.

My intention is not merely to list the good things in my life but to raise awareness of the things we can all be grateful for so when the 'shit' things are happening which they inevitably will, we have somewhere to go to help shift our energy. This awareness serves as a refuge when challenges arise. 
If you'd like to join me, consider reflecting on three things you're grateful for this week. 😊