Presidents' Day Reflection
Today is a great day to reflect and have gratitude for the powerful leaders who served our country. It also correlates with Week 2 of the Manifesting Challenge with today focusing on 'finding gratitude'. So often we forget to be grateful and give thanks for the little and big things in our lives. I wanted to share how gratitude transformed my life 13 years ago. It started with my Rabbi and I building a small group of new moms. He kicked off this new program teaching us about how gratitude is discussed throughout the Torah. He encouraged us to start a daily gratitude practice in whatever way we felt comfortable. It didn't have to be about thanking God. It only needed to be about being thankful. I was in one of the worst times of my life - going through a divorce with two little kids - and the though of finding things to be grateful for seemed like a difficult chore. But, as my Rabbi asked, I began this practice of giving thanks every morning when I opened my eyes and every night before going to sleep. Just the act of finding 3 things to be grateful for at the beginning and the end of the day completely shifted my mindset and the way I felt. No matter what happens in your day, ending with gratitude helps you find the blessings and when you go to bed thinking about blessings, you tend to wake up thinking about the good you have in your life. Instilling the morning and evening practice can truly change your life. Fast forward to this past year and once again going through one of the hardest, most challenging times imaginable, I dug deep to find gratitude each day. Thankful for doctors, nurses, modern medicine, gut instincts, my community, powerful prayers, my friends, my family, my partner - it gave me strength to push through each day. Here are a few ways to start a gratitude practice: - Recognize blessings big and small - a delicious cup of coffee, a hug, a smile from a stranger, a big win at work or life - Express thanks to your God and others - it could be the person next to you or someone who has impacted your day, your week, your life - Find the good even in challenges - this is a hard one but if you can do this, which I spent a lot of time doing this past year - it will create a massive shift in your life. This one literally changes the way your brain works.