gratitude - the magic ingredient to a happy life

over the past few years i have really transformed my thinking. I began by learning to see the positive over the negative. Then i started to use up-building self-talk. After this i began to implement the ability to dream beyond what my circumstances told me. All of these things definitely went a long way to impact my life for the better.

But something was still missing, the missing link between holding these habits and practices in the forefront of my mind, and being able to walk in the victory on a daily basis. What i would find was i would be good for a day or two, then forget for a day or two, repeat cycle.

It was an endless source of frustration to me to know that i was a born again christian who had all the abundance   of life's gifts inside me to manifest, yet how was it i could get STUCK, more than ever despite my best intentions?

Gratitude one little word with an endless source of power. I have been doing a little study on this subject of late and have found it to be a hot topic among philosophers, theologians and religious leaders alike.

How much of our lives are we truly being grateful for? I think if anyone of us were asked this question - we would all think we are doing pretty well at being grateful. But if someone was to record our conversations or our thoughts for a day - i think we would be shocked to KNOW the truth. Being grateful and living in gratitude means we have no space in our minds, or hearts for negativity, anger, resentment, greed, lust, and almost any other negative emotion you could think of.

That is a big call! One little thing, having the capabilities to revolutionize the way our entire minds function and every circumstance that comes our way...But i can tell you this. Since i have begun to apply the art of gratitude to my life in every single aspect INCLUDING finding the good in the bad, and speaking it out. My life is changing. I just don't see the bad as often, i don't get as emotional over things as i once did, and i am more and more appreciative of what i have - which in turn brings about more and more to be grateful for. Its a win win.

I became acutely aware of just how easy it was to live in ungratefulness. I don't think any of us choose this place, its just a slump that happens when we forget to be thankful for the good every single day.

Some of the traits that are displayed when we are taking our life for granted are things such as:
-complaining
-negative thoughts
-negative words

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE NEGATIVE WHEN WE ARE GRATEFUL.

small statement - huge impact.

How can we take steps to be more grateful everyday?
Focus each morning on all the things in your life that you can be grateful for - there are hundreds no matter who you are, or what your situation!
Think over these things and express your thanks for them, before you know it you will have this over whelming feeling of joy building on the inside. I promise you! There are so many simple things we can take for granted even something as small (or HUGE) as water...

Water is the life force of this existence. Yet how easy is it to take it for granted?

So, if like me are you are looking for the missing link to living in the joy of life every single day, no matter what life throws at you. Then the answer may just lie in learning to think and express your gratitude everyday for all your blessings, no matter how big or small.!!!

Be blessed, because chances are you are more blessed than you know

joanna xo

detoxing/fasting

So its that time of year again for me where i have decided to give my body a break from solid foods.

Usually with the mind set of internal digestive cleansing, i take 3-5 days and stick to a variant of juices, water, teas (without milk) and home-made lemonade.

This time however my main purpose is spiritual. And i will say that anytime we detox it does have a natural spiritual element.

So i'm in day 2.5 and feeling rather well. I havent had any of the usual headaches and general flu like symptoms! Yay. I am thinking of extending it to a full 5 days. However i will definately add some protein shakes in the last two days, as manual labor day in day out can be even more exhausting than usual while fasting. And its generally recommended that you rest over this time.

If your considering your own detox or fast I recommend doing your research and finding something that suits your needs. If your a first-timer, set yourself a goal of no more than 3 days, and it can certainly be a tough 3 days the first time around. However after this time some excellent things begin to happen. Not just in the body, but also the mind. I always find that i feel much lighter, my concentration and focus improves. And i just feel so much healthier and spiritually aware.

Breaking a fast - this is the most important step! No matter how long you fast for its very important not to just decide to eat randomly the day you end it! You have to ease into eating, its suggested to just have a piece of fruit or two the first day out. Eating anything rich, diary, or fatty will make you feel AWFUL- be warned! Then work up to one meal the next day, avoiding meat for as long as you can.  If you can, focus on raw organic food for an entire week.This shouldn't be too differcult seeing as you didnt eat for several days, and will definately further the benefits. As a bonus, just being able to eat is such a wonderful treat in itself.


                                                 

So heres to glowing skin, twinkling eyes, clarity of mind and spiritual wellness!

joanna