ABC’s of Being Grateful – Count Your Blessings

From acceptance to catching some Zzz’s, Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude provides an excellent example of how to methodically search for positivity in everyday.

Struggling with insomnia and out of ideas, author Michele Wahlder began “counting her blessings instead of sheep”. Starting at A – for apples she continued through all 25 remaining letters and in doing so she found her solution to those sleepless nights!

She began sharing her strategy with clients and friends and from this Alphatudes was born.

I would classify the book as “new-age” and despite its 128 pages it’s a short book and a quick read. It’s a beautifully assembled book and each chapter is dedicated to a letter of the alphabet. An inspirational quote accompanies each letter followed by a page of reflection by Michele on the thing we could be grateful for, and a prayer. It’s laid out in a way that you can pick it up and read a couple of entries when you need a little pick me up or a bit of a nudge to find something to be grateful for.

If you’ve been reading Serene Journey for a while now or have had the opportunity to browse the archives you know that I am a fan of the gratitude journal. Nearly a year ago I challenged readers to keep a gratitude journal for 30 days.  By looking for things that you are grateful for each day you automatically start seeing the positive side of everything. You begin to focus on what you have rather than what you don’t.

I don’t keep a physical gratitude journal anymore (although I’m re-thinking this) but I do keep a running list in my mind each day. I have found over time that simply choosing to identify the good, the positive throughout the day it becomes second nature. I’ve noticed I’m a lot less critical, judgmental, and negative. There is definitely something to this gratitude thing.

Some of the entries I can relate to are:

Choices.

If we want to reach our goals and life dreams, we must mindfully explore all of our options and make fresh, new choices that align with the life we truly desire.

Forgiveness.

Alexander Pope once stated, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” When we offer sincere, heartfelt forgiveness, we function from the divinity that resides in all of us.

Giving.

Giving is its own reward. When we give to others, we share our divine inner light with them and help the world become a brighter, more illuminated place in which to live.

Laughter.

Charlie Chaplin said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” When we laugh, we choose to explore the world of optimistic possibilities.

Obstacles.

The German-born physicist Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Obstacles are gifts, disguised as difficulties, scattered along the path of life.

Serendipity.

Serendipity occurs when we unexpectedly discover something fortunate while looking for something else entirely. Tobi Tobias … writes, “Serendipity is putting a quarter in the gumball machine and having three pieces come rattling out instead of one – all red.” … Some call “luck” or “coincidence.

Work.

Work is ideally an adult version of play.

I couldn’t relate to the entry for X – eX’s as I don’t have any but Michele provides a healthy perspective on how the exes from your past can be viewed positively and as a gift to your life.

When we “get” the lesson, we cease attracting that particular type of relationship. We then move into new relationships that continue to challenge and expand our capacity to give and receive love.

All in all Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude is a really lovely book. Would I buy it? Not for myself, but I know a person or two who will be getting a copy. It’s an inspirational read and even those who feel they don’t have much to be grateful for will likely have their eyes opened a bit after picking this one up.

At 9.32 it won’t break the bank either. You can order your copy or find out what other’s have to say about it on Amazon by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of: eNil