Every Saturday I share a story about my life in a way that you can hopefully relate to. I believe we are all here to share our journey, both the highs and the lows, as this is how we collectively raise the consciousness of the planet. If anything resonates with you, please share! 🙏
Every morning, I promptly wake up at 5:30am.
I open my eyes, and think of 3 things I'm grateful for that day.
I then make my way to my office, and sit down on my mediation cushion for 45 minutes of Tibetan chime-aided silence.
Once I'm done, I read through my affirmations and intentions.
I follow that with 2 pages of free-writing in my beautiful journal, and then a few minutes catching up on my reading notes in Readwise.
Not bad, huh?
But here's the thing.
This rarely happens as described above. To be honest, I could probably count on one hand, the number of times I've checked off all those steps in recent memory.
I would love share an inspirational update, highlighting my current 133-day streak without missing a beat, but it wouldn't be true. What's more important for me is that I wake up each day with the intention of having the most productive day imaginable.
I then work with what I'm given to do the best possible for me.
Have You Said Your Grace?
It's good to give yourself some grace in these moments. What I've found that works the best for me is to continue practicing gratitude in those moments when it feels like I'm slipping off the path.
Dr. Robert Emmons has written extensively about the science of gratitude. If you're interested in digging deeper, I recommend starting with The Little Book of Gratitude.
In his studies, Dr. Emmon has shown that people who regularly practice gratitude experience a wide range of benefits.
Physical
Stronger immune systems
Less bothered by aches and pains
Lower blood pressure
Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking
Psychological
Higher levels of positive emotions
More alert, alive, and awake
More joy and pleasure
More optimism and happiness
Social
More helpful, generous, and compassionate
More forgiving
More outgoing
Feel less lonely and isolated.
Acording to Dr. Emmons:
”The social benefits are especially significant here because, after all, gratitude is a social emotion. I see it as a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.“
Here are a few things that have helped me over the years
Keep a gratitude journal. If you're just getting started with journaling, use the one you have handy and start off your day with a few words.
Remember how far you've come. During the low times, it can be hard to think about the positive. Take a deep breath and think back to when things were worse (or seemed that way). Give yourself some grace.
Walk the talk. Sometimes putting the gratitude into physical form works wonders for getting you into that energy. Smile at strangers throughout your day, ask folks how they are doing (genuinely), send thank you notes, etc. One of my favorite responses when some asks how I'm doing is "wonderful!". Guess what, it's hard not to smile when saying that enthusiastically. For the record, this is an ongoing practice for me as well!
Find your totem. Have a physical item that can help serve as a reminder to stay grounded. For me it's a pendant I picked up in Austin at the Conscious Media Festival a few years ago. I wear it all the time.
The Energy of Abundance
As I've strengthened my spiritual practice over the years. I've begun to see a direct correlation in the energy of Gratitude with that of an Abundance Mindset.
They go hand in hand and help to always remind me to be grateful about all the abundance in my life.
A few years ago, during a particularly challenging stretch, a friend shared with me Deepak Chopra's 21-Day Abundance challenge. I've since set this up as a sequence of daily emails to make it easy for you to follow, if you're called to do so.
You can sign up here: 21 Day Abundance Challenge
It's been an inspiring few weeks, staying consistent with this newsletter. Your comments and feedback continue to fuel me.
As always...
🙏 with gratitude,
Harry
🙋♀️ P.S. When You're Ready...
Here are a few of ways I can help…
✡️ Download a free copy of my Conscious Voice Expansion Plan. The most powerful way to transmit and elevate your voice is with a podcast. This plan will outline for you the pillars of success needed prior to the launch of your show!
🎥 Watch my free video, 5 Key Pillars of a Profitable Podcast that every business owner needs to know prior to launching their show.
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