Begin the New Year Afresh: Write a Gratitude List
A Gratitude list is a list in which you write your appreciation
to all the positive and not so positive things which happened to
you during this year that is now ending. It also shows the
reasons you are grateful for them.
Now, writing this list may be a little tricky, for as we find it
easy to appreciate the positive in our lives, the contrary is
very true: we find it difficult to do the same for the things
that didn't go well during the year. Nevertheless, it is
important to make a list for both of them, including the reason
why you appreciate them.
I suggest you use two different pieces of paper and write each
on a separate one. The reason for this is that, while you will
put safely away your positive appreciation, you will burn your
negative list. Let me explain:
1. Divide the two sheets in half, making a line across the page.
2. Titled them "I am grateful for the positive aspects of my
life during 2005" and ""I am grateful for the negative aspects
of my life during 2005"
3. On the first half write: "positive aspects" or "negative
aspects" depending on the list.
4. On the second half, write "Reasons" - that is the "Why" you
appreciate what happened to you.
For example:
a. I appreciate my boss for accepting my project as was and
recommending that I wrote another draft as soon as possible; b.
His support made me see that I can count on people, in small or
big matters.
or
a. I appreciate my woodstove's chimney catching fire during the
winter, resulting in my house losing a great amount of heat and
leaving us freezing for 3 days; b. I have learned that I am not
supposed to fill my woodstove with wood and leave it at maximum
heat. I also learned that it is good to have a backup, such as
the gas company.
Got the picture?
5. After you write all your gratitude for everything that
happened to you, positive or negative, separate them.
6. On the positive list, write at the bottom of the page: "I
thank you, God (or Spirit, or Universe) for these great things.
Give me more of them." And put the list away.
7. On the negative list write at the bottom of the page: "I
thank you, God (or Spirit, or Universe) for these things as they
were good learning experiences. I now let go of them with
gratitude." And burn the list.
Now, feel the freedom that this technique gives you and be
grateful for that too.
Happy New Year!