The secret to feeling thankful

It’s more fun in the Philippines, right? Not always, you say. In fact, more people get the blues as the holidays draw near. If you feel more bah humbug than buoyant with the thought of everything you’re going to do and everyone you’re going to see, then it’s time to get yourself in a way better state of mind. Thanksgiving, though a very American tradition, can still work for you in its philosophy, even if you don’t subscribe to the commercial hooks it tries to sink in every November. To give thanks, to be grateful is the best way to live; we so often take for granted what we consider the little things, and perhaps this is the right time for you to “sweat the small stuff” but focus on the right stuff. If you want to make the shift from not great to a “Great-attitude” then you may want to try getting your gratitude on:

 1. Joyful journaling. You may be a child of the techie age, so if the keyboard is mightier than the sword for you than an e-journal over a traditional one can work. Although, there still is something to be said for putting pen to paper and actually seeing your words come to life as the ink sinks in. Try writing five things to be grateful for every morning; they can be as basic as “I’m grateful that I have a bed to sleep on” to “I’m grateful it’s Friday today.” Seriously, as trivial as that sounds, it just takes a quick glance at the news to see how many people don’t even have something solid to rest their head on at day’s end, or that some people have to work all week long, and haven’t had a proper weekend in ages. If the usual blank page seems intimidating for those who never saw themselves as “writing” then get creative with something that gives you a little more instruction on spicing up your life’s chronicles. Keri Smith’s Wreck This Journal (P549) is an edgier, fun way to edit your existence. Five is the bare minimum by the way; if you’re having a particular good day, why would you want to let that go unforgotten? There is always something — rather, many things  — to be thankful for, all you need to do is spend some time remembering what they are! Start off in the morning, before you bounce out of bed to give your whole day an early thumbs-up.

2. The New Normal. Know and acknowledge that you are human and that you are subject to mood swings and petty emotions at times. Not worth beating up yourself if you find yourself feeling a twinge of envy when your best friend rocks your world with some great news. Sure you may feel the “When is it going to happen to me?” vibe creep up on you, or worse, “Why her and not me?” and feel terrible after doing so; but don’t fret, jealous is normal. Yes, you heard me, normal. Maybe not natural, but normal, so if you feel that towards someone else the best thing to do is realize that yeah, okay, you’re jealous and then make every effort to be okay with it. Everyone deserves a break, and who more deserving then someone you care about? Be mindful that there is so much abundance in the world, if you think your friend is reaping all this spectacular juju and there will be none left for you then you are sorely mistaken. Great things come to those who are ready for it, so if you can be happy for others then you open the doors for happiness to come flooding into your own life, oftentimes when you least expect it. So, the next time someone comes up with you to share some happy news, you can shift your attitude to “Well, if it can happen to her, then it can also happen to me!” because it truly can.

3. Liquid love. Did you know that what you drink can also help what you think? Following the research and findings of Japanese scientist Dr. Masauro Emoto from his best-selling book The Hidden Messages in Water (P699), we learn that the way you hydrate yourself can impact your all-around health. The book is a quick read, with lots of pictures to show just how dramatic the state of a water molecule can change depending on the words said, thoughts projected, and even music played to it. Emoto would freeze these molecules to show just how beautiful or at times repulsive they would transform when exposed to abovementioned stimuli. Among all the words that were experimented with, “love” and “gratitude” produced the most stunning water crystals. You may wonder, what does this have to do with you? Well, your body is 70 percent water, so be aware of what you say, think and expose yourself to. Personally, aside of being more in touch with my mental input and output, I asked a friend to print out the words “love and gratitude” on coasters and my personal beverage tumbler, so whatever I drink imbibes that energy.

Some of these tips may sound a little hokey to you, but they cost next to nothing to do and could possibly be your turning point to achieving a true thanksgiving spirit.

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Hidden Messages in Water and Wreck This Journal are available at all Fully Booked outlets. Visit www.fullybookedonline.com  for more information. For more Soul Train, visit www.thesoultrain.net.