Are you happy? Do you like yourself and the life you are living? Or do you feel that in some way life is passing you by, that you would like things to be better or different? So many people are discontented with the life they are leading. They would like to have more of the good things in life. They see other people’s lives and wish their own were more like them. They see the material things life has to offer and wonder why they are missing out on them. But they don’t know how to make the change, how to make manifest their desires, how to set the process in motion.

 

            The Universe is a bounteous and abundant place. If its wealth were evenly distributed we would all be millionaires in one way or another. The question is, how can we attract our fair share of what life has to offer? To do this, let’s look first at the question of what wealth means, for it means different things to different people. For some it means money or material goods; for others it may mean fame, stardom or high public office; it might mean friends, family and supportive people; it might mean a loving and supportive soul mate; or it might mean good health and a quiet, stress free existence. Whatever wealth means to you, you are entitled to it – it is your birthright. It is not “wrong” to want material things, as long as they do not substitute for spiritual growth. It is hard to concentrate on spiritual things when your stomach is grumbling and you are worrying about whether or not you can pay the rent!

 

            Once you are clear on what you need, the next step is to start visualising it, using the techniques that are described in a number of books and articles on mind power and creative visualisation. But some people still seem to find the process slow or unsatisfactory in some way. There seems to be some element missing, something that is eluding them. That missing element is gratitude.

 

            Gratitude is like the grain of sand in the oyster that the pearl forms around. It provides the foundation around which everything else aggregates. We have to start noticing what we already have and being grateful for it before anything arrives. It is as if our attention has to be activated to our existing bounty before we are able to receive more. If we start from a position of blindness, refusing to acknowledge there is much richness that we already possess, it seems to block our ability to acquire more – why would anything more be given to someone who is unable to see what they already have?

 

            One of the most tried and true methods of practising gratitude is to start keeping a gratitude journal. It does not have to be anything fancy and you don’t have to write very much – it is the process of keeping it that works its effect, not the method. However, the more effort and ritual you put into it, the more effective it is likely to be, so always aim to do your best.

 

            At the end of each day, write down five things that you are grateful for. Begin, “Today I am grateful for…”  If you have had a really bad day this might be difficult. There are days when I write, “Today I am grateful that I am still alive and breathing!” By forcing yourself to find five things, it forces you to really notice what is around you – the delight in hearing a child’s laughter, the beauty of a rain drop on a leaf of grass, the lingering smell of cooking reminding you of a good meal, the knowledge that help is only a phone call away.

 

            Each day, challenge yourself to find something new to be grateful for –something that you have never noticed before. This will cause you to have a new appreciation of everything that surrounds you, so that when new energy starts to enter in around you will be aware of it and rejoice in it. The process is cumulative – the more you notice, the more there will be to notice. When you are having a bad day, your Gratitude Journal will help to remind you that things are not as bad they seem.

 

            The next step is to express your gratitude out loud – to the Creator, through prayer; to the people around you for their help and love. Make a point of paying people compliments, thanking them for the part they play in your life, noticing their achievements. This too will flow back into your own life ten fold.

 

            Gratitude is an energy that helps to create the miracles we all seek and to notice them when they occur. Start practising gratitude and your life will start changing for the better. The wealth that is your birthright will manifest for you.