Gratitude: breathe it in, give it out.

We all know how important practicing gratitude is for our well-being. Take a look around Facebook and you can see that gratitude can be, well.. a challenge. Most of us spend our days in the analytical mind: thinking, planning, taking inventory of yesterday's events, and worrying about tomorrow's to-do list. Worrying is the exact opposite of gratitude. We cannot be grateful while worrying. Trust me, it doesn’t work. I’ve tried! Since worrying is an action and gratitude is an action, we have to choose. What action will we take? The moments of gratitude live in the every day experiences, the fleeting moments that pass by in an instant. If we aren’t careful, we miss out on these moments of joy that our experiences let us borrow, if only for a second. Since gratitude is part of my daily meditation, I’ve found practical ways to get out of my head and start putting gratitude into action. BREATHE This is where gratitude begins. If you are reading this post, you are breathing. That breath is a gift that many no longer have. Stop and become aware of your breath. Breath is energy and this energy sustains your life. Start every morning off by being present with your breath. If you only get that far, half the battle is won. GIVE & RECEIVE WITH GRACE You have so much to give. Whether it’s a compliment, a smile, a phone call to a friend or a message of appreciation.. keep giving. Let your gifts be acknowledged and appreciated. Recognize that you are worthy to receive. Allow others to support you, accept compliments and accept help. Do so with grace. Yes, you are superwoman (man), but allowing others to help you will keep the exchange of positivity flowing through your life. CELEBRATE Life is not merely a to-do list that needs checking off. Life is a celebration. Your first cup of warm, delicious coffee in the morning.. savor it for the ritual that it is. A joyful life is made from these moments: cook a meal with your lover or with your friends, gather around the table and tell stories about your day. Laugh..big, belly-full, boisterous laughs. And by all means, bless your meals and give thanks for the abundance of food that nurtures your body. Do this often. Not just on holidays! BEGIN AND END WITH LOVE Break open that big, beautiful heart of yours. I know you have been hurt, judged and criticized. And most likely, you have suffered greatly through the pain of loss, disappointment and grief. It’s time to come home. The Yoga Sutras teach us Pratipaksha Bhavana. “When presented with negative thoughts or feelings, cultivate an opposite, elevated attitude.” When we infuse thoughts of love & gratitude into our awareness, we reduce depression, lessen anxiety and improve our over-all mood. Make the effort to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Today is a new day. Be humbled by the challenges you’ve had to face and recognize that they have grown you. Don’t let the world harden you. Keep your heart wide open to love. What are some ways that you practice gratitude? Please share in your comments below.. I would LOVE to hear! Thanks for reading! "Practice gratitude relentlessly. As you practice gratitude you will attract more thoughts and feelings of gratitude. In a short time your entire being will be saturated with it, and you will experience a happiness that is beyond what you can imagine. This is what is ahead for you when you choose gratitude as your way of life. And if you can really live in this highest state of gratitude, you will never have to ask for anything. Everything you want will be given to you before you even ask, because gratitude is the magnetic substance that opens every single door in the Universe. " -- Rhonda Byrne in The Secret Scrolls About Tammy: With a genuine personality and a playful yet grounded attitude, Tammy Fodrey speaks to the spirit inside each of her students. Tammy uses practical application of yoga postures with strong, engaging messages to encourage her students to break free from self-imposed limitations and create every opportunity to grow and thrive in life and on the mat. As an experienced yoga practitioner and teacher, Tammy’s classes are a mixture of rythmic vinyasa flow and alignment based education of traditional yoga postures. Her classes are characterized as challenging yet gentle, as she inspires her students to stimulate self-awareness, vitality, and connection. Tammy is a dedicated mother, yogi, runner and wellness ambassador whose ultimate goal is to find to grace and ease in a busy, fast-paced world. She offers group classes, facilitates workshops, and teaches private sessions in her community. http://www.tammyfodrey.com/