A Gratitude Practice You Can Do

I just read about Cheri Huber‘s delightful gratitude practice. This is certainly a gratitude practice you can do.

Here is what Cheri says:

Spend one week saying only kind, caring things to yourself. Say thank you at least ten times an hour, direct five toward yourself and five to the world at large. Compliment yourself (and others) each time an effort is made. Notice all the wonderful qualities and characteristics about yourself and those around you. One week. You will never go back. And your whole life will be a glorious meditation.
– Cheri Huber

I like the idea of directing thank you to myself. I often forget to do that. Thanking others is certainly more easy for me.

The Sufi poet, Hafiz says,

“Join me in the pure atmosphere of gratitude for life.”

My gratitude practice has really nourished me over the years I have been doing it. Each night I think of three people, events, or situations that I am grateful for. I bring the person, situation or event to mind and briefly replay it. Then I say to myself, “I’m happy and grateful for …” I fill in with the person, situation or event that happened during the day.

For example, last Wednesday, one of the items on my gratitude list was the wonderful Mindfulness in Healing sangha gathering we had. It featured a reading of the Five Climate Ease Mindfulness Trainings and a lively discussion afterwards. All of us were very nourished by the sangha.

During my meditation the next morning, I reflected on the wonderful feelings I had towards the members of the sangha and the gratitude I felt that we were all able to be together.