Series: Rise & Shine | Grateful

Rise & Shine confession: I will be grateful for this day.

Dear Aspen reader,

Sometimes I find it so hard to be grateful. The days are full, the moments pass by quickly and before I know it- the day is complete. Being grateful for the day at hand is often an elusive task. And apart from finding the time to be grateful, sometimes it’s hard to understand why it’s even important.

Like I’ve said before, being grateful does wonders for your mental and physical health. Cultivating gratitude holds the ability to change your perspective from negative to positive. Gratitude has the power to shift your thoughts from inward to outward. And the best part, even when you miss an opportunity for gratitude during a given day, there is always tomorrow!

So, I have a question. When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thought that you often have? Is it:

A. “(Ugh) Here we go. Another day.”

B. “(Yes) Here we go! Another day!”

C. Alternating thoughts between A and B - depending on the day.

While I know it’s not possible to be completely upbeat 100% of the time, I do believe that it’s possible to create a grateful mindset and it starts from the moment you open your eyes. I challenge you to write down this statement on a piece of paper, “I will be grateful for this day” and keep it near your bed. When your eyes pop open each morning, roll over - read it aloud. Then move on with your day, choosing to be grateful no matter what circumstances try to shake that. Open your eyes to the good that each day holds and remind yourself that gratitude is a choice, a frame of mind and a heart condition. And know that it’s totally possible to cultivate gratitude each day. You can do it!

In health,

Alecia