At the heart of our Animal Meditation teaching is gratitude. Don’t worry. You don’t need to have a natural affinity for gratitude. There are many ways you can develop a more grateful mindset if it doesn’t come naturally to you.
As we are all different, you will find what works for someone else may not work for you. So to start your gratitude journey, let’s look at some of the most effective tips you can follow.
Add gratitude to your daily routine.
If you want to reap the benefits of gratitude, you will need to add it to your daily life. That means fitting it into your daily routine.
Many people prefer to practice gratitude first thing in the morning. Then, when you enjoy your cup of coffee, grab your journal and write a list of the things you are grateful for. Include the relationship you share with your pet on that list. You can also do this at night before you go to bed.
Adding gratitude into your daily routine soon becomes a habit, just like brushing your teeth.
Embrace challenges and tough times.
It is more difficult to practice gratitude when going through a tough time. However, pushing through and focusing on what you are grateful for can help you better deal with difficult situations.
A good tip is to embrace the challenges and tough times. Look at what the situation is teaching you and any positive things you can take from it. In some cases, such as losing a beloved pet, showing gratitude is particularly tough. However, you can focus on how they would want you to feel. Would your pet want you to feel constantly sad, or would they want you to live life as best you can?
Embracing challenges isn’t always easy. However, it can help you to find the opportunities you might otherwise miss.
Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness has become one of the essential tools for gratitude. Whether you practice meditation, journaling, or yoga, animals can help you to develop a more grateful mindset. Nothing beats the relaxing feeling you get from practicing mindfulness daily. When your mind is calm and relaxed, you will find it much easier to become a more thankful person.
Dogs are great at showing us how to appreciate small things. Think how excited your dog gets when you pick up his leash or open the refrigerator. Dogs remind you that you don’t have to wait for big events to be thankful.
Practicing gratitude means being grateful for everything in your life, including the small things. So, when you are writing your gratitude list, don’t forget to include the small stuff, such as you got out of bed in the morning or managed to smile during a difficult time. When you focus on the small things you are grateful for, your brain will start to look for the positive in everything.
Express your gratitude to others.
Gratitude isn’t just about you. To develop a more grateful mindset, you must also express your appreciation for others. Remind the people you love why they are important to you. Write a letter to somebody who helped you and show appreciation when something is done for you. Be sure to spend time in meditation with your pet and make time to walk, camp, or play together.
Boost your happiness.
While gratitude can make you happier, focusing on boosting your happiness also makes gratitude easier. Focus on the things that make you happy, such as being surrounded by nature, your pet, or taking care of yourself. The happier you become, the more grateful you will also become.
In conclusion.
These are just some things you can try to become more grateful. Building up a gratitude mindset does take time, but if you follow the tips above, you will soon start to see a shift in your perspective. Of course, you can always turn to your pet if you need an example of a gratitude mindset.
Want to improve your animal meditation practice? Sign up for one of our Animal Reiki Meditation classes and start creating a grateful mindset.
