There’s a self expansive aspect of gratitude. Very possibly it is a little known law of Nature; the more gratitude you have, the more you have to be grateful for. – Elaine St. James

I’ve noticed that when I notice the good things in my life and what’s good about it, more good stuff shows up. Sometimes I think that maybe I’m materializing good stuff, and maybe I am. Other times I think maybe it’s just that I’m noticing the good things more.

Lately, I’ve been making sure to also notice the things in my life what aren’t working, that aren’t what I’d call the good stuff. My reasoning is that if I deny the reality of some things, then basically I’m in denial. Noticing these rough spots and things that bring sadness lets me get a little smarter, so maybe I can learn some lesson from the experience. Sometimes it seems like those are the best ways I learn!

I’ve also been taking it to the next step, to just notice this bad stuff, and not get caught up in it or worked up about it or beat myself up about it. That seems to be working pretty well.

Assume that… in ever human situation, something works. – Appreciative Inquiry

In addition to noticing gratitude bringing me more things to be grateful for, holding a sort of optimism about finding something that works also helps bring alive my interactions in trouble spots. Instead of getting caught in what’s not working, considering that there just might be something that works seems to wake up the possibility of solutions. It doesn’t seem to mean that perfect solutions magically appear. It does, though, keep connections open as well as hearts and minds open. That simply feels better, and seems to be working better, too.

Creative Commons license courtesy dottieg2007