Not a Super-Flexy, Slender Yoga Chick Talks "The Power of Gratitude"

Have you ever received a gift and thought, “Wow, I am so lucky”? Or gone to a concert and felt the same way? What about when you traveled somewhere new—did you stop and think, “Wow, I am so lucky”? Even if you didn’t think those exact words, can you recall a moment where you did feel lucky or grateful? How did it feel? Warm, happy, powerful, invincible? But did that feeling last? Or did it vanish the moment something didn’t go the way your mind wanted it to?

And there it is—the mind. That sneaky little thing whispering to you, convincing you that things aren’t perfect. It only sees things from a limited, ego-driven point of view.

Now, let’s set that little mind aside for a moment and picture this: It’s morning. You gently open your eyes and notice that it’s a fresh new day. There’s a little breeze, and you hear the birds chirping outside. You get out of your warm, soft bed and head to the bathroom. You do your business, wash your hands, and make your way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever morning "poison" you prefer. You feel good. You feel happy.

But now, let’s remove the following things:

• Gently opening your eyes—You’re blind.

• A little breeze—You’re freezing because you don’t have four walls around you.

• Hearing the birds chirp—You can’t hear them because you’re deaf.

• Getting out of a warm bed—You don’t even have a bed or four walls, let alone a roof over your head.

• The bathroom—You have to go behind the corner of your “house.”

• Doing your business—You need assistance to complete a basic task.

• Washing your hands—You don’t have running water.

• Walking to the kitchen—You don’t have a kitchen, and you can’t walk.

• Making a cup of coffee—Food and water are a luxury you can’t afford.

Did I take it to the extreme? Absolutely. But have you ever stopped to appreciate something as simple as walking to the toilet, using the bathroom on your own, or having a cozy bed to sleep in? Most likely, no. The mind has tricked you into thinking these things are just “normal” and therefore not worthy of gratitude.

Joe Dispenza once said, “Gratitude is the ultimate state of receivership.” What does he mean by this? Put simply, if you focus on negativity, that’s all you’ll see. If you focus on beautiful things—like flowers—you’ll start to notice more beauty around you. What you put out there is what will come back to you.

So, how about starting each morning by dedicating your first minute of the day to gratitude? Be grateful for your bed, the window you look out of, the bathroom, the ability to move, the gift of seeing, hearing, tasting, and so much more. By investing just one minute of your day like this, you set the tone for the rest of your day—and you’ll begin to see the beauty in every moment.

Does this mean you’ll never feel frustrated or upset? No, of course not. But by practicing gratitude first thing in the morning, you’re "tricking" the mind into seeing things from a different perspective. Over time, this will become your second nature, and you’ll find that those moments of frustration will pass more quickly.

A Simple Gratitude Practice for You:

Try this for 21 days: As soon as your alarm goes off, instead of groaning or feeling frustrated, say “thank you” three times. Not for anything specific—just “thank you.” It might sound simple, but you’ll be amazed at the shift it brings. 😘