Mental Exercise 7 : Gratitude

(Exercise taken from page 94, 95, 96)

For every night this week, for a short 10 minutes before you sleep, clear your mind and do a simple exercise.

Think of something that happened today that you are thankful for. Think of the many ways in which you are fortunate. Indeed you have a lot to be thankful for -- health, security, friends, your mental control and other riches of life. Let a deep feeling of gratitude well up in you. Allow the feeling to surface, and permit it to take hold of you. Broadcast a silent statement of who you are.

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After you incorporate this exercise every night, try expanding it to the different times of the day. Let these feelings of gratitude flow through you many times every day. Introduce it gently and let to overwhelm you if it can. Observe what it does to your emotional tenor during the day.

You might find it is easier to hold on to these feelings of gratitude if you use your body. Try walking with a spring in your step -- even if you are rushing to the restroom. Smile, smile, smile. Don't smile from the face. Smile from the heart. Let laughter begin in the pit of your stomach, engulf you and spread across your face.

Notice the changes to your emotions?
Do your feelings about people and the nature of your interactions change?
Do you perceive that others' feelings and interaction patterns have changed?

Do you realize that slowly, you are taking control back from your mental chatter, and making a positive difference in your life? Do you see that you have just changed part of your reality, by changing how you view things and interact with people?