“If you want to find happiness, find gratitude.”  Steve Maraboli

I told you yesterday that the universe doesn’t like a whiner and challenged you to go 24 hours with ZERO complaints.  So, I wanted to check in and see how that’s going.  I’m guessing for a good number of you this is kind of like a diet, you’ll start Monday.  After all it’s the weekend, time to relax, have fun and not think about anything stressful.  And to that I say, fair enough.  It is hard and the last thing you want is to be stressed over trying to eliminate your limiting energy because that will once again only invite more negative your way.  But do try at some point, it gets easier, trust me.

Knowing first hand how hard it is to catch yourself every time you want to let out your frustrations I thought I’d let you in on another little secret to a happier you that is probably a whole lot easier to incorporate into your everyday life.  And it can easily be done over the weekend without spoiling a single second of your fun.  It’s gratitude, saying and meaning thank you, appreciating what you do have in your life and feeling joy over all the little things that you tend to neglect.  And while it can’t negate all of your negativity, it can boost the positive vibes you’re sending out and help you attract more things to be grateful for.  So really, the weekend is your perfect starting point to feel grateful because chances are you will spend it doing things you enjoy and the positive emotions will already be built in.

“The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles.”  William Penn

You see, people tend to focus their attention on what is missing in their life or what is wrong with their current reality — and they know exactly how to express every little thing they don’t want in great detail.  But when it comes to being grateful for all they do have and expressing joy and gratitude for these things, people tend to get stumped because it’s not exactly what they want or they feel it’s not enough.  But spending any amount of time dwelling on what is missing only invites you to experience more of what is missing.  And the feeling of not enough brings more lack into your life.  Always remember what you focus on becomes your reality and your thoughts drive your emotions.  Those emotions are then ultimately tied to your energy.  So be grateful, feel thankful and send joyful energy if you to change your reality and lift your spirits.  And it’s soooo easy!  Do it over anything and everything, out loud or in your head.  You just have to feel it for the universe to respond in turn.

“Worrying is like praying for bad things to happen” — unknown

So again, now that your work week is most likely coming to a close and you’re done complaining (or at least trying to), use the weekend for seeking out joy and feeling grateful for the opportunities you do have.  Say thank you at any and every opportunity with sincerity and take the extra step to feeling it and showing it if  you can.  If you don’t have big plans this weekend, or it’s not really your weekend, don’t worry!  Meditate, daydream, fantasize.  Do whatever feels appropriate for you to evoke joy and gratitude and take the trip of a lifetime, meet the man of your dreams, shop with that black Amex, or decorate your dream house in your perfect life with all that brings you happiness.  The universe loves your imagination because it has no limits, and as long as you can feel your dreams and you believe you deserve it, it makes no difference if what you are grateful for is tangible or not.  Your energy will shift the more you feel gratitude and so will your reality.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.  If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”  Oprah Winfrey

Now this important so I’m going to say it again, especially if you’re sitting around unhappy with all that you see, it doesn’t matter if these things exist or not, and it doesn’t matter if what you are thankful for is big or small, to bring more experiences into your life to be thankful for you simply need to feel it — and the more emotion you can muster, the stronger your energy becomes.  And remember, what you send out, you will get back, without fail.  So if you feel the urge to complain and say this is hogwash, just ask yourself what’s the worst that could happen if you try?  What possibly could go wrong if you spent a little energy on saying thanks, more and with sincerity?  You’ll end up with better manners and possibly change someone’s day while improving your own?  It’s a win win, so thank away and exude gratitude.  Start this weekend…and if you can, try not to complain.

“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.”  Hausa proverb