If You Make Only One Change in 2009

If there were a tool or technique that would transform virtually every aspect of your life, would you make the commitment to use it? If it were free and available 24/7 would you actually value it? If I could offer you a "magic bullet" that would support you in being healthier, achieving more of your goals, eliminating fear and anxiety, would you practice it faithfully? What I'm talking about is not some unknown technique, hidden through the ages. It isn't something that will cost you more than being mindful and practicing it whenever you think about it. And it's not difficult to do.

What I'm talking about...the one change I am going to challenge you to make in 2009 is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Now before you click off this message and dismiss it as just one more positive thinking sermon, allow me to cite for you some information on research that has shown how gratitude affects everything from your attitude to your relationships to your results in life.

According to research done by Dr. Robert A. Emmons, University of California, Davis and Michael E. McCullough*, University of Miami, the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of regular bouts of gratitude are undeniable. Here's a small sample of what their research on the power of gratitude and thankfulness turns up:

• In one study, people who kept gratitude journals stuck with exercise plans more consistently, reported fewer physical problems, felt better about their lives as a whole and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded mainly frustrations or neutral events;
• Participants in studies who kept gratitude lists were more likely to make progress toward their most important goals than those who didn't;
  
• Grateful people don't ignore the negative events in life, they just choose to focus on what they still have to be thankful for and that contributes to lower levels of depression and stress;
  
• Grateful people are more likely to place greater emphasis on spirituality and less emphasis on materialism; are less likely to judge themselves and others' success in terms of possessions; are less envious of others, and are more likely to share what they have with others.

Having just come through a most challenging month in my life I have rediscovered the healing power of gratitude as well. Suffice it to say when the health and vitality you've always enjoyed suddenly seems compromised or lost temporarily, you really start to focus on even the smallest reasons for thanks and hope. Last week, Randy Siegel, another coach (someone I don't even know but whose generous gesture I truly appreciate) shared a message with me on "How to Stand Tall in the Storms of Life."**

Here is an excerpt from Randy's message:

My friend had lost everything: her marriage, home, and almost all her savings. "I'm starting over," she said matter-of-factly, "and that's not so bad." Not so bad! I thought. It's the worst thing that could happen. The supports holding up her life were being cut out from underneath her, yet she was still standing. She was standing even taller than before.

"How do you stay so positive?" I asked.

"I'm no saint. I have my moments," she admitted. "There are days when all I can do is cry. But most days, I focus on all I have to be grateful for, and that list is a lot larger than you may think. "I'm grateful for my friends, family, and for my health. I'm also thankful for my car, my clothes, my work, and this beautiful day. "I'm even thankful for this difficult time, even though that may sound crazy," she continued. "In it is a life lesson if I'm open to learning."

I don't know what challenges you might be facing right now. And there is no shortage of challenges "out there", if that's what you're looking for. But I would like to issue the gratitude challenge to you this week: to do as the woman in Randy's story and start looking at the list of all you have to be grateful for, and see if it doesn't beat the things you are worried about or wish weren't happening by a long shot.

A simple way of staying focused on gratitude is to make a ritual of stopping at least three times a day and running through a list of what you're thankful for. If you want to take it to another level, include time in your day to journal what you're grateful for. And if you simply can't stop and get totally carried away on the wave of gratitude, start sending out one thank-you note a day to someone who has made a difference-small or large, past or present-in your life. And watch what happens.

At the very least, starting a new attitude of gratitude for 2009 will leave you feeling happier, more optimistic about the present and the future, and more motivated than the alternative of dwelling on what's wrong with the world. But if thoughts have energy, and they do, and if we tend to attract more of what we focus on, and we do, then imagine what might happen if you begin to make this one change in your life in 2009. I predict not only will your world be better, but the world will be better too. And that's something to be grateful for!

Have a gratitude-filled week!

Quote of the Week:

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

~~Albert Einstein

*For information on Robert Emmons gratitude on research, I recommend his book Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier.
**To subscribe to Randy Siegel's ezine or find out about his programs, go to www.BuildYourInfluence.com.

Special Notices to MMC Readers

Watch for an announcement this week about my next Get Clients Now! teleclass series, starting in March... a must if you're struggling to build your service business in this crazy economy!

Living a Five Star Life

Living a Five Star Life, my first book, published by Simple Truths is now available. To purchase one for yourself (and several for friends), either click on the link in this message or go to www.dynamic-coaching.com and click on the link to Simple Truths.

"Transforming Your Potential into Performance!"
Betty Mahalik, PCC Life & Business Coach, Trainer bettym@dynamic-coaching.com www.dynamic-coaching.com	Dynamic Solutions 5240 Mustang St. Las Vegas, NV 89130 tel: 702 658-4425 fax: 702 658-5802 mobile: 702 443-0175
Want a signature like this?