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https://www.emilylark.com/

I have been intentionally practicing gratitude for many years - but recently I realized a new way to take it one step further and it has changed my entire life. People who practice gratitude have been shown to have significantly increased feelings of well-being and life satisfaction. Many people keep gratitude journals and record what they are grateful for every day. My kids and I make it a habit to tell each other our "3 Gratefuls" every night before bed. Practicing gratitude for all of the wonderful things in my life has helped me a lot throughout the years... But it wasn't until I figured out how to shift my gratitude onto the not-so-wonderful things, that I really felt the full power of this practice. Over the years, I have come to realize that the worst and hardest times of my life have always led me directly to the best and most beneficial situations and circumstances. So much so, that in hindsight I have been wildly grateful for the worst things I've experienced. However, during the hard times, it can be almost impossible to remember that they won't last forever...and will usually lead to something great. So a few years ago I decided to "practice" feeling grateful for and during the bad times. I started this by consciously deciding that everything (no matter how painful) was a gift. When something went wrong I would repeat the mantra, "everything is a gift." I repeated it over and over again until I started to believe it. Then I noticed that I naturally started looking for, and seeing the gift in every situation. Rather than waiting until a hard time was over to see how it had benefited me, I began to be able to see the possible benefits in the moment and to seize them even faster. When doors closed, I would find better ones to open much faster. When relationships ended, I would find more positive ones to replace them. And when I found myself feeling depressed and even filled with despair, I was able to recognize that those "rock bottom moments" were full of healing and growth. It can be easy to practice gratitude for the people, things and situations in our lives that we love. But it is infinitely more powerful to practice gratitude for the moments that appear to be the worst. Gifts come in many packages. Sometimes they are disguised so we can't recognize them for what they are. But if you choose to be grateful for everything that comes your way, it's amazing how the worst times can turn into your greatest gifts. Wishing You Health and Happiness, Emily Lark Back to Life System

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