A Gratitude Ritual

As each one of my three daughters comes home for the Thanksgiving vacation holiday, my heart expands and I am overcome by all of the amazing gifts that I have in my life. As I wrote on the dedication page of my new book The Integrity Advantage, I am blessed to have amazing women in my life to learn from, laugh with, and lean on. In particular, I publicly acknowledged my mother, my three daughters, and of course Debbie Ford. A woman of courage, brilliance, and faith, Debbie radically shifted so many people's lives - especially mine. Through her teachings, wisdom, honesty, and vision, Debbie gave and keeps giving me - and all of us - the gift of liberation. As we enter the holiday season and this sacred time of introspection, Debbie's words ring in my ear. Especially around this time of year, she used to remind us that: "When you're in the presence of your gifts,rnyou naturally feel gratitude." If you want to live a life beyond your wildest dreams, if you want to turn the ordinary into extraordinary and find the miracles that are dancing in front of you in every moment then start with the practice of cultivating gratitude. So as we enter this week of Thanksgiving, I want to share with you a powerful Gratitude Ritual Debbie created. (See below.) I hope you take the time to do it. Especially during this season when we all literally and figuratively have so much on our plates, it is important to go within and connect with your blessings. And as I turn my attention to what I am most appreciative for this week, I want you to know that I am grateful for YOU. I know that there is no greater honor than to be welcomed into your life and share in your emotional and spiritual evolution. I appreciate your openness and willingness to let me be a part of your process! From my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you... Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Transformational Action Steps (1) Make a plan do the Gratitude Ritual on a daily basis for at least a week. Put it in your calendar. (2) Find a place that inspires and deeply nurtures you, a sacred place, to do the Gratitude Ritual. (3) Do the Gratitude Ritual each day for at least a week. (4) After the Gratitude Ritual, ask your heart to tell you what it's most appreciative for. Jot these words down and remember that they can serve to fill your internal cup and bring you peace at any time amidst the bustle of this holiday season. rnA Gratitude Ritualrnby Debbie Ford The beautiful gifts of gratitude begin at homernso today invite a healing to happenrnin your own bodyrnin your own consciousnessrnin your own loving heartrnthat feels blessed to be alive Notice all the riches you've been givenrnthe feet that allow you to standrnthe legs that allow you to walkrnthe stomach that allows you to eatrnthe lungs that allow you to breathernthe throat that allows you to speakrnthe mouth that allows you to tasternthe nose that allows you to smellrnthe eyes that allow you to seernand your beating heartrnthat allows you to lovernHonor them all Become present to the treasures of your lifernthe opportunities that you have been givenrnthe ones that have effortlessly opened up for you this yearrnReflect on your family, your kids, your partner, your friendsrnLook through appreciative eyesrnthe eyes of what's rightrnthe eyes of the divinernGive thanks in a way that you never have before Allow fear, doubt, struggle and painrnto melt away in the presence of this all-loving appreciationrnThank God that you have a consciousnessrnthat is able to shift and transform in just a momentrnThank God that you are courageous enoughrnto take a moment to bless yourselfrnto bless the universernto bless all those who love and guide yournand then to bless all of the world Send your tears of love and gratitudernto those who are in painrnto those who are alonernto those who are confusedrnAllow the heavenly vibration of gratitudernto puncture their fearful illusionsrnand open up their hearts to what is truly divine Today, take this vow of deep self-love and gratitudernknowing that when you are in the presence of this kind of lovernyou - as well as all of those around you - will flourish Take five slow deep breaths, breathing in love, appreciation, gratitude and joyrnKnow that you are never alone and you will never be alonernWe are all here surrounding you with love.