No matter how stressed out, overwhelmed or in a funk I may feel...when I remember to be grateful for something or someone in my life I instantly feel better.
Even if it's just 2% better that's usually enough to swing me around to a more positive way of thinking and my attitude starts to shift.
There's a lot of talk about gratitude this time of year with Thanksgiving just around the corner and that suits me just fine. Can we ever put too much focus on being thankful? I don't think so!
That's me in Breckenridge, Colorado during a beautiful hike with my mom and dad last summer. When I look at this photo feelings of gratitude come flooding over me.
Instantly I'm grateful for so much!
~ Spending special time with my awesome mom and dad
~ Calling Breckenridge, Colorado my home away from home for over 15 years now
~ Having the strength, health and desire to hike
~ Appreciating the majestic beauty of nature
~ Hiking boots that have served me well for years and year
Here's a creative way to tap into your own gratitude quickly and easily the next time you're feeling wound up, bummed out or knocked down by life.
Spark Gratitude with a Favorite Photo and Simple Creative Play
#1 ~ Find a favorite photo.
#2 ~ Set a timer for one minute and write down as many things as you can think of that you're grateful for inspired by the picture you chose.
#3 ~ Take a nice deep breath and really let the words you wrote sink in and allow yourself to truly feel the gratitude throughout your mind, body and spirit.
#4 ~ Enjoy some additional creative delight: Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and let yourself play with some free-form creative fun inspired by your photo, your words and your feelings of gratitude. For instance, you might create a page in your visual journal, write a poem, doodle or enjoy some other creative activity. Pick something that sounds fun, easy and doable!
I hope you enjoy trying out this creative prompt and join me in embracing this season of thanks!
All the best from my grateful oasis to yours,
Jill
Jill Allison Bryan
P.S. ~ If you enjoyed this post and would like to receive bite-size bonbons of creative inspiration like this in my Mid-Week Oasis Moments plus a free copy of my e-book "Permission to Be Creative 101" join me here: http://www.creativeoasiscoaching.com/newsletter.html.
