How to Get Better at Practicing Gratitude
Ego is a roadblock to personal growth, so it's not surprising that it's often referred to as Edging God Out. Your ego is the internal voice that tells you how things should be, which is often opposite of the way things are.
It’s the voice insisting you need more money, a bigger house, a better car, to lose weight, to look younger, to gain followers, and well, you get the picture.
Many people focus so much on what’s missing that they forget about the numerous blessings in their current life.
The Ego is Always Hungry
Ever heard the phrase if you stop feeding the bears, they’ll stop coming to the picnic? The same is true for the ego.
Lets use financial problems as an example for feeding the ego. If you find yourself with your stomach in knots about money–stop and start focusing on the positives in your life. Stop feeding the ego. “But, you don’t know my financial situation!”– Believe me, I’ve been there and do understand.
Financial situations are temporary and are always changing. If you don’t have the money right now and there’s no clear immediate money coming in, then how is stressing about it going to relieve your financial situation? Let’s face it, it won’t.
And guess what, the constant chatter about everything else missing in your life will also not change your current situation. The only thing increasing with this tactic is your cortisol levels which only impacts your future health.
Stop Feeding the Ego
Anytime you feel tense, annoyed, jealous, out of control, angry, nervous, or overwhelmed and notice the inner voice starting to talk about how bad things are, then you’re feeding the ego.
One exercise to immediately stop feeding the ego involves mindful breathing. Start by inhaling through your nose [inhale for four seconds, hold the breath for four seconds] and exhaling out of your mouth [count for six seconds]. Repeat five times.
Once you complete the breathing exercise, think of 10 things you are grateful for that are currently in your life. This is like emptying a junk box and then filling it with items you love.
Here as an example of a quick gratitude list:
“I am so happy and grateful…”
To have a heartbeat.
To breathe.
To have a new day with new possibilities.
To have a bed to sleep in.
To have food in my kitchen.
To have heat (or air conditioning).
To have healthy kids (and/or pets).
To have clean clothing.
To have clean water to drink and shower/bathe with.
To have a car that gets me from place-to-place.
Replace the Ego with Gratitude
I understand that not all things listed on this sample gratitude list may apply to you, but there are thousands of things to be grateful for–you can easily pick ten. The fact that you were born is proof that miracles exist. You are a walking miracle.
Once you start focusing on what is going good in your life instead of what is missing, you will notice that your ego will diminish and your life will change for the better. Call it the law of attraction or call it rewiring your brain for happiness, but whatever you call it, you can expect to feel uplifted and renewed.
If you prefer to write in a journal, there are several gratitude journals that can be purchased on Amazon or you can just use a notebook to help you focus on gratitude.
Don’t Rush The Process
You have had negative thoughts for as long as you can remember and you’ve lived in a mental state of wanting more than your current situation for years, so you can’t expect results to occur immediately.
The ego has been running the show since as far back as you can remember. It takes time to silence that ego indulging chatter, but the more you practice, the easier it becomes.
You must objectively watch your thoughts–if you catch yourself wanting more or putting yourself down, immediately start thinking of something you are grateful for instead. Stop the negative thinking before it turns repetitive.
Once you get into this habit, expect your life to change for the better. Your higher power will start showing up in your life in ways you never knew possible.