Life Changing Lists

“It was there on the list in front of me. And I wouldn’t have believed
it if I hadn’t written it myself. But I knew it was truth.”

 

List writing is an excellent way of bringing something to your full attention. Seeing the information there on the paper in front of you, in black and white so to speak, singles it out from all the other mental clutter whizzing around in your head. Certainly the information carries more impact. And you won’t find a single To Do or Not to Do list here, as this is list writing with a difference. There only requirement is that as with all the writing activities suggested in this book, you are completely honest.

The lists suggested in this chapter encourage you to become more self-aware, to look at your life and your way of being in greater detail. You gain an appreciation of who you are and what you have. And you get to finally admit to who and what you’ve been stepping around.

What you do with all this information is up to you. Many of you will find it liberating to acknowledge your true situation in this way, even if you choose to do nothing about it for the time being. At least you’ve chosen honesty and maybe, for the first time, you’ve revealed your true self to yourself as opposed to being who you think others want you to be. In this sense writing lists is something you might choose to do before moving on to writing affirmations, letters or journaling, for example, as the latter all help bring about the changes you desire.

 

The Living in Gratitude List

It is all too easy to overlook the things that work in our lives. The days when the sun shines, or we get that much needed rain; the days our family are healthy and our work fulfilling; the days we look fantastic in that outfit, have a job, can pay the rent, have a bed to sleep in and the car starts and the bus arrives on time.

You get the idea. It’s only when those things start to go awry that we notice. That’s why a gratitude list is so powerful. It helps you:

·         Be more appreciative of what you have while you have it

·         Be more aware of all the things you might take for granted daily – fresh running water, roads, delivery people, for example

·         Be more aware of our interconnection and need of each other

·         Remove blocks to attracting abundance into your life

·         Focus on all that you have (as opposed to what you lack)

·         Turn negative emotions such as fear to more life-enhancing ones of joy and love

·         Realise a brighter future

 

When, How and Where to Write

Last thing at night or first thing in the morning are the preferred times to write this list. Yet you will experience great benefits by writing it at any time of the day. Write a fresh list daily and commit to doing it every day for at least a month. This gets you into the habit of appreciating, and developing that all essential attitude of gratitude. 

            Write out at least seven things for which you are grateful. And if you really don’t feel as if you have anything to be grateful for, start with the air that you breathe, your eyesight (if you have eyesight), the roof over your head or your children or pets. There is always something and someone to be grateful for. If you sit watching television feeling fed up with the world, you can only do so because people have worked to make the programmes. And still you couldn’t watch it without those who work at generating the electricity that powers your set, or the people who made the set, so be grateful for these people at least.

            One of Sallyann’s clients told her: One day I decided to make a list of all the things that I felt were right with me and my life; all the things I could be grateful for. The list was far longer than I thought! It was a positive experience and now I make a gratitude list daily.

Many people write more than fifty things daily and it’s true that when you focus your mind on gratitude this way you will find more and more to appreciate.

 You can write this list on anything, yet we suggest you treat yourself to a book that appeals to you. Whether it’s lined or unlined pages, loose or bound pages, covered in pictures of flowers, cars or horses, let it reflect your taste. Sallyann buys pretty lined writing books which she labels Gratitudes.  She writes in it last thing at night, usually, and says it’s amazing what spills forth.

 

I am Grateful For…

The following are examples from a variety of people’s gratitude lists who are willing to share them with you:

The African violet on the windowsill flowered today

The blood donor whose blood I received – God bless you

The wine stain came off the new carpet

My comfy bed

Barry and the kids

My new wheelchair

This frothy hot coffee

Living another day

Mum’s funeral being so well attended

My computer not crashing as it has done every other day this week!

The gift of peace this afternoon

My business being in profit

I voted!

Showing gratitude in this way really does work. And as the above selection shows, the appreciation can be for something as big as being alive to seemingly smaller pleasures such as a cup of frothy coffee. Don’t wait until you lose something or someone to make a habit of appreciation, for it’s often only then we realise there are no small pleasures in life.

When Graham’s wife died he treasured his memories and photos of the great travels they went on together to India and other far-flung destinations, and the fun-filled Christmas and Easter holidays they always shared with their families. But it was the small things he missed. Watching her draw back the bedroom curtains first thing in the morning and seeing her laugh as he moaned about the daylight. The cups of tea they shared in quiet when they both sat reading. ‘I never even considered those things at the time,’ he says. ‘Yet now they stand out as some of the things I miss most about her.’

  Be grateful for all you have right now, today, this minute. Be appreciative and enjoy, and in doing so you open yourself up to a remarkable flow of abundance. 

 

The Uplifting/Draining List...