The Power of Appreciation / Who's in Control?

Are we in control of our thoughts and emotions, or are our thoughts and emotions in control of us? We all want to be able to create and manifest the life we personally desire, but darn those negative thoughts, as they seem to keep getting in the way.

I trust that more and more of us are finally beginning to understand that although we obviously do not always get what we want, we always get what we think and feel. Yes, having goals and taking action are critical components to obtaining what we desire, but if our thoughts and emotions are not lined up, then chances of succeeding are greatly reduced.

The Power of Appreciation / Stopping negative chatter is the first step on the path to appreciation.

I hear from many individuals who tell me that the negative voices inside themselves dominate what they are thinking and feeling on a regular basis:

“If I could just stop the constant barrage of negativity, fear, and self-doubt that swirls in my mind and body, then I know I could live a happier more abundant life”.

This is what I was told by one of my seminar attendees recently, and this is what I want to discuss today.

The Power of Appreciation / 2 Practices

The two best ways to stop the negative cycle of personal thoughts and emotions is through a daily practice of gratitude and meditation.

When you wake-up each morning instead of immediately thinking of the money that is no longer in your retirement account, or the problems with your personal or business relationships, or the weight you cannot lose or. . . why not take a moment and begin to appreciate all that we DO have?

What kinds of things can we feel happy about in the present moment? How about starting with the little things like appreciating the food in our refrigerator, the clothes in our closet, the beauty of nature, the warm shelter we have, our friends and pets etc. etc. ?

The Power of Appreciation / Appreciation Quotes

These appreciation quotes might help you come up with more things to be appreciative about:

"We have no right to ask when a sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every joy that comes our way." - Unknown

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." - Frederick Koenig

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." - Ashley Smith

This list can and should be added onto each day! In fact why not begin to make a list of all the wonderful things we do have. I ask my audiences at every one of my speaking engagements to consider just how comfortable and wonderful their life is relative to everyone else here on planet Earth. A daily practice of appreciation is the quickest and easiest way to calm down those thoughts of negativity, fear and lack.

The Power of Appreciation / Meditation

Meditation: I have found in recent years that the most effective long term method for finally gaining control of our thoughts and emotions is through a daily practice of meditation.

This daily practice takes commitment, self-determination, and the desire to change. Meditation trains us to stop our thoughts, which is the first step in being able to change them and in doing so restore a sense of balance to our crazy lives.

Tips For the Practice

I am not someone specifically trained in meditation practice, but here is what simply has worked for me:

I begin by finding a quiet spot, closing my eyes and putting a small smile on my lips.

Next, in a sitting position with a straight back I imagine a warm white light from the heavens entering through my head and going right through my body to the core of the earth. I slowly breathe in the light, thinking only of the light and my breath and nothing else.

The Power of Appreciation / Words to express Appreciation

The purpose here is to eliminate all other thought. At first you will only be able to block out thought for a few seconds, but with daily practice this will improve quickly. Once we are able to effectively block out those negative thoughts we are able to begin creating new desired thought and emotion patterns.

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