Developing a daily practice of giving thanks for your blessings is an excellent place to start. It's similar to learning to drive a stick shift truck.
I had my first driving experience at sixteen, in a stick shift truck on my cousin's farm. Her husband had an old pick-up truck that they used for chores and running errands. Like most teens, I was eager to learn to drive, so one day, I asked my cousin to teach me. She pitched me the keys and told me to teach myself. Dirt roads and cotton fields surrounded their home, so she figured I couldn't do much damage.
The first few tries were challenging. Balancing the clutch and gas pedals required concentration. But after a few jerks and sudden stops, I finally mastered first gear. Once I got the hang of it, shifting to second, third, and fourth gears became easier. From that day on, I headed back to their home every chance I got to practice. Before long, my cousin was sending me to the store about a mile down the road. Cruising those country roads all by myself was the coolest thing I had ever done. And it came with a bonus: I could drive any other vehicle, stick shift or automatic!
Self-care begins with acknowledging and appreciating the good things in your life and keeping a daily list of your blessings is the first step. It's like shifting into first gear, where you become aware of just how blessed you are. Once you've mastered keeping a gratitude list, you're ready to switch to second gear - gratitude journaling, the step where you reflect and discover who you really are. As you continue, you'll slowly shift into third gear, the gear of forgiveness - your pathway to freedom. Feeling lighter and picking up speed, you smoothly move into the fourth and final gear - the gear of self-love, the foundation of self-care.
Every time I hopped into that truck, I had to master each gear to get to my destination. Similarly, counting your blessings each day equips you to face life’s challenges and overcome obstacles, one day and one blessing at a time, without compromising your well-being. And here's the bonus: before you know it, you are flying high on the wings of gratitude.
Starting a gratitude list is simple, but few people try it. Little do they realize that the list is where the rubber hits the road, where the gifts of gratitude begin to reveal themselves, and the journey of self-care begins.
Don't wait until things fall apart to count your blessings. At that point, it's like idling at the top of a hill in your truck—it wears you out!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Need help beginning your gratitude list? Myrtle Russell is here to help with her "Unwrapping the Gifts of Gratitude Journaling” Workshop or one-on-one coaching. Contact her at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com. Catch up on her Self-care blogs at www.myrtlerussell.com/blog.