Team HopeWe all have a Why. Sometimes we scream our WHY out loud and at other times, we simply embody it and live it day by day, moment by moment. What’s YOUR why? Why do you practice what YOU do? Does YOUR why invigorate you and spark your passion?
I speak on gratitude candidly and I do this, because it became a big part of my very own WHY for many, many years. As many of you may already know, I battled depression and anxiety. There were days where I could barely get out of bed and attend to my three children at the time. Depression impacted on my life in such significant ways, from me swallowing and keeping food down to managing half a banana a day, simply to stay out of hospital and keep myself nourished. It was brutal. It felt lonely, excruciating and painful. While I was on medication for my depression, I decided that it wasn’t what I wanted. I needed more. I needed a soothing balm which allowed me to delve deeper and actually face my demons with more softness, courage and strength.
So, what helped me?
Gratitude.
Practicing gratitude helped me through my survival. I remember reading about 30 different books all on both physical and mental healing and I realised something so profound: most religions don’t agree with one another, but one thing which they ALWAYS, always agree on is the power of gratitude. Every teacher, mentor, speaker and philosopher who I’ve ever come across have all practiced and taught the power of gratitude. Yet, I still feel like many of us tend to overlook this simple, yet profound tool.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Gratitude is not a means of bypassing pain. Instead, I believe that gratitude is an important way THROUGH. There is always, always something to be grateful for, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it may be and this is what softens the pangs of pain. I believe it also goes back to what the intention and purpose behind what all pain actually is: pain is not condemnation; it is rather an opportunity for growth and relearning.
So, through my depression and anxiety, I started saying thank you. Thank you for the gift of pain. Thank you for allowing me to process this pain. Thank you for providing this necessary opening for me to thrive. Gratitude was a guiding light for me, through the dark and lonely tunnel of mental illness.
EVERYTHING changes with gratitude. A simple ‘Thank You’ can shift an entire conversation and open up opportunities for greater love, understanding and empathy.
And this all ties back to my mission. My mission is to infuse this world with the confidence that they too can tap into the power of gratitude. I want to remind people that gratitude is a crucial way through, that it expands and allows and that it is something which every single one of us regardless of religion, race, background or culture all have. We all have the ability to say ‘Thank You,’ no matter how bleak our future may appear to be and no matter how lost we may currently feel. My mission is to help empower you through these small, yet vital teachings which ultimately saved me. I can personally attest to the fact that a regular practice of gratitude leads to greater abundance, prosperity and feeling alive.
I made the choice and did it. I still do it even when it’s hard. Every single day, I choose to either focus on the negative or on the positive. While I always hold space for the hard, I choose to first begin with gratitude. When you practice gratitude, it changes both the quality of your life and relationships. There’s greater softness to what you do. It invigorates you and allows you to live a deeper life, filled with more ALIVENESS.
I want that for you too.
Thanksgiving is around the corner and it’s a perfect opportunity for us all to practice deeper gratitude. People tend to struggle with gratitude around this time of the year, but I truly believe that it’s only difficult when we don’t have the correct tools to assist us. Why not invest in acquiring these tools for yourself, in order to cultivate a life filled with a deeper sense of aliveness and purpose, using the magnificent power of gratitude?
I’ll be hosting the ‘Ignite Your Life Retreat’ early next year with Miriam Grunhaus (I absolutely cannot wait!). The retreat is going to be jam-packed with workshops on gratitude, Kintsugi, meditation, yoga, fire pit conversations and SO much more!
Only 25 very special women will be chosen to join us. Will you be one of them?
To find out more and register, please click here
Work 1 on 1 with Matana – With our 1 on 1 coaching program, you can work directly with Matana. Get a free 30-minute fitting tryout call to see if this is right for you. You do not have to walk through your mental health struggle alone. Because as always, together is better!
There is no substitute for a listening ear. Get Your Free 30 Minute, 1 on 1 Consultation Today.
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