It took an app, of course, to get me to do it. God forbid I use cursive and a book, even if its a moleskine book, to note the pieces of my life for which I am grateful. It took an app and a challenge to mark up to 1000 items for which I am thankful (I’m at 236 FTR) because I didn’t believe in it, not really, that gratitude journals were worth the effort, the minuscule effort, to lift up my eyes, take note and *make* note of the this and thats which make my life, well, make it also wonderful in the midst of less-than-wonderful.
What we focus on grows, it’s said, and I’m not sure that’s true. It defies my logic (or perhaps signifies my lack of imagination?) to believe my thoughts, my shambling thoughts, have much direct influence on my outer world. But what I have become sure is true is this: As I increasingly orient towards the things that are good in my life – that which is true, that which is quality, that which brings life, that which brings contentment, that which brings delight, that which endures – this new app-enabled-praxis is generative of a gentle, permeating easiness with life, even the less than wonderful parts.
What is that worth?
Hey Nancy,
Our thoughts change the world around us, they change us. As much as we’d like to be able to control what goes on outside of us, we can’t. But we can control how we react to it, how we deal with it, and how we frame it as we try to make sense of our worlds and our lives.
On a more pragmatic note, care to share what the app was?
Beth´s last [type] ..Irish Stew
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Beth Reply:
October 18th, 2012 at 12:31
Oops! That was supposed to say our thoughts DON’T change the world around us. #EPICFAIL
Beth´s last [type] ..Irish Stew
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Nancy (aka Moneycoach) Reply:
October 21st, 2012 at 13:21
I figured
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Nancy (aka Moneycoach) Reply:
October 21st, 2012 at 13:20
The app is 1000 Gifts. It’s free, and truly a beautiful app (both visually and in execution) but one headsup: it’s decidedly religious and every time it opens up, gives a thought about gratitude within the theology of Christianity. Since I am one, it works for me, and I doubt they are off-putting for anyone, but it is a distinctive feature.
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