The Freedom of Gratitude--the 30 day experiment

Gratitude is a powerful tool for change and it is available to you in every moment of your life.

Last night I spoke to about 40 women at a networking group. My topic was the Attitude of Gratitude. Katie & I are teaching a teleseminar this month on the Freedom of Gratitude. It seems that the topic of Gratitude is in the air this month—and much needed at this time too.

Yesterday morning while preparing for my talk, I was guided to spend minutes sitting in gratitude. No asking for anything, no writing in a journal, no ‘doing’. Just 10 minutes of being grateful for what I already have. What an experience!

Now 90% of my life is amazing and running smoothly. That leaves 10% just not where I want to be. What I didn't realize until I sat in gratitude for 10 minutes that the past several months I was so focused on the 10% that wasn't working that I forgot about being thankful for the 90% that IS wonderful! Worry & fear wil do that to you--make you forget everything but the loss, the disappointment, the lack!

Within just a few minutes I felt such incredible warmth spread through my body & my heart opening in ways it never did before. As I became aware of my old negative thinking, it began shifting and changing—remember no ‘doing’ just ‘being’.

Suddenly I was shown every situation, time, event in my life where I had ALWAYS gotten what I needed and asked for. I mean EVERY time. I also realized that the limitations and trials that came with each opportunity were of my own making.

Even when I was receiving everything that I asked for—my negativity was limiting my experience. Everything showed up according to what I expected and what I allowed.

Wow! Talk about a total shift in consciousness and emotional healing! I view my past completely differently now. My whole life has opened up in new ways---just using the power of gratitude.

SO—I have committed to spending 10 minutes in gratitude for the next 30 days. I’m doing this because the past 2 days have opened me to so much more than I imagined existed.

The experiment is simple—10 minutes a day sitting in gratitude. Doing nothing—no journaling, no commanding—just being present to the presence of gratefulness in your life. That’s it. 10 minutes a day for 30 days. Come join me!

Every day I will share with you my experiences from my 10 minutes of gratitude. Ii'm excited to discover what lies on the other side of 30 days!

In gratitude,

Bonnie

My journey to weight loss success

Since July 3rd of last year I have dropped 60 lbs. and 45.5” and gone from XL/1X tops to a size medium and from size 16 pants to a size 4. My original goal was to reclaim my body and my health, not to be a size 4, and not only did I reach that goal, but surpassed it! I feel great! I have more energy, greater vitality and my aches and pains are gone. Now I am exercising on a regular basis which is energizing and motivating me even more. Instead of dreading getting up early to exercise because it’s something I should be doing for my health, I bounce out of bed, grab my new workout clothes and pop in my favorite exercise DVDs. And that energy stays with me throughout the entire day. I am accomplishing goals in other areas of my life that before seemed impossible to take on.


So what finally started me on this weight loss journey? One morning I woke up and realized that I was tired of not feeling good in clothes, being uncomfortable in my own skin and making excuses for why I could never seem to lose the weight. I was tired of the emotional trap of trying to live in the present, but fearing the past, and I was just plain bored with my story of why I couldn’t have what I wanted. Reclaiming my body and my health became my top priority and highest value. After that it was a matter of stepping forward and taking action.


It was time to walk my talk. And what a walk it’s been! Starting with asking myself two questions, I began Commanding to be ready and Commanding to find the resources to be successful. The questions I focused on were: “What makes me feel alive?” and “Who am I when not being run by my past?” Using The One Command every step of the way led me to an eating plan that worked for me and got me past the cravings and old belief patterns around food and body image.


Taking to heart what I teach clients and students, I began tuning into my body several times a day and listening to what it had to say. And it had a lot to tell me about feelings!


All any feeling really wants is to be welcomed with understanding and compassion. It wants the room to unfold, to relax and tell its story—your story. It wants you to trust it enough to pay attention and, in listening, allow it to dissolve into nothingness.


What I experienced on this journey was way beyond just dropping the weight and looking good in clothes again. It was a total transformation of body, mind and spirit. I learned that the desire to eat when not hungry reveals what you really believe about life. Once I understood that, I began questioning the truth of my beliefs and Commanding for what I wanted instead. When I felt like giving up, I Commanded for the determination to continue. When everything was going well, I Commanded for even more of what I wanted. My feet were moving and my eyes were fixed on the goal. Along the way, I even learned to enjoy the journey that we call Life, trusting in myself and my greater intelligence to lead the way.


The results of this journey are evidenced every time I look in a mirror. The reflection I see is more than a thinner body; I see myself as I truly am—body, mind and spirit--and I fall in love all over again.

I witness your good health,


Bonnie