I practised gratitude daily and deliberately for 28 days, here's what happened.

During a recent accountability group meeting, we discussed the things that inspired us to shift our perception towards a more supportive perspective in life (something along the lines of?Saboteurs?into a?Sage?you can read about in my?recent article ). One of my friends shared that she had been doing a gratitude challenge that required her to engage in various practices each day, and how it has positively impacted her life. Intrigued by her change in attitude and energy, I decided to purchase the challenge for myself.

‘The Magic’ by Rhonda Byrne, was my guide to day-to-day practice, where one focuses on a different area of life and finds things to be thankful for.

Each day leads to more in-depth practice and finally leaves you with a habit of seeing the world from an abundance rather than a victim perspective. And this happens because when you focus on what you have already, it leaves no space for lack mentality!

It’s so easy to get caught up in life and forget about all the incredible things we have going for us. Like, remember that sweet crib you grew up in without having to pay a dime? Or the food on your plate and all the birthday presents you were receiving every year? We take all these things for granted, but when we stop and think about how lucky we are, it’s a big mind and mood shift.

Think about it for a minute. List 10 things you are grateful for about your life. Do it with your eyes closed and with a hand on your heart. And reconnect to the feeling of having it, the joy and excitement for them all. Did you notice? The change is tremendous!

And the key is — you cannot be in both states at the same time — the gratitude and the victim. Hence to me, as my primary saboteur was?Victim?and?Controller,?perceiving life?as if?my cup was always full,?was a true game changer.

To give you a taste, some of the prompts were:

• finding 10 good things about the last challenging situation you went through;
• saying ‘thank you’ the moment you pay for something (like electricity bills) as an act of gratitude for receiving the good or service and as a result, becoming a?money magnet;
• keeping the list of things you want to thank from your workplace (extra challenging when you’re feeling overwhelmed or on a verge of burnout, however, especially then worth trying!);
• finding a?magic rock?and every evening before going to bed running through your day in your mind and choosing the most magical moment from that day. That was my personal fave.

Many people may wonder if the act of imagining things that aren’t real for ourselves is a form of toxic positivity. After all, aren’t we living a lie by creating a false reality? However, there is a magic trick to this process. By feeling the things we want to bring into our lives, rather than just thinking about them, we can begin to see the world from a perspective of abundance rather than scarcity. This shift in perspective can have a massive impact on our overall sense of well-being, as we begin to create a reality with our thoughts, that then ultimately translate into things. Fact.

So what’s my take on this exercise?

After completing the "living my dream life" exercise, my perspective on life has undergone a transformative shift. I now wake up every morning with an appreciation for the beauty of the world around me and find solace in the warmth of my bed and duvet at night. My interactions with people have become more meaningful and compassionate as I make a conscious effort to understand their pain and struggles instead of attributing negative intentions to them.

Since adopting this mindset, my heart and mind have been filled with a sense of peace and tranquillity that relates to the simple but profound act of surrendering to the circumstances around me and recognizing the futility of trying to control everything. As a result, I have been able to experience more magic in everyday life, leading me to question whether things could get any better.

But they do. This exercise has taught me that I am in charge of my thoughts and feelings and that by shifting my outlook from victim to creator, from lack to abundance, I can unleash immense power within myself. The impact may seem small, but it has the potential to bring about radical positive change in my life.

What about you? The choice is ultimately yours — will you choose to focus on lack, or will you shift your perspective towards abundance? Trust me, the results are worth it. Join me on this journey of gratitude and allow the magic to unfold in your life too.

With love and gratitude,

Kasia