Thankful Jar

Enjoy an even better life with an attitude of gratitude!

As one year closes and another begins I spend time reviewing the past and planning for the future. In thinking back to 2016 I became filled with gratitude for all that I have in my life. As I thought about the wonderful people in my life, my coaches and mentors, all I’ve learn and accomplished both personally and professionally, all of the extraordinary activities, vacations, meaningful moments when my emotions were stirred, I realized that I may not remember everything. This realization lead me to want to create a new ritual in 2017. 

I put a jar in my bedroom along with a small pad of paper and pen. Each night I will write down one or more things I experienced or thought about that I am thankful for. The note will then be placed in my “Thankful Jar.” At the end of the year, I will take some time to read each of the thankful notes. I can just imagined how filled with happiness I will be as I remember what I was thankful for each day of the year.

My morning ritual begins with this question, “What am I thankful for?” I take a few moments to reflect on the many wonderful aspects of my life. I start with my family and friends - people I love and who love me - and I feel loved. Next is usually an experience, accomplishments or opportunity in my life that truly moves my emotions. I finish being thankful for a couple of things that could easily be taken for granted like chairs, music, cars, airplanes, brilliant researchers and doctors, my sight, hearing, taste buds, legs and arms. All of these thoughts create of flood of happy emotions! My day is off to an amazing start!

Research shows that people who have an attitude of gratitude live happier healthier lives. Seven of the scientifically proven benefits are revealed in this article by psychotherapist and author, Amy Morin.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201504/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-gratitude

The benefits include:

• Opening doors to more relationships
• Improved physical health
• Improved psychological health
• Enhanced empathy and reduced aggression
• Better sleep
• Improved self-esteem
• Increased mental strength

I invite you to join me in filling a thankful jar with notes of gratitude each night. At the end of 2017 we’ll take some time to read the notes and recall the wonderful memories and feel the joyous emotions those moments elicited. Let's also even share our thankful messages on my Facebook Page throughout the year!

Thank YOU! Have an amazing 2017!

Be Positive - Live Positive - Golf Positive

Decide to Live Positive

You are in charge of how you feel! You are in charge of how you experience each day! Many people live sad, worried, frustrated, mad and anxious for at least some part each day. You don't have to stay in a negative state.

Here are some proven strategies to help you change your state:
1. Move! Change your physiology - look up, put your arms in the air and jump up and down. You don't even have to jump high or leave the ground. After the dramatic movement, stand in a power pose, like a superhero with your chin up, chest out, weight balanced and standing tall.

2. Breathe! Take a deep belly breath! To breathe properly you want your stomach to expand as you breath in, like you are blowing up a balloon.  Hold your breathe for a couple of seconds and then gently blow your air out. Repeat 5 times or more.

3. Think was 5 things that you are thankful for. You cannot have negative feelings if you are focussed on being grateful. Truly feel the gratefulness.

4. Keep your thoughts positive! "I am resourceful!" "I am strong!" "I am calm and confident!" Focus on the positive outcome you desire and ask yourself how you will get there. Be patient, your answers will come!

By using these 4 steps you will change into a confident, clear thinking, resourceful, energized, solution finding, happy person! You'll be in a peak performance state!

Then next time you find yourself in a negative state remember, you don't have to stay there! You can change how you feel in an instant!

Take Charge and Live Positive!

GolfPositive.com

Attitude of Gratitude

One of the best and easiest ways to have an even happier life is to have an attitude of gratitude!

According to Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School, "gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships." Sign me up for all of it!

It's important that you make a conscious effort everyday to be thankful. I found that starting my day with this simple question, "What am I thankful for?" sets me up perfectly. My first answer is always my family and my friends, and then usually my home. Each day I think of different items that I really appreciate like, chairs, electricity, my bed, music and the talented and creative people who invented instruments! I spend about two to five minutes thinking about and visualizing things that I am thankful for and it truly makes me happy. I highly recommend creating this habit for yourself! Start tomorrow morning. When you wake up, before getting out of bed, ask yourself, "What am I thankful for?" One morning my list included toilet paper. Now that's something to be thankful for! Have fun with your list!

You are in charge of your thoughts. Your thoughts will create your emotions. By filling your mind with thoughts of gratitude you will feel happy positive emotions! Say thank you to others as often as possible throughout the day, it will make both you and the recipient feel awesome!

The Harvard Health Publication as revealed that "a study of couples found that individuals who took the time to express gratitude for their partner not only felt more positive toward the other person but also felt more comfortable expressing concerns about their relationship."

Even if you are going through a difficult time, do your best to count your blessings instead of your heartaches.
Thank you for the medicine! Thank you for the support! Thank you that I'm not in the accident that caused all of this traffic! Thank you for the opportunity to learn!

There are times during a round of golf you need to take a moment to look around and think, "I'm thankful that I am on this beautiful golf course today!" It will ease the disappointment of a poor shot.

Make each moment of your life amazing by having an attitude of gratitude!

Be positive, live positive, golf positive!

GolfPositive.com