An Experiment - Taking up the Challenge

I happened to be listening to a recording online on gratitude by a realtor in Nevada named Sanda Sumpter located at http://www.backtogratitude.com/. It didn't say anything that I haven't heard a hundred times but while listening, I had an insight about how life works and what I could do to make my life better.

If you get more of what you focus on in life, what are the implications of seeing yourself as a "problem solver" and a "fixer?" If you approach life as primarily a problem to be solved or a challenge to be met, does that mean you will get more than your fair share of problems? Does this mean that focusing on problems will bring more of them into your life? I suspect this is true.

(A variation of the above theme is focusing on what you want in life - i.e. a goal. Does focusing on what you don't have bring more of "not having" into your life? I think so.)

So, if I want fewer problems in my life, I would do well to deal with them as necessary but keep my focus on the blessings that are in my life. This should lead to more blessing and fewer problems, right? If I want to achieve more of my goals in life, would I be better off focusing on the goals I have already accomplished?

I decided it was worth an experiment to find out. I took the challenge that the speaker offered to journal for 10 minutes a day for 7 days on what I am grateful for and why. (The "why" was also a new thought to me as I have journaled list of gratitudes before and found it trite and somewhat boring. The point is to "connect the dots" of blessing in your life with the purpose and mission of your life. The speaker promised a "transformed life in 7 days."

I don't know about "transformed" but after 7 days, I had noticed my mood lifting (maybe its Spring) and my days going smoother. I noticed more peace and joy in my life. Though it is subtle, I think the change is significant to extend the experiment for another month.

What follows, therefor, is a running "thought stream" of my morning meditations as I focus on the blessings of my life and how my life is better just by focusing on the good things I already have.