Gratitude has a very high vibration and a power to uplift us. Giving thanks for what we have received is integral to many religions, and there are rituals designed to remind us of the power of gratitude; saying Grace at meal times or celebrating the harvest for example. You don’t need to be part of any organised religion to start using gratitude to transform your thought patterns and your life.

Sometimes we find ourselves caught up in the advertisers’ brainwashing of ‘needing more things to be happy.’ Buying in, literally, to the consumerist lifestyle of the West creates a sense of discontent, lack and neediness in our lives.

The truth is that we can never purchase lasting happiness, because happiness starts from a place within ourselves. How can we elevate our mood and feel better about what we have? Gratitude is the key.

I believe strongly in the Law of Attraction. By giving thanks for all the positive things in my life I draw in many more things I can give thanks for. If I focus on lack I will draw more lack towards me. It really is that simple.

By shifting my awareness into an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’ I elevate my mood and my personal frequency. I actually become a nicer person to be around too and my positive attitude is then mirrored by the people around me. Which is the person you’d be drawn to, the grateful and contented type, or the discontented person always focussing on what is missing? Which would bring out the best in you?

I see the evidence for Law of Attraction all around me. When I slip up and fall into a pattern of negative thinking, the bad stuff comes in very fast. It feels like the Universe saying, “Hey Lauren, you teach this stuff, you do know better! We‘ll give you a short sharp shock and bring this pattern to your attention so that you can do something about it.” When I correct my mindset everything starts to improve and turn around for me just as quickly.

When I apply gratitude things start to shift magically around me. My partner becomes more giving, mirroring my mood, my children seem to get along better together. Good things start to happen. I receive unexpected gifts, compliments, nice surprises happen. I feel more generous and giving and the energy of gratitude I transmit ripples out into the cosmos bringing good experiences back to me. As I appreciate I am appreciated in turn.

I write this in January 2009 and I have a pile of bills pinned to my notice board. My tax is due, my Accountant needs his payment, I have a website bill to be paid and my car insurance runs out next week. Phew! When it all comes in at once it is easy to panic and start to spiral downwards into ‘lack mentality’, to believe in not having enough.

Instead I am practising gratitude with my finances. Right now I have earned enough to write cheques to cover my tax bill and the accountant, so I’m saying a big thank you to my students and clients for valuing my teaching and healing. As I write the cheques I will be saying many more thank yous. “Thank you,” to my accountant for doing his job well. I recognise that having a tax bill to pay is a sign that I was successful last year and that’s a good thing. I’ll say, “Thank you,” to the tax man, “I know I will benefit from the taxes I pay.” As I post the cheques off I will be saying a loud, “Thank you! Thank you Universe for bringing me students and clients whom I can help and who will pay me for my services.” I know and trust that giving thanks like this will ensure that my other bills are easily met and that I will have plenty of great students and clients to work with in the year ahead too.

I’ve found gratitude for what I have already is one of the fastest ways to transform my life. If you don’t believe me just start saying thank you for anything and everything and watch what happens.

Let’s run a gratitude experiment together. Find things right now you can be grateful for. Remember to be thankful for small things like each meal, as well as big things like loving relationships and good friends. Say thank you many times a day, preferably aloud, or in your head if you are worried about being thought crazy! Express gratitude for everything that gives you pleasure, insight, a reason to live. Say “thank you” to anyone that holds a door or does you a favour. Let me know in the New Age Forum how your energy shifts and your life changes.

Thank you for reading this article! If you’d like to know more about the Law of Attraction Rhonda Byrne’s ‘The Secret’ is a great place to start. I like to listen to the audio book from time to time and remind myself that the process of attraction is ongoing always. It helps me turn my thoughts right round and get back on track.