I have been practicing the art of gratitude since 1996, when Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book Simple Abundance guided so many of us to begin keeping a gratitude journal.
Then, in 2009, my friend Kim Shirley introduced me to the work of Regena Thomashauer, aka “Mama Gena,” a NYC-based actress-turned-trainer-of-women in really activating their feminine power. Of course, I was stoked to learn more about her and what she does. Regena’s book “Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts” teaches three practices I just love, especially together. I get so much power from practicing these three tools, especially in community with other women, that you can’t go out to dinner with me, be a coaching client, or – now – read my blog without me dragging you into a conversation about
- How have you totally impressed yourself, turned yourself on, pleased yourself, or otherwise created magic lately? That’s a BRAG.
- For what are you thankful? What blessings are right here? What blessings are on their way and you want to give thanks in advance? And what currently-challenging situations in your life are you going to affirm as blessings in shit-brown wrappers? Those are GRATITUDES, or “grats” for short.
- And what are you craving? Yearning for? Realizing the world needs? What marching orders from the universe are written on your heart in the form of desires? From wanting “this headache to go away” to yearning “to know my divinity” to realizing “I want to be a mother”, no DESIRE is too big, too small, too “selfish” or too far-reaching.
When women share their brags, gratitudes, and desires, the flames of our brilliance dance higher. Isn’t it easy to want for someone else whatever it is she wants? And as you do that, you’re building the muscle that lets you want what you want. The muscle that gives you permission to be yourself and shine as you long to shine. And of course, being witnessed by a loving friend as you share these so-personal, so-wonderful details of your inner world (and the outer world you’re creating, just by voicing them) is so, so delicious. So pass it along, babes.
When you go to lunch with a friend and she’s complaining for the 97th time about the same crap with her mother or her boyfriend or her lack of either… Ask her what she’s got to brag about. Ask her what she’s grateful for. Ask her what she wants.
And share it with me and the community here at awakeandgrinning.com. You’ll for sure be hearing my brags, grats and desires.
