Grateful (2 mins)

TWO MINUTES!  TWO MINUTES!

It’s such a short period of time.  What can you possibly do or talk about for just 2 minutes?

What do you have on your to-do list would only take 2 minutes to complete?  Nothing?  If there is something that would only take 2 minutes, why haven’t you completed it yet?  Just do it already, it’s only 2 minutes.

Then I started thinking about something I do that changed my life, and it only takes… 2 minutes. I’d like to share this with you as I think it could have an impact on your lives as well.

I would like to ask you all now to think 5 things you are grateful for. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.   That took about 5 seconds to come up with those 5 things.  I’m sure if I gave you 2 minutes to think about it you could each come up with a lot more.

One of the things I do, when I’m sitting in traffic, or at my desk on a stressful day, or when I am unwinding after a long day, is to take 2 minutes out to think about, or often start writing down all of the things that I am grateful for.  In 2 minutes I can get a pretty good list going.  As I am writing the list I can physically feel my mood changing.  I start sitting upright more, my eyes open and stress drains from my body.

Research has shown that those people that regularly reflect on the things that they are grateful for in their lives are generally happier and more optimistic.  I for one am guilty of being very optimistic.

So next time you are feeling stressed or down, take 2 minutes out and write down all the things you are grateful for.  It could change your day… or your life.