Do More Than Count Blessings, Be a Blessing

Do you count your blessings on a regular basis? Many, many folks do including me. This practice helps us look for the good in our lives and reminds us that there is a LOT of good there.

Weekly I compile my five favorite blessings from the past week. I even try to link up on Fridays at Living to Tell the Story with others who are doing the same. Reading their 5 favorite blessings reminds me that I have similar blessings in my life. And so my list grows bigger. My gratitude grows bigger.

I thought this was the best way to grow my gratitude. Then I read the following:

After several days of writing down my blessings, I read the lists and realized everything was all about me. Shouldn’t I be blessing to others?

After that realization, my journaling changed.

Not only did I list five blessings that happened for me, but also five ways in which I had reached out to bless others. . . .

By hunting for the blessings in my day, my mind was focused on the good, not on the disappointments.

By thinking of ways to reach out and help someone, my mind was focused on others, not on my own little problems.

~ Helen F Wilder ~ Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude – 101 Stories about how Being Thankful Can Change Your Life

 What a great Idea. I know that I do kind things for others. I enjoy doing purposeful,  random acts of kinds. But I never thought to make this a daily practice.

I am going to do this and will start with one thing. I am a gung-ho- kind-of-person. I start projects, new habits, and goals at the Expert Level instead of starting at the beginner level. And too many times I quickly burn myself out.

Also I will include that one thing I do in my daily  journal.

Your Turn . . .

1. What is your experience with counting your blessings?
2. How do you pace yourself when starting new things? I can use some tips here.
3. Is the idea of being a purposeful daily blessing new to you? If it is, will you try this with me?

Related Resources . . .

• 20 Acts of Kindness Ideas to Celebrate 200th Post
• Pay It Forward – New Theme for the 12 Days of Christmas

No Complaining Update: I am now on Day 15/21 of no complaining. I am going to add today’s idea, being a blessing, in addition to not complaining.

Today is Day 17 of the #Write31Days online October writing challenge. My topic is 31 Days of Fruitful Words INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING. I know I will be challenged in more ways than writing every day. If you’d like to have more fruitful words coming from your mouth, please join me from October 1-31, 2016.

Go here for the landing page which has all the posts from this series.

Go here to see what #Write31Days is all about, the categories and the bloggers who are participating.