A new way of recap: The gratitude list

December – we approach the end of the year. Was it a good one, did it bring you joy, magic, gratitude and love? Everything that you dreamed of? It’s a good time to recap. And let me tell you, it’s not something that I normally do, or that I do similar to what you might expect.

The recap I heard of

What I hear people do, is a recap mostly financially. Businesses are rated, finances are checked. Do I have more or less than one year before? It is all about analyzing in a very logic and analytic way, it is about numbers. And many times about what didn’t go well.

What I recap on

I like to do a different recap. I am not saying, that checking numbers isn’t valuable and important, it is. But equally important is a recap of everything that is not so easy to rate, because there is no generally valid measurement. Like love, joy, excitement, magic, in other words, how good your life was. That is right. I realized that for many people, good moments happen, and they enjoy them. But then, they go ahead and focus on the problems and keep their focus right on them. And in the end, the year seemed to be a row of negative events, with hardly any positive. Just for the simple reason that they kept focusing on them.

The reality

90% of the time when we think of the problems we need to solve, these problems are not even there. That is because in our mind we prepare the worst case scenario, even though it didn’t yet happen. It is a little bit like if you would construct an airplane and you focus 99% of your thinking in what to do if something goes wrong. Don’t get me wrong, if I am on that airplane, I want you to be prepared for what can go wrong, but honestly, I would like you to get straight what should go right, because this is what the plane is supposed to do: fly from A to B without facing major problems.

Here’s my take on it

I like December to be my month of gratitude. I like to thank people who were special to me this year. And I admit, it is easy to be grateful for things that happened in November and December, they are most present, and I can remember everything up to the feeling I had. But what about January? To solve this problem, I had an idea: the gratitude list. Every time I feel gratitude for someone, I would take a note. I would write as detailed as I need so I can remember appropriately, up to a point where I can feel what I felt in that moment. Beginning in January, to make sure I do remember in December when I finish off my year. Because I don’t only like to be reminded of all the beautiful things myself, I want to express my gratitude to the people who inspired me and brought me light.

The idea behind

I know I can say thank you at any time, and I do, of course, say thank you in the very moment the event happens. But here is the magic: how many times do YOU YOURSELF forget about the nice little things you did for someone? Most of the time, you didn’t even rate them as huge things, because for you, it was normal. For them it was special. And likewise, the other way round – only by being reminded of how amazing their gift was for you, they would realize. And meanwhile they recapped their year and maybe thought of the negative, there comes a reminder about how special they are. Isn’t that lovely? Everyone needs and deserves a moment to be reminded of the beauty they carry within, and the miracle they are – for themselves and others.

If you like this idea, share this article, and the idea. Let’s bring more joy and happiness in the world of each other by reminding each one of us how magical we are.

#thegratitudelist

Read more on how you can bring more miracles into your life here

Here is a quick tip on more self love