Once we discover what a positive impact the practice of gratitude can make in our lives, we tend to get excited about the practice which,  in turn, helps us remain motivated to continue…for a time.  Our gratitude practice has perhaps made us feel better, more uplifted and more joyful.  Perhaps we are more in love with the people in our lives, or our health is improving, or our days are more harmonious.  Life is good.

Then, after a few weeks or so, a dastardly thing happens…we begin to forget the very practice that has brought about this transformation and we neglect to practice.  We begin to slip back into our old patterns.  Perhaps we start complaining and focusing what’s wrong in our lives. Or, perhaps we begin to judge what should be and what shouldn’t be.   Soon our life begins to reflect our attitude…and there are suddenly more things to complain about.

Why does this happen?  Why would we drop a practice that has made such a huge difference in our lives?  It happens because we human beings are naturally more comfortable with our old attitudes and our old ways of looking at life.  It fits us like a comfortable old pair of sweats.  And we slip into them without thinking. Then, once they’re on, we can be reluctant to expand the energy to take them off and put on a clean outfit!  Even if our old attitudes make us unhappy, at least we feel normal…we feel like our old selves.  We may even rationalize that a transformational practice like proactive gratitude is nice when we remember to do it, but “we have to face reality.”  We completely forget that we create our reality by the way we look at life.

So how do we prevent this from happening?   If this is basic human nature, how do we make permanent change in our thinking and therefore our lives?  Here are a few tips that can sustain our commitment to  practicing proactive gratitude.

1. Get support.  Surround yourself with people who have a similar goal. If you need to make some new friends, then do it.  There’s lots of beautiful, positive people in the world who value personal growth.  Find them and befriend them.  You can also find groups on social networking sites (such as the gratitude community on Facebook) that share common a commitment. 

2. Set up reminders. You may want to post reminders to practice gratitude and stick them to your bathroom mirror, computer or dashboard.  For those of you who schedule your day in a planner, consider scheduling a block of time to reflect and focus on what you are grateful for that day.

3. Be accountable to someone. You might want to find a “gratitude buddy” with whom you can connect on a regular basis and share your experiences.  Or, you may prefer to work more formally with a life coach who will assure you stay accountable.

4. Reinforce the positive.  Acknowledge yourself for your commitment to practice…particularly when life gets a bit bumpy and it’s a challenge to find something to be grateful for.  Pat yourself on the back.  Congratulate yourself.  Reward yourself with something nice like relaxing with a cup of tea or buying flowers for yourself.

 Transformational practices by their very nature challenge us to follow a path that is, at times, uncomfortable.   Slipping back into familiar, safe patterns is expected.  Be gentle with yourself.  Love yourself through it.  And, by trying the suggestions here, you will rise above, grow in grace and realize your highest potential.