I remember when Oprah began encouraging everyone to write their own gratitude journal. I started one but it just felt like one more thing to do. Instead I tried to experience feelings of gratitude by simply thinking about 3 things I felt grateful for every day, either upon awakening or just before bed. Naturally, there were lots of mornings and evenings when I forgot to do this.

Flash forward 7 years and “Wow! What a difference!” Today, I’m surrounded by beauty, space, privacy, and other forms of abundance I couldn’t even have imagined before. And now I find my gratitude comes naturally. I can’t even open my eyes without feeling an amazing sense of appreciation for all that I’ve created in my life.

Is there a connection between all that I have and the depth of gratitude I feel?

Obviously, this didn’t happen overnight. I wonder, when did gratitude become so effortless? Gradually, for sure. And how did it become such a natural state of being? Profound, genuine, effortless gratitude is so powerful in creating anything your heart desires, it’s well worth doing whatever it takes to get to that place in your life.

Like anything else, you start small. You consistently exercise that “muscle.” Over time it gets more powerful. As your efforts are rewarded with less and less effort, the use of gratitude becomes second nature.

About The Author...

Barbara Zagata is the CEO of Santa Barbara Soul Food, Inc and author of Don't Stress~ Manifest: 21 Truths to Set You Financially Free.

"I believe we all have the power to create radiant health and freedom on every level. So I talk about food and finance.

Neither budgeting nor dieting work in the long run because the focus needs to be on the positive outcome. I teach people to leverage what they've already got - their inner resources - to multiply their outer resources.

I provide tools, techniques and ongoing inspiration for those who desire to make a significant difference."