Please join me in the Grateful Dog Project. It is very simple and might possibly even become a really great new habit if you practice it for even 5 or 10 minutes a day through the holiday season.
A few minutes a day with gratefulness literally can change your life. It changes the pattern of all those negative news feeds that end up spending too much time in our heads. It is a big wake up call to what we actually do have, all the good that is around us and how we actually react to anything and everything.
Grateful Like a Dog
Dogs tend to live their lives in the moment. They are not mad about what happened yesterday and they aren’t worried about what will happen tomorrow. Dogs tend to be happy about whatever is in front of them. It’s a great lesson.
Always looking for the good is a dog’s motto. Granted, their good sometimes may not be our good. Though there is some sort of happiness within ourselves when we see a dog get such joy out of carrying around one of our shoes as though it were a coveted prize.
Simplicity
Dogs keep it simple. The ebb and flow of our times have brought our society full circle. The 80’s and 90’s brought times of more is better. The 2000’s are bringing times of less is more. The Grateful Dog Project is about being thankful for all we already have. And the more grateful we get it seems the more good happens.
“Where the mind dwells so goes our lives.”
The Grateful Dog Project 5 Minute Practice
•Write down all the things that you are grateful for. First thing in the morning is the best time but anytime it works for you is a good time too.
•It doesn’t have to be a long list, just start.
•Each day you can add to the list.
•Read over the list (out loud is best) and give each one that moment of appreciation. In that moment. Think of nothing else. Like a dog. Wag. Smile. Shake all about. Whatever gives you that feeling. Thankful. Grateful.
•When you feel moments of overwhelm during these days of holiday splashed everywhere, say at least 3 of the things on your list in head to yourself. Then go back to what you were doing. It will feel better.
•Act like you are a dog. Have fun. In this very moment. Don’t dwell on yesterday and don’t worry about tomorrow. Do what is in front of you this very moment and do it with a wag.
•And last but not least on the list, have something good you’ve decided to do or think ready as your next thought to replace the overwhelm, the negative, or lack of focus. And if that seems to be difficult, you catch yourself criticizing, down on yourself, worried about money, or anything negative at all, here’s what to do:
•Say 3 things you are grateful for on your list. And if you don’t feel like it….
•Do it anyway. Say 3 things you are grateful for. Then go back to what you were doing.
It works. It will change your life. You will feel better. You’ll replace being upset about things with a happy disposition about life. It is the very simple things that usually bring us the biggest joy.
Please share your list or a portion of your list in the comments. Reading grateful, brings more gratefulness. Good is gonna happen.
Thanks for reading. My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now! Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter. Retweets are cool too.
As a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker and author and creator of 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!
Katie | Momentum Gathering
November 19, 2011 at 11:17 am (13 years ago)I’m in. What a great habit to cultivate and so simple and such a great name – The Grateful Dog Project – reminds me of the Grateful Dead – does that make me a Doghead?
I’m grateful for the early sunsets that make my evenings more cozy. I’m grateful for the puppy that has come into our life and that we already love even though he doesn’t live with us yet (he’s too young and needs his mom a while longer). I’m grateful for a new friend I’ve found in you who inspires me with her love of life.
Wow, I feel better already. xo
Jt Clough
November 19, 2011 at 9:10 pm (13 years ago)Yes, you are now officially a Doghead!
Thanks for joining the Grateful Dog Project.
Gratefulness is making my life feel like every day is the best day ever.
I am so grateful for my health, for my life partner, for my dogs, for the visit with my sister and brother-in-law. I’m grateful I get to get in the ocean and feel the magic, live in the warmth of the sun, and have time to enjoy it all. I also am grateful for a new friend who inspires me. As they say, when the student is ready, the teacher appears. It seems I’m finding a sishtah-hood of those who are doing that for one another. It’s way cool.
Mahalo my Doghead Friend.
Jeanette Melian
November 19, 2011 at 2:34 pm (13 years ago)Dogs are amazing animals and I agree that they can teach us a lot about being present, being unconditional with their love and teach us about being joyful for the little things. This reminds me a lot about the book, Simple Abundance where you write five things you are grateful for every day and eventually it becomes a habit. Not only that, you begin to only focus on the abundance that surrounds you versus the lack.
Nice post! Thanks,
Jeanette
Jt Clough
November 19, 2011 at 9:16 pm (13 years ago)Mahalo Jeanette.
Have not read the book but I’ve been practicing some new things one of which is gratefulness. I’m amazed at how something that seems so simple can change the entire focus of every day enough that the habit becomes very easy because it truly is such a fabulous feeling.
Dogs are great teachers as well. They listen, don’t usually interrupt and love us no matter what! Another really good thing I practice as much as possible.
Aloha Wags!
wanda
November 21, 2011 at 1:16 pm (13 years ago)When you are going through major lie changes this is a great exerdise in helping re-focus. Life can deal some pretty low blows and I no matter how hard it is at those times to feel grateful there is always something. The more you focus on that the more things begin to surface to add to your list. I do this in a journal and though I’m not always faithful to the journal I try each day to be grateful. Great post Big Wag to you
Jt Clough
November 23, 2011 at 8:57 am (13 years ago)You become what you think about silently and what you say out loud! Challenges are so very difficult, especially dealing with loss. Inviting in all the good is a much better option than inviting the negative things in life to constantly visit our surroundings.
So glad you are journaling and focusing on bringing the best of you and everyone around you into your daily life. Mahalo for you thoughts.
Aloha Wags!
Tess The Bold Life
November 21, 2011 at 10:26 pm (13 years ago)Hi Jt,
I love the part about saying each one out loud and adding a moment of appreciation. Fantastic.
Jt Clough
November 23, 2011 at 9:00 am (13 years ago)Tess,
I’ve practiced saying things I wanted to come to manifest to myself for years. Recently I started saying them out loud. It changed everything. Somehow put more of a real passion behind it.
I highly recommend it!
Aloha Wags!