I have no doubt that you've already heard about the POWER of GRATITUDE. In fact, if you've been using intentionality for any time at all, then you've already employed gratitude intentionally and know that the most vital and powerfully creative feelings are always going to be variations of love and appreciation.

"I am grateful. I appreciate. I give thanks for. I revel in delight about. Oh, isn't that lovely. I welcome. This is so gratifying. I feel complete about. I love."

Abraham, channeled through Esther and Jerry Hicks, suggests going on an 'Appreciation Rampage." From one of their workshops in 2000, here's a quote:

"It might take some diligence at first. I might say, 'That doesn't make me feel good, and that doesn't make me feel good,' but if I want to feel good, then I will stay on my search. And if I keep saying to the Manager, or to the Universe, 'I want to find something that makes me feel good; I want to find something that makes me feel good.' If I'm holding that intent, and I really, really mean it, the Universe will yield to me, sooner than later, something that makes me feel good - and I will feel the relief and the release of feeling better. And then I will say, 'Ah, that makes me feel good.' And as I focus upon that for as little as 17 seconds, now I'm off and running. Suddenly, the things that were in my vicinity that were not making me feel good, I do not have vibrational access to any more. Now, I'm on a rampage of things feeling good." - Abraham (www.Abraham-Hicks.com)

We inherently know what it means to be grateful. However, do we really apply this knowledge in our everyday experiences? Are we truly leveraging the power of gratitude to not just manifest our dreams but to manifest the kind of every day experience that we want?

- What about in your work relationships? Do you use gratitude with the co-worker that drives you crazy or the boss that piles on more while paying less and less?

- What about during the holidays? Do you use gratitude when the shopping lines are long or when your dear relative goes berserk in the middle of the feast?

- What about at home, with your friends, when looking at your bank account, or reviewing past memories (both positive/negative)?

Any thought that is NOT aligned with appreciation is an opportunity to apply the power of your mind toward creative transformation.

I know it's not easy to appreciate our challenges, the struggles, the fights, and the hard times. However, I also know that it doesn't matter whether it's 'easy' or 'hard'. What matters is that we are being intentional. What matters is that we are focused upon how we want to show up! What matters is that we are focusing upon the power of creative thought to intentionally manifest a better life for ourselves, our family, our community and our planet.

And, we cannot transform our world by hanging onto the 'negative' stories from our past. Nor can we transform any situation that we are unwilling to give thanks for. One way to simply focus and employ the power of gratitude is to simply write down your 'I am Grateful for.' list every day.

On my Creative Manifesting Forum friends simply share their Gratitude Lists as a way to speak loudly and clearly to the Universe - WE ARE GRATEFUL. One guest wrote:

- Feeling better about my social life coming together;
- Feeling better after detaching and setting free my feelings;
- Believing and trusting more of my gut feelings again;
- Being open to other responsibilities with love;
- Feeling stronger as the day went by;
- The fab sunshine;
- Still feeling super sexy;
- Feeling good about my body and health;
- Wanting the best outcome for my love new interest without manipulation or desperation;
- Having a massive grin on my face all day from last night;
- Still feeling proud of myself from last night's tester;
- Able to have the free space and time I have now;
- The lovely choc's I've been eating through out the day!

There's nothing earth shattering about this list. However, the vibrational alignment of this list is equal to all the prosperity, love, fulfillment and success that we truly want. Our work as law of attraction students is to seek vibrational alignment. When we are vibrationally aligned, we attract more to be grateful for!

I'll share my most recent 'Gratitude' miracle. In May of this year, we lost our sweet family pet, a Sheltie named Gracie, to cancer. She graced our family for 11 years and 6 months and was affectionately called, "Crazy Gracie." She earned this nickname because she would go crazy over the weirdest noises - like the oven, for example. She would bark and spin frantically when we opened the oven door; weird but lovable!

By October, my kids were begging for a puppy. And, I was ready too. So, I thought, "There are so many dogs that need a good home. We'll adopt a shelter dog!" I contacted the Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) rescue and was so excited to find out they had many, many wonderful Shelties that needed a good home.

Would you believe - I was rejected! They dismissed me and wouldn't let me adopt one of their dozen or so 'Shelties in need of a good home'! Long story short, they couldn't verify that we were responsible pet owners (my vet never called them back and they couldn't reach the mobile vet clinic we sometimes used)!

I was mortified. I know that's a strong word, but that's how I felt. I literally woke up every night for a week wondering why they wouldn't let me adopt a dog!?!? I even thought to myself, "Wow! If I can't adopt a dog, what would someone say about me as a mother?!?!"

So, after a few weeks of strange humiliation, I decided to try again. And, wouldn't you know it? I was rejected again! This time they rejected me by simply not responding to my application and calls. Now, of course, I knew where my 'energy' was before I even started with the Golden Retriever rescue. I wasn't surprised when they just didn't reply. I had known that my 'vibration' was not aligned but I was trying to 'force' the situation anyway. I had been sharing my story about "those Nazi shelter folks!" with all my friends. And, yes, I'm not proud of myself but I did use those words and we all got a good laugh at my expense!

However, this left me in a place of knowing that it wasn't the shelter's fault but my very own 'consciousness' that wouldn't allow me to adopt. I had to clean up my vibration or my children would never get a dog!

This is when I realized that I had been telling the Universe what kind of personality that I wanted in our family pet but I hadn't trusted in the Divine to deliver in perfect timing. I shifted my attention from one of negativity to one of sheer gratitude. "I am so grateful that we haven't adopted yet. I know that our perfect family pet, aligned with all of our family goals, is already mine and I'm just waiting patiently for the call."

I reached out to three more shelters and friends who had 'dogs' in need, but they didn't respond. This time, I immediately went to gratitude: "Oh well. those weren't the ones. Thank you, Universe! Thank you, God, for protecting us and putting us in harmony with the right pet for us, now!"

Here's my gratitude miracle: Yesterday, my brother calls. "Anisa, a coworker just sent an email that she has a border collier she's fostering. He's a smart, 8 month old tri-color Border that needs a good home." I knew instantly this was the call.

And, here's the magic: When we met, I recognized the dog and his soul instantly. I had even printed his picture out from another shelter and had made a note to contact the shelter when we got back from Thanksgiving! He's wonderful! He's sleeping by my side at this very moment, happy and content. He's smart, loves kids, and hasn't even thought about chasing Caesar (our family scaredy cat)!

I asked for a call and that's exactly what I got. However, had I not shifted my attention into a place of appreciation, well - I can only assume that I'd be rejected indefinitely!

In parting, I leave with one of my favorite thought-provoking gratitude quotes:

"To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude."
- Albert Schweitzer

I am so grateful for you!