Dan and I were both in pretty crappy moods the other night. It happens. We were tired and overworked and grumpy and felt completely depleted. It was really late, and we were just getting started for another shift of work. And neither of us was happy about it.
So for about 15 minutes, we complained. We vented. We shared our frustrations. We stewed. And then we got back to work and tried to push through it. But I could still feel it sitting in the pit of my stomach. Like an angry knot – wanting to be unraveled but not knowing how. I knew that this was a mood, and the mood would shift. I knew that this was all my own internal experience. Nothing had changed externally in that moment when I began to feel frustrated. Fifteen minutes ago I was in a great mood. And so I knew in my mind that this mood would stay for awhile and then float on by and be replaced by another one – hopefully a more positive one.
But I didn’t want to wait. I didn’t like living with this knot in my stomach and a body that was shaking with angry adrenaline. I didn’t want to feel this way for a second longer.
It was in that moment that I remembered that I had a choice. I remembered that I didn’t have to attach to this mood – I was choosing to attach to it. And I remembered that I had the power to shift into something else (if I wanted to). And I definitely did.
So I asked Dan if he wanted to play a game with me to bring ourselves out of this yucky, no-fun place. He was willing. And so we began to play The Gratitude Game.
The only rules were that we would go back and forth and share one thing that we were grateful for. We would continue to take turns until we both felt that knot dissipate and felt lifted out of this downward spiral of negativity.
And so we began. A bit reluctantly at first, but still we began.
Both of us said that we were grateful for our love.
And then I said that I was grateful that our cat Biddle was alive and healthy. He had been yelling at us all night because we wouldn’t go sit next to him while he ate (bad routine that we started when he was a kitten…).
Dan was grateful that our journals were selling so well, which meant that we had a lot of orders.
I was grateful that we had a roof over our head. It was cold outside, and while this wasn’t something that I thought about a lot – in that moment I was very grateful to live in a nice house with heat and comfort.
Dan was grateful that we were coming up with new tasty recipes for our new diet (no wheat or sugar).
And then we paused for a moment – still feeling the frustration but really wanting to stay with it and allow it to pass through us.
This was a slow process. We definitely didn’t just rattle off what we were grateful for one after the other. We thought about it and really said things that we felt in that moment. It wasn’t like we were reciting a list of the same things that we’re always grateful for. If we had, we may not have been able to feel this gratitude as deeply and fully. These were things that we noticed as we looked around the house and brought into our consciousness. We were also turning around what was irritating us and seeing how we could be grateful for it.
I said that I was grateful for our office equipment that continues to do such a great job for us.
Dan said that he was grateful that we had a dishwasher to put all of the dishes into.
I said that I was grateful that we worked for ourselves and didn’t have to answer to anyone.
Dan said that he was grateful for our minds and how we are able to create these products to send into the world.
This went on and on for about 15-20 minutes. And we noticed that something was beginning to shift inside of us. The knot was beginning to unravel, and our hearts were beginning to open up again.
And I knew that something had shifted when Biddle yelled, and I saw it as cute rather than grating. And when I went back to packing the orders, I was filled with gratitude that we had them rather than stressed about filling them all.
Now, let me be clear. It wasn’t like we were elated and jumping up and down with pure joy all of a sudden. No. But we had shifted our mood from frustration and dispair to hope and gratitude in a matter of minutes. And that felt pretty amazing.
We are all so powerful – so much more than we even realize at times. And isn’t it wonderful when we can take this power and use it to shift a mood or change our outlook or just move into happiness?
We can do that. And one quick way to start is by playing The Gratitude Game.
I would love to hear how you shift your crappy moods and also your experience with The Gratitude Game!
Please help spread the love by sharing this post on Facebook and Twitter!
Jodi, I’m a huge fan of the gratitude game. I’m convinced that when we have a Gratitude Attitude, life, even in the most difficult situations, takes on a light and lightness. Our burdens are lifted from our shoulders. We see things differently. We are radiating the positive.
Thanks for sharing this. I will be sharing this post to Facebook and Twitter.
Blessings to you!
Hi Martha!
I’m so glad you’re with me on this! It sometimes seems so simple, but it truly makes all of the difference. Knowing that we have the power to focus on gratitude has really changed my life. Thank you so much for sharing! Hugs!
Beautiful, Dan and Jodi. Just beautiful. I do something similar with my Seek Joy, Y’all. I love how you did this with such intention. Marvelous work. We are changing the world, y’all. We are really changing it. People like you. People like us. CHANGERS. 😀
Thanks so much, Arwen! I’m so glad that you do this, too! It makes such a difference. And I completely agree that we all have the power to change the world – one shift at at time. Glad you’re on the journey with me! Hugs!
I play the gratitude game quite often with myself. I too have a lot to bring me down. Rather than focus on that I try to problem solve and be grateful I have a mind that lets me do so. those are the 2 main things I have been practicing, in order to continue this journey with a smile and love. Thank you for this post, it is wonderful as are you.
Hi Jan!
I’m sorry that you are going through a hard time right now, and I’m inspired that you shift it as much as you are able to and look for the positive in your situation. That takes such consciousness and bravery. Big hug to you!
Congrats on focusing on gratitude instead of grumbling. I do this often out of sheer desperation. I hate the knot in the stomach feeling so I focus on the blessings. I also focus on the yucky stuff and give thanks for that. “Thank you for my stained carpet, foreclosure, and small royalty checks.” Somehow when I give thanks for the things that bother me I feel I have power over them and things begin to change.
Sending hugs to you both.
Leah
Great point, Leah, to give gratitude for the yucky stuff. That’s not something I had thought of before. To be happy and grateful for what is rather than resisting it. And then watching the shift happen knowing that the power has been taken away from it. Great insight. Big love to you!
An authentic tale of gratitude practice..yes! Thanks for sharing Jodi, hope you and Dan are doing well, sounds like you’re doing just fine.
Thanks, David!
I hope you’re doing well, too! Happy holidays to you! 🙂
i’ve actually never played this but it does sound fun! i’ve tried to keep gratitude journals too but never actually acknowledged them out loud.
Hi Janet!
I’m such a fan of gratitude journals – they are also so powerful. There is something really great about voicing our gratitude, too. At least for me, this is one of the ways I can take it out of my mind and bring it into my heart. Hugs!
Hi Jodi,
Yes! This is a wonderful post…and a Universal Principle is, “What you focus on Expands,” and so changing that focus ever so slightly can make a huge difference in you life.
Thanks, Vickie!
That’s very true, so we may as well focus on what we love about our life and bring more of that into it. Hugs!
Lovely experience to share with us Jodi. Feeling is always the secret and how wonderful to move into the feeling of gratitude ’till you feel the change in your physical experience. Kudos to you both for the awareness of being able to do this.
Love Elle
xoxo
Thanks, Elle!
Yes – we can say the words all day long, but it’s only when we really feel them that things start to shift. I know you know all about this, and I’m so grateful that we’re on the journey learning together. Hugs and love!
What a beautiful way to break that spiral of negativity. You hit the nail on the head Jodi when you say we have a choice as to whether we attach to a mood or not.
Thank you!
Hi Carolyn!
Thanks so much!
I do think that this is such a huge part of consciousness – realizing that we have a choice in it all and that we can rise above the negativity has made a huge difference in my life.
Hugs!
I never played it as a game with someone, but I did do it on a few occasions by myself when I was near desperate, and really it’s such an immensely powerful tool for changing your emotional state!
Wonderfully inspiring post, Jodi. I’ve never played it as a game (my husband is kind of not into such things), but I have tried keeping a gratitude journal before, and it always felt *so good* to let myself feel grateful for everything I have.
I think for me the key to mood shifting is firstly remembering in the moment that I have the ability to change it, and then remembering that I want to change it more than I want to wallow. Which sounds kind of common sense, but it’s amazing how often I don’t do either when I’m right in the grip of a bad mood.
Blessings
TANJA
What a great reminder of how focusing on gratitude can turn a circumstance and a life around in a short amount of time. For the month of November I did a 30-Day Gratitude Challenge on my Blog–and although it was a lot of work–it was one of the best things I did (for myself and others!) Here are a few things I learned from that for anyone who is interested… http://smartliving365.com/lessons-from-gratitude-day-22-of-the-smart-living-30-day-gratitude-challenge/ Thanks again for your post!
Thanks for sharing this experience Jodi, it’s something we’ve all felt and while we might know the feeling will go away on its own, sometimes it’s good to give it a little help! Gratitude is such a powerful thing and as you illustrated it can change everything in a matter of moments. Although I think Biddle could use a bit of practice with the game 🙂
Jodi, I LOVE this! The idea of making the shift from a negative (or less desirable/enjoyable) mood to a positive/more enjoyable one a game…GREAT idea!
My two sons are often fighting between themselves, so I am going to try this with them…whenever the fighting starts, sit them down and have them name things they are grateful for/love about the other one. AMAZING way to help them learn how to recognize gratitude within their life and to be grateful for the things & people they have in their life. I am also going to use the Gratitude Game in my daily life when I’m feeling stressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed…as well as even when I’m in happier, more positive moods. GREAT practice to introduce into your family.
Thank you for sharing your experience and the Gratitude Game with all of us!
Much love & gratitude,
Cassandra