"It is necessary, then, to cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude." -Wallace D. Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich or Financial Success Through Creative Thought

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melodie Beattie

Gratitude is an incredibly valuable and powerful emotion to intentionally express because when we are grateful, we attract more to be grateful for.

In my advanced coaching club I suggest at the end of each call that my students take a little time each day to express their gratitude. This shouldn't be reserved for Thanksgiving or Sunday weekly prayer, but needs to be integrated into our daily lives permeating all of our interactions.

Expressing our gratitude to loved ones and friends need not be limited to receiving gifts or favors, but taking deep looks at our lives and realizing how truly lucky we are.

Every night and every day I meditate on the things I am grateful for I have a huge list of things, as do all of us: family, friends, colleagues, students, employees, health, financial success, future successes and advancements. When it rains (and here in the Pacific Northwest it rains a lot) I am grateful because I know that's part of why the area is so lush and fruitful. I am grateful when the sun comes out (because, as I mentioned above, here in the Pacific Northwest it rains A LOT).

Throughout my day, I pause occasionally to extend my gratitude to the simple and complex things I experience. I consider other people's situations, whether they be more challenging or less, and I am aware that the struggles or lessons I've endured have made me who I am and brought me to this point in life and I am absolutely grateful for that.

There are going to be times when being grateful isn't easy -- times that are trying or difficult. Maybe your health is bad. Your body isn't working the way it should. Instead of cursing it for what it can't do, be grateful for what it can.

I love this old Irish proverb, 'Count your joys instead of your woes; count your friends instead of your foes.' It's all in where we place our focus. It's all in what we choose to highlight and what we choose to minimize.

As you begin to take notice of all that is good in your life, this gratitude will turn your life around.

Kenrick Cleveland teaches techniques to sell to affluent clients using persuasion strategies. He runs unique public and private seminars and offers home study courses, audio/visual learning tools, and coaching programs in persuasion techniques. Find more free articles at www.MAXpersuasion.com/blog. Be sure to sign up for his free report entitled "Yes! Persuasion."