Alphatudes - the alphabet of gratitude

The practice of gratitude is meant for times of trouble and sorrow, to help us keep our strength. The idea is that to focus on what IS good, will help us deal with what isn't.

Gratitude as a spiritual practice is to constantly keep positive thoughts in mind. The idea is that what is focused on, grows in strength. There is certainly some truth to that. The most effective gratitude practice uses the strength of emotions, the strength of the heart. Gratitude as a thought will not do any good. Gratitude as an emotion is a strong force for good. The deeper it is felt, the more it will transform your life, your every relationship. From deep gratitude happiness grows.

This book started with a spell of sleeplessness on the part of the author. For a few weeks she had trouble sleeping. One night, as she lay tossing and turning, she thought to herself that instead of counting sheep, she might as well count her blessings... literally. Starting with the letter A, for apples, B for beauty, C for coat she soon fell asleep.

The idea for a book was born. She shared that exercise with her coaching clients, who all loved it, so the idea of a book was born.

We can each do this exercise when we can't sleep: just use the alphabet as a basis for reminding yourself of the blessings in your life.

Michele Wahlder, MS, LPC, PCC, is an internationally-recognized life & career coach, a licensed counselor and the author of Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude: 26 Solutions for Life's Little Challenges.

She is the founder of Life Possibilities, LLC, a company that helps people to become the highest vision they hold for themselves in their lives, careers and relationships. The LLC does this through coaching, seminars and books.

She holds an MS in Counseling from Texas Woman's University, a BA in Communications from Tulane University and is a sought-after guest on television and radio. She's appeared on, among others, WFAA-TV's Good Morning Texas, KDAF-TV's The 33 News, CBS and CNN Radio.

To improve individual performance and organizational effectiveness, Wahlder has worked with numerous organizations, including Match.com, The Nielsen Company, Lucent Technologies and Girls Inc. She was honored as the Global Spokesperson for Bayer's Global MS Campaign, and she contributes to publications like: Fitness magazine, Dallas Morning News, Texas Jewish Post and Dallas Child magazine as a coaching expert.

In addition she continues to volunteer for non-profit organizations that offer adults and children opportunities to enhance their lives and pursue their dreams in Dallas, Texas.

While the book started as a simple exercise to fall asleep, it is more than that. Built up like the exercise, it gives one value, one thing to be grateful for per letter of the alphabet - alphatudes the author calls them.

Here they are:

1. Acceptance


2. Beauty


3. Choices


4. Dreams


5. Emotions


6. Forgiveness


7. Giving


8. Hope


9. Imagination


10. Joy


11. Kindness


12. Laughter


13. Music


14. Now


15. Obstacles


16. Passion


17. Quiet


18. Relationships


19. Serendipity


20. Touch


21. Understanding


22. Voice


23. Work


24. eX's


25. Yes


26. Zzz...Sleep

Each of these are headings for a chapter, starting with a quote, a reason to be grateful, an affirmation and closing with a prayer.

For instance, the Chapter about Serendipity has the following prayer:

Align my life with your divine timing. Heighten my awareness of the serendipitous miracles that you have sprinkled along my path. Thank you for gracing my life with the magic of serendipity.

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