Summary: Welcome to Episode 5 of Empowering Meditations with James Cole.<br> In this episode, we’re talking about giving thanks, or gratitude.<br> if you wanted to have an offline version of this meditation without the distracting intro and outro, you can purchase and download an MP3 audio file for only $3 from our Guided Meditation store - <a href="https://empoweringmeditations.com/em0005">https://empoweringmeditations.com/em0005</a><br> <br> Giving Thanks<br> Thanksgiving is a holiday that seems rooted in American history and tradition, but did you know that many countries around the world have their own versions of thanksgiving?<br> Most religions practice giving thanks in some form or another and to others, keeping a gratitude diary or journal of all the things they are grateful for is their way of giving thanks.<br> Originally, Thanksgiving was the celebration of a good harvest. Regardless of your reasons and to what you are giving thanks too, taking time out on a regular basis to focus on being grateful for what you have is a practice that can improve your life dramatically.<br> No matter what your situation, there is always something to be grateful for and the more time you spend focusing on those things, the less time you are worrying about the negative aspects of life.<br> I could go on about the benefits of practising gratitude but I’d rather direct you to a great article written by Amit Amin called “<a href="http://happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude/">The 31 Benefits of Gratitude You Didn’t Know About: How Gratitude Can Change Your Life</a>”<br> <a href="http://happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude/">http://happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude/</a><br> <br> Benefits of this guided gratitude meditation:<br> <br> * This will highlight things to be grateful for that you may not have thought of or take for granted.<br> * By focusing on things you are grateful for, you will uplift your mood and feel happier.<br> * Can reduce negative feelings and emotions.<br> <br> *Note: There is an element to this meditation that guides you through focusing on your different senses, such as sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. If for some unfortunate reason, you are missing one of these senses, use the time to focus on something else that you may be grateful for such as one of your other senses.<br> <br> Let us know how you go<br> If you benefitted from this meditation, please like and share so that others can benefit too. I’d love to hear any stories of how this meditation has helped you in the comments below.<br> If you have any questions or requests for future guided meditations or ways to improve on this one, please let me know in the comments below or by emailing me from our contacts page <a href="https://empoweringmeditations.com/contact">https://empoweringmeditations.com/contact</a><br> <br> Watch the video of this podcast<br> <br> <br> You can find us at<br> Web: <a href="https://empoweringmeditations.com/">https://empoweringmeditations.com/</a><br> YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCszGCCb4awo1HwxUiwCmREg" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCszGCCb4awo1HwxUiwCmREg</a><br> iTunes: <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/empowering-meditations-with-james-cole/id1281854972" rel="noopener">https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/empowering-meditations-with-james-cole/id1281854972</a><br> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Empowering-Meditations" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/Empowering-Meditations<br> </a>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/18269293/" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/company/18269293/</a><br> Soundcloud: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/EmpoweringMeditations" rel="noopener">https://soundcloud.com/EmpoweringMeditations<br> </a>Blubrry: <a href="https://www.blubrry.com/empowering_meditations/" rel="noopener">https://www.blubrry.</a>
