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I find myself thinking about blessings a lot lately; more specifically, the concept of feeling blessed.

In a recent article, I wrote about the bittersweet periods in life when we find ourselves struggling through difficulties at the same time we're experiencing moments of joy, and the importance of focusing more on the happiness and gratitude we feel rather than pain and fear.

After a couple of weeks consistently focusing more on blessings and gratitude, I'm beginning to see that amazing things happen when we do this. First and foremost, our difficulties don't seem so overwhelming anymore. They're still there of course, but choosing not to dwell on them sure does dim their power.

Secondly, focusing more on our blessings strengthens and energizes us. Rather than feeling like a victim, we feel empowered and inspired. Even better, we feel motivated to reach out and share our joyful feelings with others. Doing this in even subtle ways can still make a powerful difference in the world.

Have you ever blessed someone silently? For as long as I can remember, I've prayed for people I don't know. I'm not sure where I picked up the habit, but I routinely send out blessings and positive thoughts for the people I encounter each day. I bless the jogger making his way through heavy traffic, and ask the universe to protect and guide him in all he does. I bless the harried mother in the supermarket and ask for her to be infused with patience and endurance so she can raise healthy, happy children ' and keep her sanity in the process! I bless the children playing near the street and ask angels to protect them from harm.

Because I'm such a big animal lover, I also make a habit of routinely blessing our four-footed friends. Yesterday, I blessed a squirrel that was busily gathering fallen acorns from the trees in my backyard. I doubt he noticed, but I felt inspired to send out some positive thoughts on his behalf. (Or was it a she? I forgot to ask.) Anyway, I blessed him and wished him an abundance of nuts and a warm nest to sustain him and his family through the coming winter.

It might sound funny, blessing a squirrel. However, if you stop to think about it on a deeper level, it's not so strange. Because we're all interconnected on a spiritual level, why not bless the squirrels, the trees, the birds, and every other living thing?

It feels good to send out positive thoughts to others. Remember, the universe is a great big mirror. Everything we send out, we get back in some form. So blessing others makes sense not just because it makes us feel good, but because we receive the same quality of energy we send out. Finally, keeping ourselves in that place of joy and gratitude where blessings come from keeps us focused on positive thoughts, rather than negative. Positive thoughts keep our vibrations high, which results in greater feelings of compassion, love, joy, and happiness.

It is also just as important to bless ourselves as it is to bless others! How do we do this? By speaking kindly to ourselves, treating ourselves with the respect and love we show others, and by creating lives that are meaningful and fulfilling.

Want to take this a step further? Several times throughout your day, as often as you can, repeat these words: 'I am so blessed. Wow, I am so incredibly blessed! I love my life, and I'm so grateful for everything I have.' Really let yourself feel those words, and speak them from the heart.

It may take a little time, but this practice can begin to shift the circumstances of your life in miraculous ways. You'll begin to feel better, look better, relate to others better, and attract so many blessings into your life that you won't know what to do with them all!

In the meantime, I'm sending out some blessings to you and yours to help get you started. May you receive everything you dream of, plus a little extra. :-)