The Power of Gratitude with a Twist: Elevating Your Heart-Centered Business and Life

I want to share a little twist on the traditional gratitude practice. I’ve been working with a gratitude approach that goes deeper, especially for us heart-centered business owners. It’s about more than just saying, “I’m thankful for this or that.” This gratitude practice is transformative. It has shifted how I show up for myself, my loved ones, and my business. It’s about actively taking ownership of the things we’re grateful for, allowing us to recognize our role in these beautiful moments.

I’d like to invite you to explore this with me. I’m going to walk you through the why and how of gratitude with a twist and share actionable ways to incorporate this practice into your daily routine. By the end, you’ll have a new way to not only ground yourself but to also celebrate how far you’ve come—because, trust me, you’re doing amazing things.

Why Gratitude is Essential for Coaches and Healers

Gratitude is such a powerful tool for coaches, healers, and service providers because it’s not just about appreciation—it’s a full-on perspective shift. This practice reminds us to honor our journey, our challenges, and our growth. Here’s why this mindset matters for you as a heart-centered entrepreneur:

• Cultivating Peace and Resilience: When we express gratitude for both the light and the dark moments, we acknowledge our human experience. This makes us more resilient in the face of challenges.
• Seeing the Bigger Picture: Regular gratitude helps us stop focusing on what’s lacking and instead see all the good things that are working in our favor. It becomes easier to recognize growth, even when we hit a slow season in our business.
• Staying Aligned with Purpose: Gratitude grounds us in our purpose, especially during self-doubt or challenging times. By connecting to the impact we’re making, we remember why we started our journey in the first place.

Introducing My Somatic Twist on Gratitude

Let’s dive into the practice itself. I call this my “Somatic Start,” and it’s a part of my daily morning routine that combines gratitude, somatic check-ins, mindset work, and intention-setting. I’ve designed it to be grounding, intentional, and empowering.

The twist? This isn’t your typical gratitude list where you say “thank you” for a few things and move on. Instead, after writing down what I’m grateful for, I give myself credit for my role in making that moment or experience happen. This shift changes everything—it gives ownership and presence to my gratitude and reminds me that I’m not just a lucky recipient of good things, but an active creator of them.

How the Somatic Gratitude Practice Works

Here’s how my daily gratitude practice flows:

1. Brain Dump and Check-In: I start by getting any lingering thoughts out of my head, followed by a quick somatic check-in to notice how I feel in my body.
2. Affirmations: I move into affirmations, aligning my mindset for the day ahead.
3. Gratitude with Self-Credit: I list three specific things I’m grateful for that happened in the last 24 hours—small or big. Then, after each gratitude, I give myself credit for what I did to create or allow that experience.

This might sound simple, but I promise, it’s powerful. Here’s an example to illustrate:

• Gratitude: I’m grateful for the cozy morning coffee I enjoyed while my toddler slept a bit longer.
• Self-Credit: I give myself credit for creating a morning routine that allows me some peace and quiet, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Instead of feeling like the moment was a lucky break, I actively acknowledge my role in setting myself up for it. And trust me, this little twist brings such a sense of empowerment.

The Transformative Power of Self-Credit in Gratitude

This approach was born out of my own need to give myself more credit. Like many of you, I have a history of self-criticism and overachievement, often feeling that I wasn’t doing “enough.” But self-credit has taught me to recognize my efforts and celebrate my growth. Here’s why self-credit is so crucial:

• Self-Worth: By acknowledging your role in each moment, you reinforce your sense of self-worth and develop a grounded belief in your capabilities.
• Confidence in Choices: Giving yourself credit affirms your decisions and the positive impact you have on your own life and business.
• Break from Overachievement: Self-credit interrupts the constant cycle of reaching for “what’s next” by anchoring you in the present and celebrating how far you’ve come.

Putting It into Practice: Tips for Heart-Centered Entrepreneurs

Here’s how you can start incorporating this gratitude practice into your life and business:

1. Set Aside Time Each Morning: Just five minutes is enough to go through your gratitude list with self-credit.
2. Focus on Specifics: Keep your gratitude specific to the last 24 hours. This keeps your practice grounded in the present and reminds you to look for meaningful details in your daily life.
3. Take Credit: After writing each gratitude, ask yourself, “What did I do to contribute to this experience?” It might be a choice you made, an intention you set, or simply showing up as your authentic self.

A Few Examples of Gratitude with Self-Credit in Action

Here are a few examples to get you inspired:

• Gratitude: I’m grateful for the insightful coaching session with my client.
• Self-Credit: I give myself credit for trusting my intuition and creating a safe space for my client’s breakthrough.
• Gratitude: I’m grateful for the joyful evening with my family.
  • Self-Credit: I give myself credit for being present, leaving work behind, and showing up fully for them.

How This Practice Can Transform Your Business and Life

Adding self-credit to your gratitude practice isn’t just about feeling good—it’s a tool that changes how you show up in your business. Here’s why this matters for heart-centered entrepreneurs like us:

1. Reclaiming Ownership: Rather than feeling detached or “lucky,” you’re taking ownership of the good things in your life. You’re an active participant in your own journey.
2. Grounding Your Self-Worth: For heart-centered entrepreneurs, self-doubt can be a constant companion. This practice shifts your internal dialogue from criticism to self-acknowledgment, grounding you in your worth.
3. Enhancing Resilience: By recognizing your role in both successes and challenges, you build resilience. This resilience can be a lifeline during difficult phases in your business.

Embrace the Power of Self-Credit: A Recap

To wrap things up, here’s what we covered and a few takeaways for you to incorporate this gratitude twist into your own practice:

• Practice Gratitude Consistently: Start with the basics—write down three things you’re grateful for each day, focusing on specifics from the last 24 hours.
• Add Self-Credit: After each gratitude, take a moment to acknowledge your role. What did you do to bring that moment to life? This could be an action, a mindset shift, or simply showing up authentically.
• Feel Empowered, Not Detached: This twist takes your gratitude practice from passive to empowering. You’re no longer just a recipient of life’s good moments—you’re a co-creator.

Try This Practice for a Week

I challenge you to give this practice a try for a week and notice any shifts. How does it change the way you see yourself and your work? Does it bring a deeper sense of connection to your experiences? I would love to hear your reflections! You can email me or send me a message on Instagram—I’d love to know how this twist impacts your life and business.

Remember, you’re not just building a business; you’re creating a life that honors who you are. Every step forward, every effort, deserves to be celebrated. And you, my friend, deserve to take credit for the amazing journey you’re on.

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