Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Aug/Sept 2016 Aspire Mag Full Issue | Page 107

In today’s article I want to share 5 ways that cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help you grow your business, even when it feels like you can’t take another step or work another day. These 5 ideas should be practiced when everything is going perfectly as well as those days when everything seems to be challenging you. What I have learned after 15 years as an entrepreneur is that staying in the emotional space of gratitude changes everything. It frees you to take action from an inspired space rather than a tired space. It also reminds you to celebrate everything that is going right! 1. Express gratitude for every penny flowing into your business. One of the lessons I have learned over the years is to pay attention to my numbers. This has been a challenge. I am super creative and learning to read a profit and loss sheet was not high on my list of favorite things. Learning to love my numbers and to express gratitude for every penny flowing in allowed me to shift my energy and to attract more money. I invite you to track your income every day for 30 days and see what shifts for you. Pay attention to every penny that you find in the street, the dollar in the dryer, the $20 dollar bill in a coat pocket, the refund check, a birthday gift from Dad and the income you are earning in your business (or from your job.) I often find with my coaching clients that they are making more money than they think they are, but they are afraid to look. Gather your courage and your gratitude and celebrate each and every cent that flows in. 2. Pay your bills with love and gratitude. Money is energy and it loves to be in flow. If you want to receive more money and remain open to an abundant flow of cash and clients, then stay in the energy of gratitude. Remember that each time you pay a bill or send someone money, you are expanding the energetic flow of money. Imagine that when you pay your electric bill, it allows that company to pay their employees. Those employees buy groceries for their kids. When they pay for groceries, the people in those stores get paid, the farmers get paid and on and on. When you feel resentful for paying money out for services you have asked for, it stops the flow of gratitude. You can’t be open to receiving abundance when you are stuck in resentment or fear. Write those checks with love. 3. Commit to a daily gratitude practice. Create a daily ritual around gratitude. You might create an abundance journal or gratitude journal or you might use prayer beads. Be as creative with this practice as you can. Once a day, either write down or 107 CAREER/BUSINESS What I did have was an amazing client base, a fabulous staff and a loving supportive family that helped me manage the rollercoaster of emotions that come along with being an entrepreneur. Staying in gratitude enabled me to keep going and to eventually sell that company and move to the beach in California, a dream my husband and I had for many years. Today we have a thriving business that we love, supporting other creative women entrepreneurs to build profitable businesses.