What's your "Evidence of Good"?

This past weekend, Richard and I headed to Laguna Beach to enjoy the gorgeous weather. It's not yet spring, but summer was definitely the feeling this past weekend with 90+ degree weather. The picture here is the sunset we and so many others on the beach watched with delight. What a blessing!

As you think about your last few days, what blessings did you encounter?

I ask this question because sometimes it's easy to forget that everywhere around you are blessings waiting to be recognized. Take a moment right now. Look around you. Feel inside you. What is a blessing you can acknowledge right now? Even something as simple as your ability to breathe is a blessing.

Right now I have a few people going through a pilot program I'm running called "Re-Write Your Money Story." If someone is experiencing stress from their financial situation, it's more than likely there's a not-very-helpful money story operating in their life. A money story is a story you carry based on certain thoughts, beliefs and emotions that affect your relationship with money. One money story that's not very helpful is the idea that "you have to work hard or struggle for your money."

But stress isn't limited to money. You might be experiencing some forms of stress in other areas of life, like relationships, health, or your work. If you're wanting to ease the stress, here's something to try.

One of the homework exercises that I've given participants of my pilot program is what I call the "Evidence of Good" assignment. Here's what it is: before the day ends, you write down 3 specific things that you experienced in your day that gives you "evidence" that good is showing up in your life. Acknowledging your good is a form of gratitude.

Focusing on the "Evidence of Good" is a helpful antidote to toxic stories because you get to take your mind off what you feel "isn't working" and you get to breathe more easily into what "is working."

I love this quote that 50 Cent shared with Oprah: "Either pray or worry. Don't do both." If you think about what this quote is saying, it's telling you that ultimately, you get to choose where to focus your attention. Do you want to pray and expect good to show up in your life, or do you want to worry and expect the worst? Personally, I'd choose to focus on the good.

Are you willing to take on the "Evidence of Good" for this week's coaching assignment? If so, here are your tasks:

1. Take a piece of paper and write "Evidence of Good" at the top. (You can also create a note on your smartphone if you want to carry this around.)
   
2. Throughout your day, look for good that is showing up in your life. This could be a friend calling you out of the blue, your finding a penny on the ground, or your recognizing that you have wonderful people in your life. Whatever you consider "good" in your life, take note.
   
3. Throughout your day, write down at least three things that you notice as "Evidence of Good" that showed up. Do this for 7 days.
   
4. At the end of the week, re-look at all the things that you wrote for the 7 days. Breathe it in, and give thanks for the many blessings in your life.
   

The act of being able to name your good and give thanks for your blessings is a simple yet powerful spiritual practice. If you want bonus points, let someone special in your life know that they are a blessing in your life and tell them why. This is a good way to pay the blessings forward and to share your gratitude with others.

Thank you for being the divine blessing that you are.

I'd love to hear what are some examples of "Evidence of Good" in your life. Feel free to share by commenting below. And if you have an interest in hearing more about the "Re-Write Your Money Story" program, simply send me an email and let me know. I'd be happy to tell you more about it.

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