While doing this gratitude challenge Mai Vu started, using 40 Days to Miracles, I’ve noticed some things coming up that break shackles in my life story that I’d like to share with you.

First, we all have a life story, free will, and a path to follow. Yours may look different from your neighbors or even your children’s. I believe God communicates with us to make good decisions on the journey.

What does it take to hear God?

Pausing our lives for a minute to let His knowledge in. Yet, if you feel stuck and complain that you pray and pray but never receive an answer, then you may be missing what He’s saying to you.

Here’s why…

When I signed up for the group sessions, I saw Mai post that whenever we see the numbers 4-0 or any combination of them, that God, Spirit, and all above was letting me know that I’m loved and supported.

I have to admit that I’m highly skeptical of a lot of things. My judging range is high up there according to the Myers-Briggs test. That doesn’t mean that I’m judgmental, but that I look for proof and truth about things before believing them.

When I listened to a recording of a friend of mine, I heard her mention all of these 4-0s in her life. So before the course even started, I was a messenger of support and love to others from actively listening to what she was saying.

Even after passing on the message to her, I was still highly skeptical of the whole process.

The Work Begins

Then we were paired up with a miracle list buddy. We’ve been sending our lists back and forth for the past week.

While writing our lists, we write what feelings and things we’re grateful for, but not only the good things in life. We write about the negative things and challenges too.

I recommend that you pick up a copy of the book, Make Miracles in Forty Days. In it, Melody Beattie explains exactly how to write the negative experiences and challenges during the day in a way that you see gratefulness for the situation.

In a short period of time journaling these things I’m grateful for, I’ve noticed that a new energy was coming into my life. It is  to take back power over my life. I’ve noticed there are certain tolerations that I’d accepted. Now, I notice that I want these things changed, it’s up to me to change them, and through God’s grace, I will do so.

I started increasing my awareness of my own self talk during the day and how I handled situations. With gratitude, I’ve been able to notice challenges and adjust how I respond to them.

I’ve also increased my awareness of noticing miracles.

Since I’ve taken my power back, I haven’t enabled anyone else to stay stuck in excuses or the same patterns. They’ve become much more resourceful in finding their own solutions and alternative ways of dealing with things instead of relying on my power and insight.

It’s freeing. Both for me and the loved ones in my life.

When we get stuck in patterns, it’s easy to apply what we’ve done in the past to try to overcome the situation. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

When frustration sets in, we know that what we’re doing isn’t working.

So, what do we do next?

Try something different.

Here’s how:

If you’re already aware of the reality in the situation, then ask yourself:

1. What resources do I have to help me with this?

2. What are different ways to approach this?

3. Which option feels/seems/looks/sounds best?

This is a way for you to instantly know what to do in any situation. I also recommend journaling and writing your life story. When you do, you’ll see patterns of behavior and underlying feelings around them that drive your actions and decisions.

You’ll be amazed by the values you uncover within yourself and how they fuel your decisions. Through doing the gratitude exercise in the book, you’ll uncover how you can recognize these patterns and start to see what you can do differently.

Why not try it? What do you have to lose? Stuck patterns? It’s good to release those, right?