Do you wake up everyday thankful? Do you make time to actually list those positive reasons in your life for which you are grateful and appreciative? Gratitude is a powerful emotion, an emotion that can positively affect how you live life. Let’s take a close look at the emotional power of gratitude.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melodie Beattie
What is your definition of gratitude?
Let’s begin at the beginning – gratitude is an emotion. Emotions can and often do control how negatively or positively we view the world around us. Research has shown that people who are consistently grateful tend to be happier, more helpful, forgiving and less depressed. All and all, wouldn’t you agree that gratitude is an important emotion?
Here’s a little experiment – 1. Think of something that makes you sad or angry. As you experience that state of sadness or anger become aware of your breathing, heartbeat, thoughts, and overall sense of well-being. 2. Stop and take a deep breath and clear your mind of those thoughts and feelings. 3. Now, think of something for which you are grateful - your puppy, a recent success or a beloved friend. How are you feeling physically and emotionally? Are you calmer and less anxious?
Gratitude is a positive and calming emotion. Imagine living in a constant state of gratitude and the positive affect it will have on your health, happiness and wealth. Gratitude can produce positive feelings of overall well-being, hope and contentment.
Can you list 100 reasons for which you are grateful? I mean right now, within the next fifteen or twenty minutes. The reason I’m asking is because those reasons should be in the forefront of your mind at all times. Keeping a gratitude journal is a positive way to reinforce the thankfulness you’ve experienced during your day. Your journal can, and often will, come in handy on those days when you are feeling not so grateful.
How often do you show gratitude? When you’re in a constant state of gratitude, sharing it comes easily and naturally. For example: sending thank you cards, saying “thank you” easily and naturally, expressing gratitude with a smile, an unexpected gift of appreciation or a special personalized hand written note.
Food for thought: Your day-to-day attitude of gratitude sets into motion the Law of Attraction. The more grateful you are, the more reasons you will have to be grateful.
Anthony Robbins
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