Gratitude Power

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."~Thornton S. Wilder

Life is more complex and unpredictable than ever. Things are changing so drastically, both personally and globally, that sometimes it's difficult to assimilate it all.  Some of us are deeply concerned about the economy, the threats to our security at home and abroad, the environment, and education.  Others have serious family, work, and health issues or a combination of the above.  It is easy, especially these days, to be consumed with fear and laser focused on the negative.  Is it possible to hold a grateful heart in the midst of all the negativity we are bombarded with daily, primarily through the media?  Perhaps not easy initially, but certainly possible!  And not just possible, but actually imperative for our own well-being and the well-being of the whole.  There is power in gratitude that creates emotional and physical health.

Author and Researcher, Dr. Robert Emmons conducted eight years of intensive research on gratitude.  He found people who view life as a gift and consciously acquire an "attitude of gratitude"  will experience multiple advantages.  Here are just a few:

• Strengthened relationships
• More kindness
• Better able to deal with tragedy and crisis
• Exercised more regularly
• More optimistic
• More alertness, enthusiasm, determination
• More love of self and others

In a study of adults with neuromuscular disease, a 21-day intervention of gratitude resulted in a greater amount of energy, positive mood, a greater sense of feeling connected to others, better sleep duration and sleep quality, relative to a controlled group.  It is also important to note that all the grateful people in the study were grateful regardless of whether special events happened in their day or not.  Again, it was their grateful attitude.

Here are just a few ways of practicing gratitude that I've gathered over the years that work for me.  They have continually proven to shift my perception to the beauty that is all around me even on the worst days:

1. Recording things to be grateful for in a journal which was implemented in the above mentioned study.
2. Deliberately finding ways to thank others in my life.  For example,  "Have I told you lately how thankful I am for you?"
3. Not discounting kind compliments from others.  Pausing and deeply looking into their eyes with a heartfelt "thank you."  (This is very powerful for both parties!)
4. Taking my focus off the past and future and embracing the moments of the day with simple gratitude for everything.  This requires mindfulness--being aware.  (Also really requires a lot of practice!  I'm getting better.)
5. Beginning my meditation/prayer with a grateful heart.  (Much more loving experience than beginning with a plea.)

I believe more than ever we are needing to take a daily, active role in off-setting the negative that is happening in our world today.  Consciously choosing to be truly grateful in a heartfelt way is one powerful way to do just that. When we have emotional and physical health which a grateful attitude can provide, we feel happier. When we are happier, others around us tend to be happier as well.

Gratefully,

Denna

PS  My favorite Gems on Gratitude

Copyright 2012, Denna J. Shelton