I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.~ Henry David Thoreau
A Practical Guide to Gratitude…so you can see and think differently.
In a stuck moment, it’s hard to see positive forces when obstacles are blaring and fears are looming. This is a good time to be grateful. Not grateful for what has us stuck, but appreciating what doesn’t.
Gratitude helps us see our situation in a way that can lessen panic and open up our thinking to new solutions.
The thing is, people aren’t hardwired to be grateful. And like any skill worth having, gratitude requires practice. There are three stages of gratitude says Dr. Robert Emmons, author of “Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier.” Recognizing what we’re grateful for, acknowledging it, and appreciating it. Simple, right? The benefits of practicing thankfulness can be life-altering.
Being Grateful puts situations into perspective.
When we can see the good as well as the bad, it becomes more difficult to complain and stay stuck.
Gratitude helps us realize what we have.
The awareness of what we’re thankful for can lessen our tendency to want more all the time.
Being grateful makes us happier.
Being grateful strengthens relationships, improves health, reduces stress, and, in general, makes us happier, according to Dr. Emmons, who explains his research in this video.
For more helpful tips and information on living with a thankful heart, check out this month’s newsletter here.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and thanksgiving for all of the wonderful blessings in my life and that includes each and every one of you. Wishing you a holiday season that finds you surrounded by love and filled with inner peace.
Liesha
