Living in Gratitude

A glimmer of something to be grateful for can be found in nearly every situation we experience. It is a rare circumstance that can’t be turned around—even slightly—when it is looked at through the lens of grateful eyes. Admittedly, it takes a conscious choice to be grateful instead of focusing on negative events or emotions. nnOne of the greatest gifts of gratitude is that it is impossible to feel both positive and negative emotions at the same time. Gratitude brings about only positive feelings, such as love, joy, and hope. When we focus on being thankful, fear, worry, and anxiety miraculously melt away with little effort. nnBut living in gratitude is really more than just thinking positively. When a person concentrates on being grateful, it gives him something to actually look for and pay attention to. Amazing things are revealed when we are aware, and this can provide much inspiration. nnOne of the best ways to improve your life is to make the choice to focus on what you are grateful for. nBeing Grateful Makes Us Better PeoplennResearch indicates that being grateful makes us better people, both personally and professionally. Consider what recent academic studies have shown.nn1.People who describe themselves as feeling grateful tend to have higher vitality and more optimism, suffer less stress, and experience fewer episodes of clinical depression.n2.Grateful people tend to be less materialistic.n3.Those who keep a “gratitude journal” achieve better physical health, are more optimistic, exercise more regularly, and describe themselves as happier.n4.Grateful people are more likely to appreciate the interconnectedness of all life.nnEnhancing GratitudennIt’s easy to be grateful when life hums—when money is in the bank, when romance is divine, and when you are healthy. But when you don’t know how the bills will be paid, he says he doesn’t love you, or you’re reeling from a devastating diagnosis, “thank you” usually isn’t the phrase that immediately comes to mind. nnHere are the keys to enhancing your perception of gratitude.nnMake a conscious choice to be aware of things that touch your heartnnIn other words, take responsibility for how you view your life and your experience of it. It’s your choice to “see” the things that touch your heart. In any challenge, there’s a critical point when you choose to begin walking the path of gratitude and stop focusing on what’s not working. In early conversations with coaching clients, they typically share what they’re not happy about in their lives, and that is where their vision is focused. As a result of the coaching experience, they make a conscious choice to focus on being grateful. nnPay attention to whatever gives you energy and amazes younnAt some level you’re aware of the many things to be grateful for, even on the worst of days. Are you paying attention? nnStillness + Awareness = Intuition and SynchronicitynnBeing still and being aware are at the core of a person’s intuition bubbling to the surface and allowing the synchronicities to happen. Having a daily practice of sitting for one minute of silence and committing to turning off the television are two examples of how you can quiet your mind. nnSeek out the meaningful coincidences in lifennThese are referred to as the “ah-ha moments,” when, for no explainable reason, the stars and planets align to send you a message or to give you a much-needed sign. nnAfter a long hike in Sedona, Arizona, often referred to as the Mystical Disneyland, I checked in to my hotel room. I called my husband to let him know I had arrived and to give him the number of the hotel. As I read out the list of numbers, we both gasped because we realized that the last four digits of my office phone number were exactly the same: 4700. He said, “I guess you were meant to be there.” These types of things happen all the time.nnCapture the moments in writingnnWriting about your gratitude is another very important step to putting gratitude into practical use. Once a person makes the choice to be aware, pay attention, and seek out coincidences, there’s no time to waste. Write it down, or it will be forgotten.nnA few years ago, I personally began what I refer to as “grati-toodling”—I record random acts of gratitude in a notebook throughout the day. The more I look for, the more I find! Sometimes I jot down one word and other times many words. I carry the notebook with me wherever I go. I look back at those tidbits, and they are a constant source of inspiration in my life—which is full of connections, ah-ha moments, and synchronicities.nnWith a commitment to writing about what you are grateful for, you will increase your awareness of all the amazing things that happen each and every day. This has the ability to shift your mind-set into daily gratitude. nBe inspired by gratitude and share your gifts with othersnnLiving in gratitude is a source of inspiration to yourself and others. Find your unique way of sharing the gift of gratitude with the world. Tell the stories that inspire and empower. The more grateful energy you send out, the more you will attract. nnThe Devil CarnnYou have responsibility to enhance the gratitude level in your life. However, sometimes gratitude is revealed through the eyes of someone else. nnToward the end of college, I drove a blue, four-door Pontiac Grand Am that was fondly referred to by friends, family, and even myself as “the Devil Car.” In a period of three years I was involved in not one, but five car accidents, including one hit-and-run. It seemed that every few months, I was making the series of phone calls and annoying repair arrangements. My insurance agent and I talked regularly and were on a first-name basis. nnAfter the fifth accident I decided it was time to sell, with the hope that the next vehicle would mark an improved driving record. While we waited for the new owners to drive the car away, my husband-to-be and I reminisced about all the places that “the Devil Car” had taken us. He asked me, “Did you ever get injured in any of the accidents?” I said, “No.” He looked at me and without hesitation said, “Then your car isn’t ‘the Devil Car.’ It’s really ‘the Angel Car.’ It has protected you and saved your precious life!” I was very grateful to him for offering me a new perspective on this accident-prone car. nnWhat’s “the Devil Car” in your own life? How can you see it as “the Angel Car”? How do you express your gratitude each day to the people who surround you at work and at home—your customers and colleagues, friends and family, and even complete strangers? It’s important to communicate two simple words that can speak volumes and make people feel appreciated. And above all, be sincere.nnHave fun making gratitude a part of your everyday life, and watch the greatness unfold!nn** This article is one of 101 great articles that were published in 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life. To get complete details on “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life”, visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/greatways2.html.