There have been several recent studies on the benefits of feeling and expressing gratitude. The results are coming in and it appears there is a direct link between gratitude and well-being, including physical, mental and emotional wellness.
Current findings show participants that describe themselves as feeling grateful, either to others or to a higher power, tend to have less stress, less depression, more vitality, more joy and feel more successful. One thing you can do to take advantage of this marvelous phenomenon is to pause from your daily activities and count your blessings!
Melody Beattie, New York Times best selling author, wrote: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
The economy is still uncertain, the weather has been unusual, and the world is changing. These common examples of scarcity, denial, chaos, and confusion are just a few of the things that can wear you down. I suggest the next time you feel these concerns, grab a pen and write down some things you are grateful for. You will be amazed at how much this simple act of acknowledging the good around you can lift your spirits!
Keep it simple. Your gratitude can be for something as small as an unexpected moment of peace and quiet during hectic day. Or maybe you are grateful for the road crew making the highway a safer place to drive. How about a stop light turning into a “go light” just as you reach the intersection, or simply a smile from a stranger you pass on the street.
Zig Zigler said: “The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for.” That means your gratitude list can turn into a very a nice example of the Law of Attraction in action for you.
How many gratitudes can you list? Five? Fifteen? Fifty? Maybe even more! See how many good things have happened in and around your world today. Write them down, either electronic or on paper, give thanks and watch your day improve!
One good thing about gratitude is that it gains even more value when shared. Plus, giving gratitude can create an exciting ripple effect and become a gift that keeps on giving. So, share the wealth. Be aware of those around you. Sharing gratitude is a great way to lift your spirits and energize your day!
What can you do today to be a blessing to someone else? It does not have to be a big thing. For instance, everybody likes to receive mail. Who can you write a note of appreciation to? Flowers are another great way to bring a smile to someone. You can pick up a dozen roses or carnations at your local grocery and hand them out one at a time. A one dollar golden coin also makes a great little gift of appreciation for those you meet.
In her classic book, Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach, teaches us: “Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend. When we choose to not focus on what is missing from our lives but instead are grateful for the abundance that’s present – love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure – the wasteland of illusion falls away and we can experience Heaven here on earth.”
Are you ready to experience a marvelous day here on earth? Be grateful for the simple pleasures and joy that is all around you. Which garden in your life will you choose to tend? I recommend you choose to focus on and give gratitude for the one with family, friends and abundance.
Remember it is in giving that we receive. Doing something nice for someone you do not know is a great way to give a gift of gratitude. It’s easy to hold a door open for someone or compliment the clerk who is helping you. Maybe the next time you stop for a burger, you could pay for the order of the car behind you in the drive-up line. Consider our military men and women overseas. They are far away from home and a small present or note of appreciation would be most welcome.
Every day you have the opportunity to give and receive a gift of gratitude. Small, simple, and consistent gratitudes will bring even greater satisfaction and unexpected rewards into your world.
Today is a brand new day! It is a good day to smile at those you meet, give the gift of gratitude and look forward to building a successful life, filled with even more marvelous things to be grateful for!
About the Author:
Dr. John (“Dealey”) Carpenter Dealey is an International MasterMind expert, business mentor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, speaker and self-made millionaire. He is dedicated to helping people solve problems, reach goals and soar to new heights of success using the marvelous powers of mastermind and laughter. To learn how mastermind can help you create a life you love, go to: http://mastermindsoaring.com or: http://www.dr-mastermind.com
