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Why Are Gratitude and Appreciation So Key in Successfully Using Law of Attraction?

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Warren Wojnowski -

If you’ve been a student of law of attraction for any length of time, you no doubt have heard about the importance of gratitude and appreciation in the manifestation process. All of the self help gurus have the same message when it comes to the role appreciation plays in your ability to deliberately use law of attraction and attract more abundance and prosperity into your life. Do you ever wonder if the advice works and if so, why it works?

I’ve spent a fair amount of time reading and experimenting around the topic in order to understand it better. I think I first heard about the power of gratitude from Abraham in one of their audios. The way they explained it, and I’ve come to understand this as truth, gratitude is a powerful way to bridge the vibrational gap between where you are and what you want (or where you would like to be).

As they explain, most of us find it difficult to shift our thoughts to a, say “level 10″ in vibration, if we’re mired in current thinking that is maybe, say a “level 3″. The gap is too wide.

But finding something you are grateful and appreciative for is much easier. So by placing your focus on things you have right now for which you are thankful, you are able to begin bridge the gap and begin to realign your thoughts to a level of vibration that move you closer to where you want to be.

Using this technique, you can shift yourself to, say a “level 6″ or a “7″ relatively quickly.

Both Abraham and Bob Proctor teach that in order for something to manifest, you must be a vibrational match to it. That’s where gratitude becomes such an important part of effectively and deliberately using Law of Attraction. It assists you in aligning our vibration.

And there’s more. There is a growing body of scientific and academic research that backs up the important role gratitude can play in living a happier, healthier life.

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is the head of the Positive Psychology program at Harvard University. In his book, Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, Dr Ben-Shahar says that research studies now suggest the habit of keeping a daily “gratitude journal” can lead to a higher level of emotional and physical well being.

So the evidence is pretty clear that it works. If you pay attention, you will see the evidence in your own life. You can “measure” it by the way you feel. Focusing on the things you are grateful for makes you feel better — your problems start to feel smaller, you gain a sense of relief, and because of the relief you are able to shift your focus onto more things you are grateful for.

You are able to “feel” the power of gratitude at work within yourself and “feel” your vibration rising. And as that happens, you know you now on the path to using law of attraction in a deliberate way that best serves you.

Would you like more information about how to use law of attraction in order to attract more happiness and abundance into your life. Subscribe to my newsletter and you’ll also receive our highly acclaimed 7 Steps to Happiness eCourse for free: Attract More Happiness.

Warren Wojnowski is an avid student of personal growth and self improvement who has operated his own successful home business since 2005. He is a respected writer, teacher and Intrinsic Coach� who is very willing to share what he’s learned (or still learning), what’s working, and what isn’t. Warren says “If you have an aspect of your life in which you feel stuck, whether in your life or your business, I can help you get back on track and start living the life you want”.

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Living Gratitude – 6 Easy Tips On How to Stay Grateful All Year Long

December 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Marie Cornelio -

I wanted to give you tools to help you stay grateful during Thanksgiving and Holiday Season and beyond. Gratitude has so many spiritual, emotional and physical benefits. I would love for you to experience them all. According to Miami University’s Dr. Michael McCullough and University of California – Davis’s Dr. Robert Emmons, being thankful is necessary for a healthy life style. Studies show that being grateful increases your level of happiness by 25 percent.

Being grateful is a choice. It’s about learning from a situation, taking the good out of it to help deal with the challenge. It’s about celebrating ” what is ” in life. It’s about realizing you have more power over your life and thoughts, emotions and energy then you previously imagined. You can stop being a victim of your circumstance and reach out for the joy rising in living. If you can open your heart to the good all around, gratitude can become as much part of your life as breathing.

Here are a few helpful suggestion to help you get started on your gratitude practice.

1) Keep a Daily Gratitude Journal This is probably the most effective strategy for increasing your level of gratitude. Set aside time daily to record several things that you are grateful for. You can write when you get up or at the end of the day. Pick a time that you will consistently have available. The important thing is to establish the daily practice of paying attention to gratitude-inspiring events and to write them down. My forthcoming book Gratitude-The Ultimate 21 Day Gratitude Journey to Happiness will be available shortly to help you keep a gratitude practice.

2) Use Visual Reminders Two obstacles to being grateful are forgetfulness and lack of awareness. You can counter them by giving yourself visual cues that trigger thoughts of gratitude. I like to use Post-It notes listing blessings in many places, including on refrigerator, mirrors and the steering wheel of my car. You can get as creative as you want you can even use your camera to take photos of what your grateful and put them in an album. Another strategy is to set a pager, computer or PDA to signal you at random times during the day and to use the signal to pause and count blessings.

3) Have a Gratitude Partner Social support encourages healthy behaviors, because we often lack the discipline to do things on our own. Just as you may be more likely to exercise if you have an exercise partner or participate in a class, you may be able to maintain the discipline of gratitude more easily if you have a partner with whom to share gratitude lists and to discuss the effects of gratitude in your life. You can join our community on face book called Gratitude- The Ultimate 21 Day Gratitude Journey to Happiness. “If you hang out with ungrateful people, you will ‘catch’ one set of emotions or energy; if you choose to associate with more grateful individuals, the influence will be in another direction. Find a grateful person or community and spend more time.

4) Make a Public Commitment When we become accountable and we make commitments to others we are more likely to follow through. Feel free to use our gratitude community on face book to make your public declaration or to post your daily gratitude. There is plenty of support.

5) Change Your Self-Talk We all carry on an inner dialogue with ourselves that is often called “self-talk.” When this inner conversation is negative, our mood is usually low. Research has shown that we can change our mood by changing the tone of the things we say to ourselves. Thoughts are powerful make sure to watch what you think about. Affirmations are great tools in reconditioning our thoughts.

6. Go On a Gratitude Walk Something about getting out in nature is healing research shows exercise can decrease stress and releases the” feel good “chemicals in your brain. Giving thanks helps you become centered, present and living in the moment. When you are grateful for the beauty around you automatically you will find more beauty to be grateful for.

I hope these suggestion help you. If you have not done so be sure to sing up for our newsletter and receive our free audio ” Living ignited with Self-Love and Inner Peace”. Namaste.

Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it. Marie Cornelio is a Spiritual Teacher, Soul-Nutritionist, Transformation Catalyst and Gratitude Practitioner. You can visit Marie, access her free articles archive, and grab free stuff at http://www.mariecornelio.com. Marie lives in Northern, California and loves celebrating life with her family and taking daily gratitude walks with her dog Roxie Love.

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Gratitude Toward Others – Show Your Appreciation!

November 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Sheryl Schlameuss Berger -

Don’t you just feel warm, happy, even glowing after someone pays you a compliment? Whether it is “wow — your new haircut looks great” or “thanks for completing that project before the deadline” or “that new recipe you tried turned out so delicious” any recognition sends a radiant feeling right to our heart, validating us as a human being.

When someone makes a statement of appreciation to us we become enveloped in a good-feeling vibration. Our mood instantly lifts, sometimes a little and sometimes significantly. Of course, an authentic, sincere compliment is better than a backhanded compliment, and most of us are familiar with those (“that shelf you put up did not turn out as badly as I thought it might.)

Knowing that we feel so delighted and acknowledged by receiving compliments, we can translate that into a course of action for praising and recognizing others. The giving of compliments makes others feel appreciated, and comes back at us multiplied.

If giving compliments and praise is such a positive action, then why do we not do it more often? I suspect that most of the time we just do not think of it. We get involved in something else and forget to heap on the appreciation. Or sometimes we are too embarrassed to lavish the praise — it may make us feel too “mushy” or weak or emotional. Whatever reason, we often hesitate to say that “thank you.”

Find something positive to praise about a person, even a nuance about their behavior, appearance, skill, etc. and do not hesitate to pay a compliment. Thank those who help you in the course of your day (such wait staff, taxi drivers, people who hold the door open for you.) Be polite and offer an “I appreciate your service.” Of course, in terms of servers at a restaurant, whenever I have had superior attention, I always offer a “thank you for such excellent service.” The servers face never fails to light up at this. This should be backed up by a generous gratuity too! After all a “gratuity” is a monetary way of expressing gratitude with service provided.

Use every opportunity to show your appreciation — add a smile to it and you will likely get one in return! Make a point to show gratitude toward your friends and your friendship with be enlightened to a new depth.

Take the time to thank your family members. These are the people we most often overlook and take for granted. You can start with small statements: “Thanks so much for setting the table,” or “Many thanks for that gorgeous bouquet of flowers — it was really unexpected.” Work your way up to more general statements that carry emotional meaning with loved ones: “I appreciate your taking the time to really listen to me.”

For your spouse or significant other, let them know with “I am really happy to have you in my life ” or “Thank you for loving and respecting me.” For these more intimate appreciations, timing is definitely key. You will know intuitively when the statement will feel right — be in tune with those moments and do not them pass by without expressing your heartfelt appreciation. It can definitely improve your relationships.

When you say thank you or make appreciative statements, do so with enthusiasm and authenticity. Mean it and you will sound like you mean it — and the message will be received with clear joy. Showing your gratitude is sure to brighten someone’s day — as well as enrich your own life!

Affirmation, Attitude, Action statements for appreciation:

  • People treat me with consideration wherever I go, and it is easy for me to show my appreciation.
  • I am grateful that the kindness and respect I show to others is mirrored back to me.
  • I begin each day with the expectation of joy-filled, positive interactions with others.

Visit http://www.affirmationsforyourlife.com for your Free Affirmation, Attitude, Action Guide from Sheryl Schlameuss Berger, Reiki Master Teacher and Positive Energy Living Coach. Inspiring motivational guide includes full-color printable Affirmation Cards to help bring in the flow of positive thinking!

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From Gratitude Comes Great Well-Being

October 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Dena Lynn -

Most of us, at one time or another, have faced some sort of overwhelming challenge. Whether it be in business, relationships, or health – some challenges can take us for a loop, places where we don’t want to go… if we allow. We’re human – even the most seemingly, perfectly grounded person – struggles at times.

If you’ve been severely challenged or are presently worrying and stressing over a difficult situation – try showing a bit of thanks – gratitude – for all that IS working right in your life. And, build from there. Gratitude is powerful.

Did you know that next to immunodepressants, gratitude heals organ transplant patients fastest?

The Mississippi University for Women found out in a study that patients who kept a gratitude journal scored better in mental health tests than those who didn’t, even when they started off at the same level of mental health. They generally healed faster, had more vitality and were happier.

It doesn’t stop there – those who are unwell are not the only people who benefit from an attitude of gratitude. The debate continues as to whether material well-being and happiness makes a person grateful or whether it is the other way around. Tests were done where participants were all of the same income level, their lives were more or less the same in terms of satisfaction and happiness and their mental health was at par.

Some were asked to keep a gratitude journal and others were asked to go on living as usual. After 2 months, the people who kept gratitude journals showed significant leaps in happiness and well-being. They said they were much more energetic and felt that they got what they wanted. They felt that they traveled towards their goals faster.

What is the connection between gratitude and well being?

There’s really no single explanation, but there’s agreement on one thing: the more grateful you are, the more positive you feel about life and about yourself, and the more you achieve.

Gratitude helps you see all things in their perspective. In the past, when you’ve felt grateful for something or someone – did you see how suddenly that thing’s or person’s value swelled and became even more meaningful to you?

If you wake up and immediately give thanks for a great, blue sky, you’ll notice that the day seems much richer. If you give thanks for your spouse, your brain has a way of picking it up and making you see even better things about them and this makes you feel happier. Happiness leads to well-being.

Gratitude also makes you focus on the things that you’re grateful for and you therefore attract more. It’s the old law of attraction, which holds that what you think about grows. If you’re grateful for strong, fulfilling relationships, they tend to grow and therefore you’ll be happier. If you’re grateful for a strong business, it will grow and you’ll feel more fulfilled.

Does it really matter why gratitude leads to well-being?

You now know that it does, so why not start to practice it. How would you gain from being able to put your challenges in perspective, faster? I was able to start making positive moves to create the outcome that I preferred. Yes, it required a time commitment. In fact, as a busy woman, fitting “gratitude time” into my day was very difficult at first. But, I found the time because it was that important.

I discovered that if I wanted to do it, I had to set aside a time for nothing else but “gratitude time” and my journal had to be in a place where I couldn’t ignore it. After awhile it became my habit – the first thing I do before I get out of bed.

I think about and write down what I am grateful for. The more grateful I am, the more I have to be grateful for – the better I feel and the more productive I am throughout my day. What a powerful way to start your day!!

I encourage you to make a gratitude journal. Plan it in such a way that it’s in your path everyday and you can’t ignore it. You’ll find that after days, even just hours of your first journaling, your perspective will be different and you will have given yourself more time to go forward and focus on what matters most.

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Happiness Factors

March 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Kelly Ballard -

Why are some people happy and others not? There are certain factors that contribute to one’s ability to be “happy” under most circumstances. These are a few…

1. Flexibility. The old saying “once you make a plan, God laughs,” has proven true time and time again in my own life. Being able to adjust to changing life events, even as minor as dinner plans, with flexibility and ease leads directly to happiness. Why? Flexibility means forsaking control – willingly. Quite a feat to be sure, but a gift – only to be received if you are willing to give up control first.

2. Don’t take it personally. As my father wisely once said, “Some people are just a@@holes.” You can be assured in your life that your will encounter some real “pains in the bottom”, difficult situations, unfairness, and other assorted crap. Promise. And the person sitting next to you, same thing. The same goes with any other person you meet in your life too. We are all stumbling through at times. So, relax, take a breath and imagine what you would like to happen in whatever situation is causing you difficulty. Focusing on what you want enables you to emerge from any frustration with clarity.

3. Humor. Once you are able to either laugh at yourself or whatever the situation, you bring lightness to your heart. Laughter feels good. Watch funny movies, read amusing books, talk to a friend who always makes you laugh, go bowling. Just by adding more laughter to your life and you will notice, gently a quiet lightness entering your thoughts and being.

4. Positive attitude. I am not suggesting to live like some annoying, over-the-top Polly-Anna, but to live your life on the foundation that, “all is well.” This isn’t to deny there are problems or tragedies in life, but it does focus on solutions instead of the difficulties.

5. Gratitude. Happy people are reminded each day of their blessings – the good and the difficult. As much as it drives me nuts, challenges are opportunities. Opportunities to learn, to grow and most importantly, to know yourself better. True gratitude is born out of compassion – just as much for yourself as others.

6. Confidence. Not swaggering, but a calm knowing of ones own abilities. Confidence also means knowing you will stumble on occasion, but the confident person knows not to make a habit of it.

7. Presence. Happy people live right now, in this moment – not dreaming about yesterday or fantasying about tomorrow. Here and now – laughing about the things that others might be frustrated by, and knowing all is well…

8. Choice. All happy people know happiness is a choice. Some days it’s easier to be happy, while other days may be a bit more of a struggle. However, knowing that you have the choice to lift yourself up or push yourself down – often leads to better decisions.

Happiness is not derived from one isolated event, but by attitudes and beliefs. Gratefully, like choice, each of us has the power to change our attitudes and beliefs with time and attention.

Happiness isn’t for someone else, it’s for you. It is for each one of us to sink deeply into the happiness of this moment, however mundane the pleasures. May you discover happiness already waits for you, deep within.

Kelly Ballard is a workshop leader, Intuitive Guide and Healer. Through workshops, private sessions and guided meditations Kelly specializes in helping others discover positive solutions for immediate change/growth in their lives thus drawing their most abundant life into reality. Find out more information about her services and meditation CDs at http://www.kellyballard.com Contact her directly at 720-984-4232 or email kelly@kellyballard.com She lives in Boulder, CO.

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How To Cope When Things Go Wrong: Cultivating Perspective, Balance, And Gratitude

February 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Paula Apfelbach

Perspective, balance, and gratitude: these often-elusive but always-helpful states of mind will help you to cope with life’s stresses and to reduce worry when bad times inevitably come. The next time you’re bogged down, consider some of these methods for rising out of your funk.

Put it in a box

Compartmentalizing is something that we do in many areas of our lives, every time we put something away in a box or bin or other container. Therefore, do the same whenever you’re sad or worried or upset: acknowledge the legitimacy of those feelings, give yourself some time to wallow around in them, but then try to place them into a mental “box” and move on to other thoughts. You can always bring your mental box back out and rummage around in it again later, but if grief and worry are allowed to take their natural courses, they’ll flow throughout the parts of your life that are working well and sully them. So give your upsets their due — but no more than their due.

Appreciation: it doesn’t get any better than this

Enumerating your blessings — especially the basic, humble things — is a powerful reminder never to take even the most mundane element of daily life as a given, and cultivating that “attitude of gratitude” is a goal worth pursuing all year long, not just when the calendar says that it’s Thanksgiving time. Truly, I can’t think of a more effective or reliable way to cultivate balance and perspective than being appreciative and refusing to take things for granted.

Play the “How could it be worse?” game

Okay, so maybe a state of continuous appreciation is a little too Pollyanna for you. If your gratitude occasionally fails and you start to feel sorry for myself, try the opposite approach to regain perspective: engage in the rather morbid-sounding “How could it be worse?” game. The way you play is to think of a negative situation in your life and then mentally turn it into something worse. If you’re anything like me, it will take only about one nanosecond before you realize that any upsetting circumstance you’re now experiencing could be worse — even much worse — and perhaps you do have it pretty good.

Another way to look at this is to remember that everything is relative. What’s awful one day may be only a drop in the bucket the next, and, thankfully, vice versa. Railing against the reality of life’s ebbs and flows will not change that reality. A mantra that I created for myself seems to apply here: “It isn’t fair; it just is.”

You always have options — even when you’re convinced you don’t

I don’t want to “go all motivational speaker” on you, but when life is crushing in on you and every single thing seems utterly imperative, it’s easy to forget that you do have options — it just seems like you don’t. One means to shake off this sense of imperatives is to do a little visualization exercise. My favorite example involves running off to Paris to become a painter creating masterpieces along the banks of the Seine…

“But of course,” you say, “I could never actually do that. What about my family and friends? My business? My dog? My mortgage? My Glee episodes?!” And right then the great majority of people would conclude that abandoning their current lives would be impossible, and they’d dismiss their painterly dreams because their priorities lie much more strongly elsewhere. And that’s not wrong in any way. My only point is that being a Parisian painter actually is an option if it’s of a higher priority than those other life elements. It’s just that it probably seems so ludicrous that most people wouldn’t even view it as an option.

And so it goes with a lot of activities: they seem critically necessary until you realize that perhaps not quite all of them deserve top-priority ranking. So take a while to evaluate how you’re spending your time. If you then choose to continue as you have been, you can feel great about living according to your highest values. But if you discover that there’s room for change, then exercise those options that you perhaps didn’t even know you had.

Accepting your limitations empowers you like little else

We’re all familiar with theologian Reinhold Neibuhr’s “Serenity Prayer,” about accepting the things we cannot change, changing the things we can, and having the wisdom to know the difference. It reminds me that there is relatively little in life that any one individual can control (despite our wishes to the contrary), so we have very little to complain about! In other words, why fret about something you can change, and why fret about something you cannot change?

Fill out a “life report card”

Most of us stopped receiving report cards a long time ago, but they might be worth reinstating. Create a list of all of the major areas of your life — relationships, occupation, leisure, spirituality, health, fitness, intellectual pursuits, finances, and whatever else is important to you — and grade yourself in each area. If you like your grades, celebrate! But, if some disappoint you, figure out what you can improve. Remembering that you can’t control everything might come in handy here, but recalling that you do have options might also come in handy. If you’re tempted to claim that you absolutely cannot change some aspect of your life, think twice: can you?

Perspective, gratitude, and balance: All are within reach, and they’ll help you to cope when things inevitably go wrong. Truly, it could always be worse.

Paula Apfelbach began her business, Breathing Room Professional Organizing, in May 2005. She transitioned out of organizing in the fall of 2010, but continues to write a free mini-zine called “exhale” and accepts freelance assignments on the subjects of organization and life simplicity. Paula lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Happiness Factors

December 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Kelly Ballard -

Why are some people happy and others not? There are certain factors that contribute to one’s ability to be “happy” under most circumstances. These are a few…

1. Flexibility. The old saying “once you make a plan, God laughs,” has proven true time and time again in my own life. Being able to adjust to changing life events, even as minor as dinner plans, with flexibility and ease leads directly to happiness. Why? Flexibility means forsaking control – willingly. Quite a feat to be sure, but a gift – only to be received if you are willing to give up control first.

2. Don’t take it personally. As my father wisely once said, “Some people are just a@@holes.” You can be assured in your life that your will encounter some real “pains in the bottom”, difficult situations, unfairness, and other assorted crap. Promise. And the person sitting next to you, same thing. The same goes with any other person you meet in your life too. We are all stumbling through at times. So, relax, take a breath and imagine what you would like to happen in whatever situation is causing you difficulty. Focusing on what you want enables you to emerge from any frustration with clarity.

3. Humor. Once you are able to either laugh at yourself or whatever the situation, you bring lightness to your heart. Laughter feels good. Watch funny movies, read amusing books, talk to a friend who always makes you laugh, go bowling. Just by adding more laughter to your life and you will notice, gently a quiet lightness entering your thoughts and being.

4. Positive attitude. I am not suggesting to live like some annoying, over-the-top Polly-Anna, but to live your life on the foundation that, “all is well.” This isn’t to deny there are problems or tragedies in life, but it does focus on solutions instead of the difficulties.

5. Gratitude. Happy people are reminded each day of their blessings – the good and the difficult. As much as it drives me nuts, challenges are opportunities. Opportunities to learn, to grow and most importantly, to know yourself better. True gratitude is born out of compassion – just as much for yourself as others.

6. Confidence. Not swaggering, but a calm knowing of ones own abilities. Confidence also means knowing you will stumble on occasion, but the confident person knows not to make a habit of it.

7. Presence. Happy people live right now, in this moment – not dreaming about yesterday or fantasying about tomorrow. Here and now – laughing about the things that others might be frustrated by, and knowing all is well…

8. Choice. All happy people know happiness is a choice. Some days it’s easier to be happy, while other days may be a bit more of a struggle. However, knowing that you have the choice to lift yourself up or push yourself down – often leads to better decisions.

Happiness is not derived from one isolated event, but by attitudes and beliefs. Gratefully, like choice, each of us has the power to change our attitudes and beliefs with time and attention.

Happiness isn’t for someone else, it’s for you. It is for each one of us to sink deeply into the happiness of this moment, however mundane the pleasures. May you discover happiness already waits for you, deep within.

Kelly Ballard is a workshop leader, Intuitive Guide and Healer. Through workshops, private sessions and guided meditations Kelly specializes in helping others discover positive solutions for immediate change/growth in their lives thus drawing their most abundant life into reality. Find out more information about her services and meditation CDs at http://www.kellyballard.com Contact her directly at 720-984-4232 or email kelly@kellyballard.com She lives in Boulder, CO.

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Thanksgiving: Gratitude and Happiness – 3 Levels

November 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment


By Edi Sowers -

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s time for a check-up to see how our hearts are doing – and I don’t mean cardio-vascular health. I’m talking about the condition of our gratitude heart.

The level of gratitude we practice on a regular basis has a direct and specific correlation to our level of contentment and happiness.

Take a look at the 3 levels of gratitude to determine your current condition, and decide what steps you can take to improve your “heart health.”

Level One – Beginner

This gratitude level presumes that one has made a bold leap to be intentional about gratefulness on a regular basis. A gratitude beginner is someone who has decided to make a habit of carving out one small slice of each day to focus on and talk about gratefulness.

A suggested starting point for a beginner is to develop a family dinner-time tradition where everyone shares one thing from their day for which they are grateful.

Level Two – Intermediate

The intermediate level is even more focused on the intentional, planned, chosen act of being grateful. It goes beyond selecting one thing out of the day to share with family. This level requires a more in-depth commitment to making gratitude a way of life.

Many people at this level keep a gratitude journal, and find that the act of writing down the things for which they are grateful develops a heart which is more inclined towards gratefulness throughout the entire day.

A good place to start for this level is to make a habit of writing at least 5 items per day that you are grateful to have in your life: a person, a thing, a place, a circumstance, a skill, an experience, etc. By making this a daily habit, your heart will begin to respond more readily towards gratefulness.

Level Three – Advanced

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6

Your gratitude heart is in tip-top shape when you reach the advanced level. This level is demonstrated by an attitude of thankfulness even in the midst of trouble.

Not many people operate at this level on an ongoing basis from day to day. With God’s help and strength, we are able to see beyond circumstances and realize that there can be some greater good, even in the midst of difficulty.

If you have had the privilege of knowing someone who has reached the advanced level of gratitude, you can attest to how inspiring, humbling, and encouraging it is to have them in your life.

The Level One and Two gratitude habits must be maintained and expanded upon in order to reach the Advanced Gratitude level.

Only when we are able and willing to look beyond our circumstances, humble ourselves, and maintain a posture of prayer in our heart, will we truly have a life overflowing with the gift of gratefulness.

May you begin to experience ever-increasing levels of gratitude in your life, starting today.

Visit [http://LifeHouseCoaching.com/]“LifeHouse Coaching [http://LifeHouseCoaching.com] and sign up to receive Edi’s weekly articles, tips, and coaching offers in “Blueprints for a Dream Life.” Edi Sowers works with women business owners who face the challenge of balancing their professional and personal priorities.

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November 5th, 2010 Gratitude

November 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone.
- Gertrude Stein

Filed Under: Daily Quotes Tagged With: , ,

The Benefits of Gratitude

October 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

perfect!By Cheryl Healey –

“Without gratitude, there is suffering”. Think about that for a minute.

I recently read that quote from the Buddhist tradition, and it inspired my curiosity. In researching the topic of gratitude for this newsletter, I began with the definition of gratitude which is being thankful; warmly and deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.

Did you know that there is a branch of psychology called Positive Psychology? There are researchers and scientists at most major universities from California to Miami studying, researching and documenting the benefits of being positive which includes gratitude. According to the University of Pennsylvania, “Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive”.

Dr. Robert Emmons studies gratitude for a living as Professor of Psychology at the University of California at Davis, and is Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology. His research studies have shown that a practice of gratitude over a period of weeks has a positive effect on hours of sleep and on time spent exercising, on more optimistic expectations for the coming week, and fewer reported physical symptoms, such as pain. Additionally, his team observed an increase in reported connectedness to other people and in the likelihood of helping another person deal with a personal problem.

Professor Emmons states that “most of the outcomes are self-reported, but there is an increasing emphasis on measuring objective data such as cortisol and stress levels, heart rate variability, and even brain activation patterns. The work of Richard Davidson is exemplary in that respect, showing how a mindfulness practice can rewire some activation patterns in the frontal lobes.”

You are now invited to join the cutting edge ranks of individuals who have already lowered their stress levels and improved the quality of their lives and incorporate one or more of the following gratitude practices into your day:

- Write in a Gratitude Journal (or notebook) every day. Note everything for which you are grateful for that day or something you forgot to write about on a previous day.

- Say thank you prayers upon waking, before sleeping, or in the shower or bath.

- At the dinner table with your family, partner, roommate or friend share that for which you are each grateful.

- Create a ritual with your spouse or significant other that just before falling asleep you share with each other what you found beautiful that day.

- Make up a practice of your own.

In the spirit of gratitude, thank you for caring enough about your well-being and those you love to create a daily gratitude practice from this day forward – if you don’t already have one. Please spread the word and tell others about the benefits of a daily gratitude practice. Enjoy being grateful!

Cheryl Healey is the creative and passionate Founder of The Gift of You coaching and training programs. As an Author, Life and Wellness Coach and Motivational Speaker, Cheryl is facilitating positive transformation for women, children and families. As an expert Behavior Modification Specialist, Cheryl has the tools needed to help you and your children create the life of your dreams. Visit http://www.thegiftofyou.com to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheryl_Healey

Filed Under: Happiness, Self Esteem, Self Improvement Tagged With: , , ,
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