APRIL 30, 2020
Many of you have heard the saying, “He or She has an Attitude of Gratitude.” Those are the people we can all learn from because they have figured out what is truly important in life and have continued to live their best lives with an attitude of appreciation. In fact, I am planning to make that one of my initial questions in the a “Personal Audit Workbook” I am putting together. It has been a quest of mine for a number of years and it is coming to fruition as we write this Elevator Guy remark. It is meant to remind each of us that we are all in this world together and that we ALL have much to be thankful for. It will be “Coming to a Theater near you” soon.
In my studies, I have come to realize that LIFE is truly a gift. This is how I choose to look at life. It is so easy to take life for granted. But even science says that the happiest among us have cultivated the ability to see it ALL as one big gift. Gratitude is the best approach to life. When life is going well, it allows us to celebrate and magnify the many good things in our lives. When life goes badly, and it will for everyone of us at one time or another, it provides perspective by which we can view life and its entirety and not be overwhelmed by temporary experiences. Grateful people have learned to transform adversity into opportunity no matter what happens. This means we need FAITH and HOPE that tomorrow will be a better day. When life is going well, gratitude helps amplify the awesome. When life isn’t going so well, it helps us gain perspective to navigate the temporary adversity.
Gratitude does work according to research. One of the most important ways we can experience and appreciate gratitude is by journaling. When people regularly practice gratitude by saying it and writing it all of the time, they experience a multitude of psychological, physical, and spiritual benefits. It is one of the strongest links to mental health and satisfaction with life of any personality trait. Grateful people experience higher levels of positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, love, happiness, and optimism. Gratitude as a discipline protects us from the destructive impulses of envy, resentment, greed, and bitterness. People who experience gratitude and learning to “Love” themselves more openly, can cope more effectively with everyday stress, recover more quickly from illness, and enjoy more robust physical health.
Gratitude also leads to increased feelings of connectedness and improved relationships. WOW! All of these benefits just by being thankful? Since there are so many more benefits to each one of us, I thought I would give everyone a simple exercise to try to see if this really works. (I am POSITIVE it will for you if you work at it) Start by writing down five things for which you were grateful the past week. Try this for ten consecutive weeks and see what your level of gratitude is. WRITE IT DOWN! Then, keep writing down your thoughts (journaling) on a regular basis and see if you receive any benefits. In order to help you along your journey, you will also need to do some reflective thinking, letter or note writing, and making regular “Gratitude visits.” Remember to be THANKFUL in ALL things.
As a kid growing up, I remember when my parents made me write thank you notes to those who gave me gifts either through a birthday, Christmas, or graduation. That is where I learned an attitude of gratitude. It was easy to do and meant more to the writer than to the person who gave the gift. Try it on your own kids and see if they can learn that same feeling. It may just pay huge dividends in the future by the strong relationships and communication skills needed in this world today.
Having a STRONG attitude of gratitude is important in navigating life’s struggles. It helps one feel more loving, more forgiving, and closer to God. All important in Living the “Good Life” we all crave. Life is Short. So many take life for granted. Life is beautiful. No matter what you are facing, life is still good. Don’t give up. Be thankful because every day is a new day and it is a new opportunity. Don’t waste it.
What is YOUR Gratitude Level?
Elevator Guy