Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.' - Oprah Winfrey
Chelsea - my beautiful walk home………
‘ We take the air that we breathe for granted……..
Firstly, again I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.
I understand that this continues to be an anxious time for most people and the ongoing concern about the future - however it is also a perfect time to rethink how we live our lives.
This period can be a catalyst for change for the better - a shared moment that we are all in…….
All we have is this moment and the choices it presents
I believe you cannot be unhappy and have gratitude, or be ungrateful and happy - whichever works for you!
I carry on my iPhone and a pretty notebook a list of all the things I am grateful for and add to it regularly.
I find it is so helpful to remind myself on a regular basis of all the things I love that I have in my life, especially when life can throw you a curveball (or a pandemic!) and you can forget.
My gratitude list is always there to look at regularly and remind myself of the magic powers of gratitude.
A grateful heart is truly a magnet for miracles……
‘Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.’ Eckhart Tolle
I so believe that when you are grateful it opens up the abundant universal energy that is there for each and every one of us.
It stops you taking anything for granted and opens your eyes to bigger picture thinking and the wonder of the Universe.
Gratitude opens the door to other positive emotions too.
It has been scientifically proven that when people are grateful they are more joyful, more optimistic, more apt to help others and are genuinely healthier.
'True gratitude can shift even the most negative emotions.' - Arianna Huffington
Related studies have found they're more resilient, less stressed and better strategic thinkers too.
‘Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.’ - Melody Beattie
I believe that as long as you are at peace with yourself, have gratitude and positive thoughts, it allows you to access the right brain better - much of which I discussed in an earlier blog on creativity, joyfulness and social dexterity.
If you are bogged down with negativity you cannot tap into the right brain stuff.
Looking back I have practised this naturally much of my life but had not consciously realised this and the power that gratitude can bring.
However, it is not transactional - true gratitude expects nothing in return.
If you cannot find anything to be grateful for just be grateful for the air you breathe. I know it may sound crazy but we really do take the air we breathe for granted - being grateful is life enhancing and puts everything else into perspective.
‘The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of are people to appreciate and enjoy it.’ - Michael Josephson
I wish this could be taught in more schools from a young age - it would make the world a better place.
Sir Anthony Seldon, an enlightened headmaster of Wellington College was the first school to introduce Happiness and Wellbeing classes to its curriculum for pupils and parents in 2006 and the school and exam results thrived on these nourishing lessons. Thank heavens more schools have followed his example.
Their Well-being programme on ‘Altruism, Gratitude and Appreciation’ was ahead of its time and it just confirms everything I'm writing about now.
‘The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.’ - Charles Schwab
Being grateful for what we already have creates waves of positive change within ourselves and around us.
Gratitude directs us to a more fulfilled life and helps us see the positive within even what appear to be unpleasant situations, giving way to opportunities for gladness and success.
Let us make a conscious effort to start, end and live each moment of the day in gratitude being mindful to focus only on the positive, and not the negative.
‘This a wonderful day. I've never seen this one before.’ - Maya Angelou
Choosing to live each day on purpose.
Namaste
‘Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.’ - A. A. Milne