Gracious + Attitude = Gratitude

Written by: Debbie

Thanksgiving commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, and is held in the US on the fourth Thursday in November. It is a day set aside to give thanks for the bounty of the previous year, although it often ends up with feasting, football and now even shopping for the upcoming holidays. Hence, we have one day a year to express our gratitude, between these other activities. Yet, is one day a year, during commercial breaks really enough?

Research has found that grateful people are more likely to:

-Take better care of themselves physically and mentally

-Engage in more protective health behaviors and maintenance

-Get more regular exercise

-Eat a healthier diet

-Have improved mental alertness

-Schedule regular physical examinations with their doctor

-Cope better with stress and daily challenges

-Feel happier and more optimistic

-Avoid problematic physical symptoms

-Have stronger immune systems

-Maintain a brighter view of life

So, perhaps a daily flexing of the gratitude muscle is in order. I call it a muscle to show you that gratitude is not just a feeling, if it was, we would feel it all the time. Gratitude is the combination of being gracious and one’s attitude. I want all the benefits listed above, so I decided to start daily rituals of gratitude. Daily reminders of what is right in my life as opposed to running the constant treadmill of more, more more!

Here are simple ways you can join me in this practice.

Good Morning and Thank You! Before you even get out of bed, take 2 minutes to reflect on whoever or whatever you are grateful for. Just a silent thank you will set the tone of your day to come.

Say Thank You. Whenever someone does something nice, say thank you. Mean it. No matter how small, recognize the kindnesses in your life.

Write a handwritten note of thanks. How many handwritten notes have you gotten lately. If you are like most people, not many. Texting and email has replaced the art of the written note. Yet, just send out one note a day and see how good you feel. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy, after all it is the thought that counts. (Especially for you!) It can even be a note of thanks left on the desk of a co-worker or written on a bill along with the payment.

List 3 reason for gratitude at the end of your day. Keeping a gratitude journal is easy when it is only 3 reasons at the end of the day. On the days you feel less than grateful, you have your journal as a reminder of the good things in your life.

As always, feel free to drop by my website to listen to a free audio.

Please, leave anything you do to enhance your attitude of gracious receiving in the comments below.

Friday Silliness….

Written by: Debbie

Yesterday was the American holiday, Thanksgiving. I hope all who celebrated had a fabulous day with plenty to be grateful for.

We can all be grateful we weren’t at this Turkey Drop.

Have a great and relaxing weekend. Take a moment to reflect on what you are grateful for and imagine how you desire your life to be. Then, begin to allow that life to become your reality.

Monday Morning Musing….

Written by: Debbie

Here in the States it is Labor Day. A day that is designated as a celebration of the social and economic achievement of the American workers. It is a time to play, rest, picnic, enjoy. So I wish everyone a wonderful and picture perfect Labor Day.

I am grateful. I am blessed.

I know that there are those who are concerned for their homes and their safety because of Hurricane Gustav. In the moment I am writing this, Gustav is weakening. I pray that continues, that your safety is insured and that somehow something powerfully positive does come out of this experience for you.

Monday Morning Musing….

Written by: Debbie

Once again, a weekend has passed and I am preparing for a busy week ahead. At the end of the week, I am attending a conference in Daytona Beach with the International Association of Therapists and Counselors. I will be giving presentations, so I am working out the last minute details of these seminars. There are appointments to keep during the week. Wednesday is my wonderful husband’s birthday, so we will be celebrating that! All in all, a busy, productive week. I love those.

I will take a few moments to reflect on my gratitude, as this morning I have so much to be grateful for. Two of my brothers live just outside of Macon, Georgia. This weekend tornadoes swept through that area. Both of my brothers were untouched, their families are safe. Both brothers are involved in the clean up. That truly is a reason for gratitude. My sister in law is in a suburb of Khartoum right now. Over the weekend rebels from Darfur attacked a nearby village. Her friend Tito lives in that village, he was away from home and stayed at a nearby church for safety. Both are safe right now. More gratitude.

Research shows the effects on the brain and immune system from emotional displays like gratitude; kind, affirming words cause chemical changes in the brain that work much like antidepressants (creating a sense of peace and calm). As a positive message travels along a nerve in the brain and reaches the end of the nerve, chemicals are released then picked up by the next nerve allowing the message to continue through out. These chemicals, known as neurotransmitters release the feel good chemicals such as serotonin.

However, the gratitude must be genuine. So, perhaps in a given moment you don’t feel gratitude for what is occurring in your life. What then? Perhaps that is a time to take stock of what is good and right in your life. Are you safe in this moment? Do you have your health? Think of one small thing that is right, in this moment and focus on that.

Gratitude is a choice. So is bitterness. Your health and well being depend upon your attitude, your choices. You can remain bitter and allow yourself to become numb, ill or even worse or you can choose in this moment to focus on something, anything to feel gratitude for. Imagine moving through an event and until you reach a place where you say, “ I learned something.” Then imagine as a result the next time adversity hits, you are prepared with knowledge as well as a neurological and physical resilience. Knowing that you will be OK. Then you truly are able to give thanks and be grateful.

Gratitude

Written by: Debbie

I want to take a moment to remind you how important gratitude is. It is another way to change that old stinking thinking, when things seem to be difficult. A client stopped by my office with a beautiful orchid and a dragonfly statue as her way of saying thank you. I felt humbled and thanked her for her thoughtfulness. I received an invitation in the mail today for a special luncheon, ladies only, a time to share our gratitude for our blessings. The hostess holds these luncheons each year to express her gratitude to the women in her life who she feels thankful for. My dear friend and web lady took me out for lunch today, sushi! (She knows how to get to my heart.)

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our days. Even more so, to hold a pity party for ourselves when things don’t seem to be going according to plan. But, if we take a moment to reflect on what is good in our lives, often it is far more than what is wrong. In fact, given time, there are negatives that turn into positives.

I lived through a flood that destroyed the apartment complex I was living in at the time. Many of the residents were deaf, so my sign language came in handy. It also meant that we were the last people to be evacuated. We floated out in boats next to alligators and water moccasins, riding above our cars on the water. It could/should have been devastating. Or so I was told. However, out of that situation I was able to live rent free for the few months I needed to get a down payment on my first home! The apartment complex was insured and they have rehabilitated into a much nicer complex.

I am grateful for my sons, my husband and even my first husband! (Number one has been a great father to the boys and a super Ex! He pays child support on time, in full and throws extras the kids way!) My current husband dances with shopping carts in the grocery store and makes me laugh until I have tears rolling down my cheeks. I am grateful that my parents are still alive and they live near by enough to see us frequently, far enough to not be under foot! (I bet I catch it for that one!) The list goes on, but, my time is limited, as I am back off to my office.

Take a moment and reflect on your life. What are you grateful for? Please leave a comment or two and share. Perhaps we will all begin to see what is right in our lives.

p.s. I just got back from my office. My last client of the day has recently returned from a trip to her native India. She brought me the most beautiful hand made purse from there. I’m really liking this gratitude stuff!