Jun 29, 2020
The Power of Gratitude
What is Gratitude and why do thought leaders talk so
much about having a Gratitude Practice?
I’ve learned over time in my life that gratitude can
be an amazing strategy to use to reduce or eliminate stress,
anxiety, depression, and even insomnia. But
more importantly, it is an excellent practice to increase your
overall happiness and fulfillment in life, so let's have brief
discussion about the benefits of gratitude and ways to cultivate it
in your life.
I think it is important to note that gratitude
actually has a much deeper meaning than just being thankful
for things you have. There are actually 2 parts to being
truly grateful. First, there is the appreciate and
recognition for things, benefits or gifts we have received in
our lives. Second, there is the acknowledgment of these
things from something or someone outside of our selves, and
our willingness to give back and “express” our feelings
of gratitude.
So, why is it so important that we adopt and live
an attitude of Gratitude in our lives?
Well, it's important to understand that gratitude
is not just an emotion we experience or an attitude we adopt
in our lives. Gratitude literally causes changes in our
brain and can affect all areas of our life in a positive way.
This is so important when you are trying to create an
amazing life, or you are struggling to deal with stress, anxiety or
negative emotions in your life.
Scientists have shown in brain scans that specific
areas of the brain are affected when individuals participate
in acts or emotions of gratitude. The chemical reactions
that occur can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and it
can also cause an increased sensitivity to future experiences
of gratitude. This shows that the more you practice and
experience gratitude the more you will benefit from its positive
affects on your life.
Here are 7 Key Benefits you can gain from the Power of
Gratitude
-
Abundance & Attraction- I have always said
that what you focus on grows. When you practice
gratitude, you will attract more positive emotions, energy and
experiences into your life. This will also lead to more motivation
and drive to help you accomplish your goals.
-
Attitude & Mindset- One of the most important
resources an entrepreneur can have in business is a positive
attitude. But an attitude of gratitude can also help to
reduce stress, anxiety and depression which
will ultimately help you deal with more difficult situations and
problems that can arise in your day to day life.
-
Perspective & Filter- Having a positive attitude
is critical but gratitude can also help you to change your
perspective when you are identifying and overcoming day to day
challenges. Dr Wayne Dyer has been quoted as
saying, “when you change the way you look at things, the
things you look at change.” I truly believe this, and I can
tell you from experience that when you have a gratitude practice
you will see situations in life in a different light. You are more
patient, understanding and more capable of creating solutions.
This will lead you to much more success in business and
relationships.
-
Happiness & Health- The positive affects your health,
happiness and immune system are also a proven fact of having more
gratitude in your life. Scientific studies have show that
individuals practicing gratitude have stronger immune systems, get
better quality sleep and are happier overall with their
life. I believe happiness comes from wanting what you
have rather than having what you want, and this is much easier when
practicing gratitude regularly.
-
Inspiration & Influence- More and more thought leaders
are acknowledging that you will create a better quality
life when you have impact on others and feel you are
making a difference in the world. Practicing gratitude
and serving other is an excellent way to inspire and influence
others. It is also a great way to help take the focus off of
yourself and your current obstacles in life if you are struggling
to deal with various problems and life
challenges.
-
Leadership Development- By serving others
and creating impact, you will also be able to develop as a
leader. True leadership comes from setting an example of what
you want others to emulate around you. If you truly want
to surround yourself with positive,
happy people, then the best way to do this is to practice and
express gratitude to the people in your life.
-
Strong Relationships- The quality of
your relationships can be significantly impacted by gratitude.
Most relationships struggle when negative emotions are
involved like envy, jealousy, cynicism or even anger.
Gratitude has been show to create and attract positive
emotions and will also shift the average individual into a positive
state more often. This results in more expressions of
love, compassion, positivity and encouragement…all of which lead to
stronger key relationships.
These are just a few of the many benefits that you can
experience by adopting and practicing more gratitude.
Remember, there are mental, emotional and even physical
benefits that will impact your life if you choose to focus on this
powerful emotion. So, let me give you just a few ideas
and strategies for how you can Cultivate more Gratitude
in your life today.
Try some or all of these Practices, and then add a few
to your daily rituals and routine…
Engage in acts of service.
Write thank you notes.
Keep a gratitude journal.
Focus on key relationships.
Express appreciation to others often.
Try to identify a time in your day that you can
identify the things that you are grateful for on a daily basis.
Then, find ways to express or practice your gratitude for the
most impact in your life. I hope this topic has
been able to inspire you and will help you to continue to create
your best life.
After all…Its Never too Late to Start Living the Life
You Were Meant to Live.
George Wright III