Accessing the Power Of Gratitude
By Ava Barzvi, Owner of AvaHosting Internet Solutions
http://www.avahosting.biz, and Busy-Mom.com
The practice of gratitude as a
tool for happiness has been mainstream for years. Long-term studies show
gratitude’s effectiveness. A positive, appreciative attitude contributes to
greater success in relationships, work, greater health, peak performance in
sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and faster recovery from
surgery.
While we acknowledge gratitude’s
many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. Many people notice what is
broken, undone or lacking in our lives. For gratitude to have full potential,
it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new
way of looking at things, a new habit. That can take some time.
That’s why practicing
gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have,
instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see
all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.
Gratitude isn’t just an optimistic
approach where bad things in life are ignored. It’s about where we put our
focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus
on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us
and gives us hope.
There are many things to be
grateful for: affection, being with someone you love, being blessed to learn
from a wise elder, having a quick trip to the lake or park to relax, colorful
autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, a meal
prepared for you, warm hugs and jackets, vegetables, ability to read, flowers,
good health, butterflies. What’s on your list?
Some Ways to Practice Gratitude
• Keep a gratitude journal where you
list things you are thankful for. Make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater
frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal
where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.
•
Make a gratitude collage with pictures. Online or off, as long as you
see it often.
•
Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your
nighttime routine.
•
Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.
•
When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You will
be amazed by how much better you feel.
•
Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about
it, express thanks for gratitude. Talk about it with your friends.
As you practice, an inner shift
begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful
you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.
Author’s content used with permission, © Ava Barzvi Owner of Avahosting
Internet Solutions http://www.avahosting.biz
and http://www.Busy-mom.com
