The Practice of Gratitude

More and more people are beginning to realize the power of practicing gratitude.  There have been a number of studies researched, performed and published in the last two decades by such prestigious institutions such as Berkeley, Harvard, and Stanford.  Though the practice of gratitude and its benefits have been known and practiced in a number of religions throughout time.

Gratitude is not just a nice notion or polite expression but is essential to our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing.  Without gratitude we see an increase in sickness, depression, suicide, anxiety, anger, conflict, violence, divorces, social and moral decay.  Gratitude does not directly solve life’s problems but rather it empowers a person to find a new perspective, giving hope it creates contentment, empowers a person to problem solve, a grateful person attracts friendships and favour, and enables divine intervention for what some might call luck.

The practice of gratitude does not have to be complex, nor tedious but like any good habit it takes a quality decision to change your behaviour by creating a new internal as well as external habit, just like brushing your teeth.  Once this habit is formed than like all other habits it becomes permanent.  Those of us who are not in the habit of being very grateful we learned the habit of ungratefulness and complaining probably from the home environment that you grew up in.  For your sake choose to change habits from one of ungratefulness and complaining to one of gratitude.  

The following gratitude practice my wife and I began cultivating over 35 years ago that helped us get out of a state of fear and hopelessness when we were in dire straits.  We began practicing gratitude from a spiritual perspective which also released divine intervention for us, which got us out of our dilemma at the time.

Steps to Practicing Gratitude

Twice daily practice gratitude beginning in the morning then in the evening of each day doing the following.  Start by picking a room in your home or outdoors where you can begin.

1.  Begin to vocalize out loud what you are grateful for in your surroundings.  Be detailed.  (This is an act of recognizing the good things in your life and surroundings in the given moment of that space and time that you are currently in).  Speaking your gratitude vocally is essential for numerous reasons.

2.  Be sure to vocalize it with emotional engagement and mindfulness.  Use such statements as:   “I’m grateful for…”.  “Thank you (Creator, God, Father, Jesus, etc.) for…”. “I love (the smell of the flowers)…” 

3.  Involve your 5 physical senses by expressing your gratitude in the following exercise:   “I am grateful for…” 3 things that you see, “I am grateful for…” 3 things that you hear, “I am grateful for…” 3 things that you smell, “I am grateful for…” 3 things that you touch or feel (name them out loud with purposed feelings of gratefulness).

4.  Practice this vocal act of gratitude for at least 5 minutes twice daily.

5.  When you are nearly finished sit in your environment as comfortably as you can and begin breathing according to the heart coherence technique.  (Breathing in and through your heart about the centre of your chest, smooth breathing through your nose only, notice those things you have just vocalized that you are grateful for, particularly one item).

6.  When completed notice your body and its stillness.

7.  Slowly begin moving keeping yourself in that mental and physiological state as much as possible.

8.  Throughout the day turn your attention to your practice of gratitude and what you have noticed earlier that day.

It is important to note that though the practice of gratitude is essential and even necessary to our wellbeing it is only a piece of the puzzle towards a healthy you and a healthy life.  Find out more by checking out our services that can empower your life. 

 

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At New Hope Counselling Centre we can help you to improve your happiness, mental health, marriage, healthy living, bringing you hope for a better tomorrow.  Call us today!

 

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