Practicing Gratitude
How to become happier
I am updating past writings for a new audience, to continue my mission to help people live more creative, vibrant, happy lives. Here’s one of my first ever, about Gratitude.
I’m not the only person who believes that Gratitude is absolutely the first key to the feeling of abundance, and a life state of general happiness. Gratitude is part of the foundation of many religions, and a fundamental tent pole in many recovery programs.
“I try hard to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful heart cannot entertain great conceits. When brimming with gratitude, one’s heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the finest emotion we can ever know.” ~ Bill W.
Here are just a few wise quotes about Gratitude
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” ~ Maya Angelou
“The more grateful we are, the more we practice this in our everyday lives, the more connected we become to the universe around us.” ~ Stephen Richards
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~ Epicurus
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy
"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
How can Gratitude facilitate creativity?
Gratitude generates optimism, even in me who has always been a bit of a Black Hat Thinker (Edward Bono, Six Thinking Hats) - the person on the team adept at spotting incipient problems. The conscious and intentional pursuit of gratitude has made me into an optimist.
Fortunately, I have not had a serious struggle or tragedy in my life. Family members have passed away, but I have been so lucky as to have been at peace with them - I had the chance to say goodbye. We have brief periods of financial stress, but my gratitude for all I have, especially for the partnership I share with my husband, has helped make even these times opportunities to practice mindful patience and trust - that all will be well so very soon. Optimism, for me "the belief that there is always another something wonderful to look forward to" leads me to think creatively about solutions to my problems - such as what I can do to bring more prosperity into our household.
“To fight discouragement, remind yourself of the basics: I can write. I have the opportunity to do so. I love what I write. Now smile and be thankful.” ~ Richelle E. Goodrich
Looking at this from the other way, if I forget to be consciously grateful – forget to keep a record – I quickly sink into fear, or at least alarm. I get grumpy, critical of others, and defensive. And that is not much fun to be around.
But when I look around with new eyes in search of gratitude, this spills over into seeing other things with new eyes. Especially if you make a written list, finding gratitude gets the brain working and primed. When I enjoy the feeling of gratitude, when I express it to my loved ones and to the Universe, I get a sensation of abundance and safety. I can take risks of trying something new from this place of safety. I have fewer distractions. My worries or concerns shrink through being crowded out by gratitude.
Gratitude opens the heart, so that the love there can be felt.
Creativity Prompt: Here are three questions you can use to jumpstart your gratitude practice. I think you can copy and download this printable.
“Remember, whatever you focus upon, increases. . . . When you focus on the things you need, you'll find those needs increasing. If you concentrate your thoughts on what you don't have, you will soon be concentrating on other things that you had forgotten you don't have--and feel worse! If you set your mind on loss, you are more likely to lose. But a grateful perspective brings happiness and abundance into a person's life.” ~ Andy Andrews