Science has shown that gratitude is the single greatest correlation with human well-being than any other character trait. Operation gratitude is an in depth look into the affects of gratitude on your well-being and a guide to finding your inner happiness. So, to begin we must first understand, what is gratitude?
Gratitude Synonym
“Grace, gratefulness, appreciative, obligation, acknowledgment, thanks, recognition.”
Grateful Definition
“Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness.”
It’s been wisely said that, “life is a journey, not a destination. It’s not about getting there, it’s about who you become along the way.” So, this begs the question, “how do I become the best version of myself along the way?” Well, the best place to start is actually through gratitude.
- Gratitude and appreciation for life
- Being grateful for what is, as it is
An Attitude For Gratitude
- Emotional swings
- Anger
- Guilt
- Fear
- Depression
These are all common reactions to daily pressure(s), chronic stress and broken relationships. Understandably, these are the challenges and chaos that can evoke a life of ingratitude, ‘heaviness’ and despair. However, it’s precisely these times when you need to dig down deep and find away to transform these life stresses into grateful states of gratitude and order. But how??
How To Achieve Balance
We usually experience an ‘emotional charge‘ when we see more positives than negatives, or more negatives than positives in:
- A person
- Situation
- Circumstance
And, the greater the charge the greater the emotion. So, when we begin to experience lopsided emotions, we get further from our true nature. We lower our self worth and can assume a false persona such as:
- Self righteous and cocky when we see more positives than negatives
- Self deprecating and bummed out when we see more negatives than positives
However our true self is neither. Our true self is a:
- Centered
- Poised
- Stable
- Humble
- Open hearted being
One that seeks the hidden blessings and balance in every situation. Therefore, when we are in a state of gratitude, we are better able to balance our perceptions.
The Art Of Gratitude
The best place to start in developing the art of gratitude is by taking some time each and every day to write a list of that which you are grateful for in a gratitude journal. Initially this may seem difficult and perhaps repetitive. But with daily practice, new neural pathways will develop in your brain, pruning away old negative thoughts that were holding you back. In time you will create a new state of mind and eventually gratitude will be a part of your new identity.
It’s All About Perception
Practice being mindful of your thoughts (metacognition) each day. Eventually you will develop the skill of balancing your perceptions by asking yourself what are the benefits (positive) and drawbacks (negatives) of the situation, circumstance or person. By doing this, your certainty and non-judgement will rise proportional to your level of gratitude.
So, now that you understand the connection between gratitude and perceptions of mind, you can now work towards:
- Becoming more inspired and unconditionally loving
- Decreasing the divisiveness in your mind
- Increasing your self worth
Ingratitude is often associated with depression and despair. Whereas gratitude increases your dopamine and serotonin levels in your brain, acting as a natural antidepressant. Also, YOU must address all areas of your health for your body to heal such as your:
Many people make it all about one thing (i.e., Nutrition or exercise) and neglect the rest. However this alone will not give your body the opportunity it needs to heal.
Looking for additional support on finding inner happiness? See how meditation can benefit your health and assist you in finding enlightenment and gratitude along the way.
Operation Gratitude – The Key To Happiness
In conclusion, everyone wants to be loved and appreciated. And, the appreciation you have for others is directly impacted by the appreciation and love you have for yourself. So, once you implement operation gratitude and achieve a ‘grateful state of mind’ you, will begin to unconsciously fulfill your purpose in life by attracting the right kind of:
- People
- Places
- Things
- Events
Remember, be grateful for what you are given and you will be given more to be grateful for.
Click here for a simple action plan to work on developing an attitude of gratitude today.
What’s Next?
In my next blog we will continue our talk about controlling our emotions. How thinking is the language of the mind, and feeling is the language of the body. Therefore if we don’t keep our thoughts and feelings in check, our bodies eventually become the mind.
