Living In Gratitude: Our Greatest Weapon Against Stress

…is our ability to choose one thought over another. ~William James

Stress can affect both our body and mind, impacting our overall health and wellbeing. We all encounter stressors in our lives but how we choose to manage stress is an important piece of the puzzle.

Identifying the cause of our stress and working to positively address a solution can make an enormous difference in our ability to reduce negative affects.

When in a stressful situation, we feel under enormous pressure and tend to tense up, become anxious, frustrated and even angry. Our thoughts often become ‘cannots‘ rather than ‘can dos‘, resulting in a paralysis of sorts where we are unable to work toward a resolution. Teaching ourselves how to think of positive outcomes allows us to cope and manage stress, thus reducing its impact and often leading us to solutions. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Every Day May Not Be Good

…but there is good in every day.

We’ve all had ‘one of those days’ when it seems that nothing is going our way.

  • Our alarm clock doesn’t go off.
  • We spill coffee on our work clothes.
  • Our car doesn’t start.

And it just goes on from there… Read more

Living In Gratitude: Power Of Gratitude

Gratitude in advance is the most powerful creative force in the Universe. ~Neale Donald Walsh

It makes sense to be grateful for the things we already have:

  • A roof over our head.
  • Food on our table.
  • A job that pays our bills.
  • Our health.
  • Our family and friends.  Read more

Living In Gratitude: Have Some Fun

Find time today to: sing, dance, skip, be silly. Have some fun. Life is too short for your seriousness.

All too often, we get caught up in the serious things life throws at us.

  • Can we pay our bills this month?
  • The commute traffic that gets worse each day.
  • An argument we had with a loved one.
  • An issue in our job or problem with our health. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Be Present & Thankful

Be present in all things and thankful for all things. ~Maya Angelou

One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and those we care about is our presence. Not just our physical presence but fully immersing ourselves in the moment.

Really listen and engage when a child is telling you a story or showing you something they created.

When spending time with friends at dinner, put away your smartphone and listen, laugh, savor and revel in the joy of friendship and love. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Humans Crave Appreciation

The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated. ~William James

Psychologist John Gottman can predict with 94% certainty within 15 minutes if a couple has a solid relationship, if their relationship will fail or will result in an unhappy union.

After years of studying relationships, Gottman has discovered that happy, connected couples – those he refers to as Masters – scan social environment for things they can appreciate and say thank you for. They build this culture of respect and appreciation very purposefully. Masters also express appreciation and gratitude for their significant others a minimum of 5 times each day. They find the good in their partner and express their thanks. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Blessings & Lessons

Some people come into our lives as blessings and some people come into our lives as lessons.

Both types of people have their place and both are valuable in their own ways.

The people who offer us love, friendship and support are those we should cherish and keep close. These are the relationships to nurture for years to come. Read more

Research Shows The Power In Gratitude

You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you. ~Sarah Ban Breathnach

It’s easy to take being grateful for granted. It’s easy to say, “Oh sure, gratitude,” and dismiss it as positive thinking ‘mumbo jumbo’. Do not make this mistake.

Be amazed! Research says…

Numerous scientific studies show that when people engage in a regular practice of heartfelt gratitude, they experience a significantly increased amount of physical, psychological, and interpersonal benefits. In some instances, people have said that their practice of gratitude led to transformative life changes. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Be Proud of Who You Are

Be proud of who your are rather than what you have.

What we own doesn’t define us.

The home we live in, the car we drive, the title on our business card, the clothes we wear. None of those material things truly reflect the person we are. Read more

Living In Gratitude: 5 Ways To Practice Gratitude

Be more energetic

Be healthier

Be creative

Be likable

Be productive

Gratitude is an action word. Put this amazing positive force to work in your life by doing.

As you practice appreciation, notice how you feel about yourself, about others, about the world around you. Read more