Living In Gratitude: Leave Anger & Bitterness Behind

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“As I walked out the door towards my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the hatred, anger and bitterness behind that I would still be in prison.” ~Nelson Mandela

Our emotions play a significant part in our attitude and how we view the world. Negative emotions can consume us, resulting in our own self-imprisionment, as Nelson Mandela so wisely understood. Holding onto those feelings is like holding a hot coal and expecting others to get burned.  Read more

Living In Gratitude: When You Arise

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When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light.

Give thanks for your food and the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself.

~Tecumseh

Each and every day, we awake to new opportunities. By starting our day with gratitude, we chose to accept all that day has to offer with an open mind and open heart.  Read more

Living In Gratitude: Stress Happens

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Stress happens when we resist life’s events.

Let go.

Be at peace and appreciate life.

This is a spiritual practice.

Stress is a part of life. It’s a reaction to something that disrupts our mental or physical equilibrium, resulting in a ‘fight or flight’ reaction. In moderation, stress can keep us active, alert and excited but long-term, chronic stress can have a negative impact on our health.

You may not be able to eliminate stressors, but you can control how you react to them. Healthy stress management routines can help you manage stressors big and small. These might be meditation, exercise, deep breathing or any whatever method works best for you. Read more

Living In Gratitude: The World Is Changed…

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The world is changed by your example not your opinion. ~Paulo Coelho

We all have our ways of thinking and to each and every one of us, our opinions are very important. Yet our individual beliefs impact the world much less than our actions. What we do speaks so much louder than what we say. Read more

Iroquois Prayer of Thanks

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We return thanks to our mother, the earth,

which sustains us.

We return thanks to the rivers and streams,

which supply us with water. Read more

Living in Gratitude: You Wouldn’t Worry So Much

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You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think if you realized how seldom they do. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Many of us live our lives wondering what other people will think of us if we (fill in the blank).

That ‘blank’ can be just about anything: what we wear, the kind of job we have, if we buy the neighbor’s daughter’s Girl Scout cookies or not, how we eat, if we are overweight or too thin…

And the list goes on. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Happiness

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Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.

Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.”

~Denis Waitley

Happiness isn’t a material thing or even a place. We can’t purchase it and we can’t hop in a car or on a plane and go there.

Happiness comes from within. It is something we alone can create for ourselves. No one else in life is responsible for our happiness, nor are we responsible for theirs.  Read more

Living In Gratitude: Conflict

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Conflict cannot survive without your participation. ~Wayne Dyer

Very wise words.

Have you ever considered that conflict exists because two or more people participate in it’s creation or continuation?

This is also true of inner conflict. Our choice-sometimes unconsciously or unwillingly-to participate solidifies conflict, giving it power. Read more

Gratitude In The Workplace

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People want to belong and feel appreciated by their employer. When shown gratitude at work, employees:

  • Are Happier
  • Feel appreciated
  • Take pride in what they do
  • Are more creative
  • Have increased company loyalty
  • Give their all for their employer

This generates contentment, which results in a healthier mental and physical state as shown by studies done by Robert Emmons and Michael McCollough. People who are happier work harder, are healthier and stay with a company longer.

“The difference between mere management and leadership is communication.” ~Winston Churchill

Leadership Isn’t Something You Can Do on Your Own

It requires a team. Great leaders inspire, motivate and help their employees to become better. They express appreciation. Read more

Ode To My Socks

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Mara Mori brought me
 a pair of socks
 which she knitted herself
 with her sheepherder’s hands, 
two socks as soft as rabbits.
 I slipped my feet into them
 as if they were two cases
 knitted with threads of twilight and goatskin,
violet socks,
 my feet were two fish made of wool, 
two long sharks
 sea blue, shot through
 by one golden thread, 
two immense blackbirds, 
two cannons, 
my feet were honored in this way
 by these heavenly socks.
 Read more