Living In Gratitude: Gratitude Literally Alters Our Heart & Brain

An article authored by Arjun Walla shared some interesting scientific information backing what we always knew: gratitude literally impacts us on a molecular level.

According to the article, scientists have discovered that feelings of gratitude can actually change your heart and brain. Feeling gratitude can also be a great tool for overcoming depression and anxiety. Furthermore, scientists have discovered that the heart sends signals to the brain.

There are those people with seemingly very little who are overwhelmed with gratitude for a warm meal, rudimentary shelter, or some used clothing while so many of us who have all so much are always in search of more things to make us happy and fulfilled rather than appreciating what we have.

In a world where emotional intelligence isn’t really taught in school and the importance is put on striving for high grades, it’s no wonder so many people have difficulty feeling grateful. This is especially understandable if you’ve been brought up in the western world, which is full of consumerism and competition, a world where we’re constantly made to feel we are lacking so we need to strive for more.

Says Walla, happiness is a matter of perspective, and in a world where we are constantly made to feel like we are lacking and always ‘wanting’ more, it can be difficult to achieve or experience actual happiness. Many of us are always looking toward external factors to experience joy and happiness when really it’s all related to internal work. This is something science is just starting to grasp as well, as shown by research coming out of UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center (MARC).

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Gratitude In The Workplace

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

Teaching Children Gratitude Part 2

Helping the children in our lives to express appreciation from an early age is a gift that will bring them abundance throughout their lives.

In Part 1 of this blog, we discussed nature as a doorway to nurturing appreciation in children. Here, we will talk more about care, affection and compliments as other gratitude practices.

Care is an Important Aspect of Appreciation

  • Help your child take care of their things.
  • Teach them to respect their belongings and the property of others.
  • Demonstrate an attitude of thankfulness for what you have and for your life together.
  • Acknowledgements, celebrations and shared reflection are simple ways to express your gratitude. Read more

Teaching Gratitude To Children Part 1

The word “appreciation” means really seeing something for what it is- an awareness of how special, how lucky, how unique, how blessed, how big, wonderful or awesome something is. Appreciation is a recognition not based on comparison, but based on the intrinsic value, character or immensity of a thing or state itself.

Some people are born “appreciators”. These people see the world at its essence:

  • the beauty of a sunset
  • the fragile green of a leaf
  • the boundless energy of a small child

Others must be helped to learn to see the beauty and wonder in the world. Read more

Optimism VS Pessimism…Or Somewhere In Between

Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide. ~Marcus Tullius Cicero

There is something to be said for moderation.  When it comes to the debate of optimism VS pessimism, many of us fall on one side of the fence or the other. Sometimes, we may even bounce back and forth, depending upon the situation.  Read more

The Key To A Happy Life

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy — because we will always want to have something else or something more. ~ Brother David Steindl-Rastl

Part of the holiday season is the giving of gifts. Giving can be a wonderful expression to show caring and appreciation. These gifts don’t have to be material or store-bought; the ones that aren’t, often, are so much more meaningful. Read more

How To Teach Children Gratitude

Do not take anything for granted — not one smile or one person or one rainbow or one breath, or one night in your cozy bed.  ~Terri Guillemets

Gratitude is an attitude toward living. Children learn gratitude by watching their parents, teachers, grandparents and other adult role models in their lives. These role models set the tone. Children mirror the values they see on a daily basis. If children are shown and experience the value of gratitude in daily life, appreciation will become a part of their attitude.

Below are four ways to nurture gratitude in children. Read more

Why Thanksgiving Is Important!

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~ Edward Sandford Martin

Thanksgiving. What a truly clever and wonderful idea.

A holiday in which the entire nation collectively comes together, surrounds ourselves with loved ones and takes time to focus on the good things in life.

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Every Problem Has A Purpose

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. ~ Henry J. Kaiser

When faced with any sort of challenge, we have the choice to approach that obstacle as an opportunity to make us better people, or to take the view that something is conspiring against us.  Read more

6 Tips To Composing Heartfelt Thank You Notes

People like being appreciated. Every gift deserves a thank-you, whether it is a material object, a referral, or to express your appreciation for someone’s friendship, acceptance or support.

Although occasionally a thank you email will do, a handwritten note expresses a completely different level of appreciation. It takes added effort and planning (but not much) to actually pen and mail a thank you card, letter or postcard. Even if your handwriting is poor, still hand-write your notes. Do not type them or use a word processor.

Writing thank-you notes is easier than you remember them being as a kid (when your mom had you write thank you cards for every birthday gift received).  Read more