Living In Gratitude: Completing the Stress Cycle

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Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes- including you.

– Anne Lamott

Stress is a common experience. We encounter stress at work, at home, in our social lives, and relationships.

As defined by socratic.org, stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances, whereas stressors are the factors that cause stress.

In the book, Burnout, The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, authors Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, reveal that removing the stressor doesn’t negate the stress. To alleviate or mitigate the stress we feel in our mind and body, we have to move through the emotional stress cycle.

This insight is valuable because there are often stressors in our lives over which we have no control.

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Living in Gratitude: The Emotion of Procrastination

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We all know someone who is a master procrastinator, the person whose mantra should be, “I have not yet begun to procrastinate.” That someone might even be us.

The classic thought behind people who postpone projects, errands, or any variety of things is that they simply don’t have a grasp on managing their time. 

But a new school of thought on procrastination is emerging.

Psychologists are discovering that putting things off is much more of an emotional response than a lack of managing time.

The things we avoid doing are ones that evoke negative emotions that we don’t want to feel.

Boredom

Fear of failure

Nervousness

Feeling overwhelmed

Stress

Worry

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Kindness: A True Game Changer

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Written by guest blogger, Gowtham Natarajan

As you stroll down the busy hallway at school during lunch with a group of friends, you look over and see a kid eating lunch by himself. But what do you do next?  

Do you keep walking thinking he chose to sit there? 

Go over to him and ask if he has anyone to spend his thirty-minute lunch break with? 

Offer to have him eat with you and your friends? 

This is probably a situation that many of us have encountered at one point or another. The question is, however, what did you do about it?

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Living In Gratitude: 10 Traits of Emotionally Strong People

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Emotional strength tends to be misconstrued as a lack of feeling. Many believe emotions are the opposite of reason and emotional strength is simply a form of numbness that often presents itself to others as superiority and unwavering toughness.

In reality, emotional strength has little to do with toughness and quite a bit to do with resilience, two very different things.  Thanks to the development of positive psychology, one thing has become clear: it is not how little chaos we experience in life, but how we respond to it, that counts.

Below are 10 traits of emotionally strong people:

1. They display peace more than power.

Genuinely strong people often do not exhibit dominance, aggressiveness or power. They understand that real power is in being your own source of control rather than controlling others. Peace is the most unwavering, unshakable, resilient strength you can possibly possess.

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Living In Gratitude: 5 Ways To Practice Gratitude

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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

Living In Gratitude: Ask Yourself…

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Ask yourself this question: Will this matter a year from now? ~Richard Carlson

When you are having ‘one of those days’ where nothing goes your way and your frustration level is at it’s peak, take a deep breath and ask yourself, “Will this matter a day, a week, a month or year from now?” Odds are, whatever challenge is causing your current stress or irritation is something that soon enough will be forgotten. It simply won’t matter in the grand adventure of your life. Read more

Living In Gratitude: A Positive Life

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“You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.”

Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Our response to this age-old question about positive thinking reflects our outlook and attitude toward life.

Positive thinking doesn’t mean our head is buried in the sand while we ignore unpleasant situations. Positive thinking simply means that we approach life’s challenges in a more positive and productive way. We believe the best is going to happen rather than the worst. Read more

Gratitude: Candy For Your Doctor? How Appreciation Changes The Interaction

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Appreciation can be a kind of wake-up call. It can spark aliveness and connection in both the receiver and the giver. Below is a description of a study that utilized candy to measure the response of doctors.

I liked the idea and put my own version to work:

Recently I visited a new doctor for my annual check-up. Instead of candy, I brought with me, as a gift, one of the Gratitude Habitat bookmarks. Written on it is, “Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.”  My appointment was at the end of the day. Dr. S. looked a bit tired. As I handed her the bookmark I simply said, “Thank you for the work you do.” She stopped, read it, took a breath and shared a story of how the day before, she told her ailing father how much she appreciated him and how important it was for him to be grateful, too. They talked about what they appreciated about each other and about life. She said that his spirit was lifted and his voice grew stronger. Her facial expression and voice tone were soft and open. Clearly a special moment was created.

My new doctor said to me, “This is a perfect gift for me. Thank you.”

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Gratitude Helps Children Grow

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…if you live feeling like

Your glass is half empty, well,

It may as well be empty all the way.

~Mattie J.T. Stepanek, Journey Through Heartsongs

The word “appreciation” means really seeing something for what it is – having 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, action or person.

Some people are born “appreciators”. They value the essence of everything – the beauty of a sunset, the fragile green of a leaf, the boundless energy of a small child. Others must learn to see the beauty and wonder in the world.

Teaching children the value of appreciation is so important. It opens the heart, giving them a sense of belonging, a sense of community. Gratitude opens children up to the awareness of what others provide. Helping children grow an ‘attitude of gratitude’ can begin at a very early age. Read more

Optimism VS Pessimism…Or Somewhere In Between

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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