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Living In Gratitude: Celebrate the Goodness

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Brené Brown recently published Atlas of the Heart, a compendium of 87 key human emotions. Chapter 11 entitled Places We Go When Life Is Good, delves into a multitude of emotions, including joy, happiness, calm, contentment, and gratitude.

Besides being a best-selling author, Brené is a successful podcaster, professor, and lecturer. She is best known for her extensive research on shame, vulnerability, fear, and leadership, and she has an incredibly popular 2010 TED Talk on vulnerability. Her Netflix special, A Call to Courage, is also powerfully insightful. Both are worth watching.

Here’s what she has to say about gratitude in Atlas of the Heart:

“There is overwhelming evidence that gratitude is good for us physically, emotionally, and mentally. There’s research that shows that gratitude is correlated with better sleep, increased creativity, decreased entitlement, decreased hostility and aggression, increased decision-making skills, decreased blood pressure–the list goes on.”

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Living in Gratitude: Younger Podcast

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Recently, I was interviewed about the power of gratitude by Dr. Robyn Benson on Younger: The A.R.T. and Science of Youthful Aging podcast. The episode is called “Creating a Life of Joy Through Gratitude.”

I share how my gratitude journey began on a walk with my grandmother.

Since then, gratitude has been a grounding place for me, a way of life that I’ve chosen. Gratitude is available to everyone.

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Living In Gratitude: Appreciation Is Glue for Relationships

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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. 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: Power Of Gratitude

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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

Research Shows The Power In Gratitude

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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: 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: Gratitude Opens Your Heart

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Gratitude opens your heart to love.

Studies on gratitude show that those people who are grateful have more friends, deeper, more meaningful relationships and healthier partnerships/marriages. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Peace May Come

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Gentle as a snowflake, may peace come into your heart. ~Japanese Proverb

This holiday season, whatever and however you celebrate, open your heart. Welcome peace, kindness, love, and laughter into your heart and your home. Revel in the sense of community, the celebration, the sounds, smells and flavors of the season. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Interrupt Worry

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Interrupt worry with gratitude.

We all have moments, or even days, when worry seems all-consuming. Sometimes, we worry about important things-our health, our finances, our family, our careers. Other times, we spend time worrying about little things, many of which, when we really consider it, don’t matter much in the grand scheme of life. Read more

Living In Gratitude: Begin & End Each Day

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Begin and end each day with a grateful heart.

Each day is a gift, something to unwrap, filled with discovery and unknown treasures. Expressing our gratitude for all of the blessings, beauty, and wonder every day offers, we invite happiness, laughter, peace, kindness, and satisfaction into our hearts and lives.

Gratitude has been proven by over 40 research studies to have long-lasting and wide-reaching impact on all aspects of life. During their extensive studies, top gratitude researchers, Dr. Robert Emmons and Sonja Lyubomirsky, have consistently shown that gratitude is essential to happiness and wellbeing. Read more