The Fine Art of Practising Gratitude

It’s amazing how much we take for granted. Have you noticed that? It’s extraordinary how easily we become quite oblivious to all the advantages, blessings and privileges that make our lives such an incredibly rich experience. But, the truth is that we lead busy lives that place challenges and obstacles across our pathways. For example, we rarely seem to get enough sleep. We struggle to find enough energy to get us through the day. Our focus shifts from the gifts that life has bestowed upon us and we concentrate more and more on the various problems that inevitably show up.

When you think about it, this really isn’t the best way to appreciate our great good fortune to be born in an era of unparalleled technical advancement. The world may be far from perfect but, according to UN statistics, it’s certainly getting better for more and more of its people.

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

-??????G.K. Chesterton

The remedy for this unusual form of blindness is to cultivate the beautiful art of gratitude.

Now, we know that there are countless books and articles and videos on the subject of showing our appreciation for all the benefits we enjoy. But there are some particularly interesting advantages to expressing thankfulness that are often overlooked.

The first is the undeniably positive shift in perspective. It’s surprising how easily we become conditioned to seeing the world in a certain light. Our senses filter information according to our emotional expectations and the result is a very personal way of interpreting our lives and the world around us. For example, if you’ve ever met someone with a distinctly negative mindset, you’ll know that it’s almost impossible to get them to appreciate the wonder of a beautiful sunset or to acknowledge the warmth of close personal connections. You could parachute them into paradise – and they’d still find plenty to complain about! It’s as if they’re oblivious to the beauty that surrounds them.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

- William Arthur Ward

If you’re conditioned to look for faults and problems and reasons to complain, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find them. It’s the same behavioural quirk that shows up in individuals who are always critical of others – whilst consistently failing to give praise or credit for any successes and achievements. It’s an imbalance, a form of cognitive distortion that filters out the good news and all the reasons to celebrate life’s victories whilst searching out the demerits, failings and defaults. And that is not the kind of environment where humans flourish and express their creativity and potential.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realise they were the big things.???

?- Robert Brault

An attitude of thankfulness shifts the emphasis into more positive territory. Once you begin to notice the elements that make life so much more pleasant, enjoyable and successful, your perspective tunes into the broader spectrum of reasons to be thankful.

This fascinating shift in outlook can be extraordinarily empowering. You feel uplifted, more confident, more capable, more creative and it’s hard to disguise the smile on your face and the light in your eyes.

Sometimes, it seems truly remarkable. All this, just from paying a little more attention to all the blessings that we enjoy on a daily basis. And the process begins with the little things.

Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life

is the foundation for all abundance.

-??????Eckhart Tolle

It might be why the movement for greater mindfulness often focuses on these simple acts of noticing the little details. The comfort of a familiar bed. The closeness of someone we love. The smell of freshly-cut grass. A flower in a small glass jar. The way a child smiles with their whole being. The taste of a great cup of coffee. The way our bodies continue to serve our needs even when we don’t always take the best care of ourselves. The way the day lightens when we smile. A breeze on our faces. The list is endless….

The moment you enter into this feeling of thankfulness, your spirits lift and you feel more expansive. It’s as if you’re creating more space within your heart, within your life, for more and more reasons to be grateful. It’s a truly virtuous cycle.

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful

for what he's going to get.

- Frank A. Clark

On the level of personal wellbeing, we know that this positive attitude delivers benefits to our health, lowering our stress levels and encouraging a very pleasing release of endorphins. It can help to lower blood pressure and reduce adrenaline and cortisol levels. The natural state of calm that flows from this more positive attitude encourages enhanced levels of creativity. We feel more capable of solving problems and resolving challenges. In short, life feels much better when we notice the wonders that surround us.

It’s also a wonderful way to close the day and prepare for a great night’s sleep. It’s a beautiful way to recognise everything that went right. It’s deeply reassuring to acknowledge how many benefits showed up during the day. It’s a perfect opportunity to give thanks for the moments when you made a difference – to yourself as well as to others. Suddenly, the opportunities outshine the difficulties. You feel more confident about the future and about your ability to flourish on every level. You feel empowered.

If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.

-??????Gerald Good

The most effective way to maximise the benefits of practising gratitude is to make it a permanent feature of every single day. Develop the practice until it becomes automatic. Then you’ll become deeply aware of the wonders that surround you and enrich your life in ways that you might’ve have missed in your rush to focus on what you thought was missing.

Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.

-??????A.A. Milne

Are you ready right now for a completely fresh approach to life’s great adventure? Get in touch with us today for a free session to discover how the growing global movement for personal growth, success, change and empowerment can enhance your life!

Greg Parry created The Wellness Foundation and the Cognitive Empowerment Programs specifically to help people master their stress, overcome their limitations and explore the power of their true potential.

If you enjoy these blogs, you can imagine how much fun it is to have Greg in the room as an inspirational and highly perceptive speaker. If you’d like to invite Greg to talk to your company or organisation or event, feel free to get in touch.

You can contact Greg at:

[email protected]