At The Heart Of Gratitude

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Gratitude has become a buzz word, it is bandied about in conversations, written about, blogged about it, there are songs about it too ... but what is really At The Heart Of Gratitude?


I feel gratitude when I wake up in a warm bed, with a roof over my head, my fur babies around me safe. I go to sleep grateful, the same way - grateful that I have a warm and comfortable bed, a home to call my own (oh, ok, the bank still owns some of it!), people who I love and a Heavenly Father who loves me.

I followed a little happiness project which I read about in a book called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. He suggested writing down three things every morning that you are grateful for, and one thing that you enjoyed in the last 24 hours. Some mornings this was a breeze, others, not so much. What I found it did for me, was focus my mind on what I appreciate in life.

Since doing that exercise, I am able to pretty quickly turn my thoughts around whenever I start focusing on what I do not have. Let's face it, we all have things we want and haven't got - some of these we will never have. The suggestion here, is to be ok with that too.

Gratitude = Happiness

My experience of gratitude is that I am a happier person because I am grateful. Literally, this is not just words I am sprouting here, my heart feels lighter!

Research has shown that people who are ill experience measurable and significant improvement when they follow simple and regular gratitude practices. This can be done by keeping a journal, or as I do frequently, taking the time daily just to think about what there is to be grateful for. There is always something - even if it is gratitude for the sun coming up again this morning. That in itself is a gift. There are people who had plans for today but didn't wake up this morning.


Gratitude = A Better Night's Sleep

Again, research has shown this. I am not going to link this blog to the research though because I have experienced this for myself too. When I fall asleep saying thank you for the day, the people in my life, my many, many blessings, I fall asleep with good things in my mind and as a result, the quality of my sleep is very high. How do I know? I wake up refreshed with a sense of well being in my soul, enthusiastic about the day ahead.


Gratitude = Contentment

When my focus is on what I have, the anxiety of what I lack lessens. It also takes away any feelings of entitlement. By knowing, I have everything I need, and focusing on that, I don't experience those feelings of emptiness that can come when I think about what I want but do not have. For me, there is contentment in gratitude too


Gratitude Is a Gift

I found this beautiful quote online "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it" William Arthur Ward. How true is that?


So this is my gift to you, my expression of the gratitude for my life. I hope that you unwrap and enjoy it. Maybe even practice some gratitude of your own, for your life and the surrounding blessings, and then gift it on just as I have.

Be blessed, stay blessed and be a blessing to others


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Recent Comments

58

Thank you, a very nice and uplifting post! Loved reading it!

Only a pleasure to share here with you and this wonderful community.
Thank you for taking the time to visit with me, read and comment - I really appreciate that.
Blessings to you Jess
Louise

Thank you Louise for such an uplifting Post!
My eyes are filled with water as I type....I am smiling because you have reminded me and many others of the precious things we sometimes take for granted. Time does not stand still for anyone and as we are able to wake up in the morning (alive) and lay down to sleep at night (still alive) and repeat the cycle as long as we are blessed with the opportunity, the gift of gratitude will continue to glisten...
Paying it forward is truly the way the gift of gratitude is intended. A gift that can and will continue to give off such a positive affect! You are such a ray of sunshine!
So I send a BIG HUG with my gift of gratitude to you for being a treasured gift to WA and to my network.
Never ever change!!!
Coreen

Ah Coreen, thank you, I am hugging you in return and so very tthankful for your beautiful message. Now it's time for my eyes to water. ☺️ Happy tears ☺️
Bless you lovely lady
xxx

Thanks for sharing, Louise.

Hi Roger
Always a pleasure. Thank you for popping by, reading and commenting.
Appreciated :-)
Louise

No problem, Louise.

Beautiful 💕 I wish this for everyone...thank you for sharing:)

Chris

My pleasure Chris
Thank you for stopping by, reading and responding, I really appreciate that too.
Blessings
Louise

Thanks for the gift, Louise. I enjoyed it and I feel gratitude you shared it here. If I may add, before I go to sleep, other than you have mentioned above, I would FORGIVE everyone. That's another side of gratitude, I believe.
Awesome post.
Appreciated

Joe:)

Hi Joe
Oh yes, forgiveness is HUGE! Unforgiveness only punishes the person holding onto the anger or hurt.
Thank you for sharing, reading and commenting.
Stay blessed
Louise

So right you are Joe!!

My eyes are leaking.... maybe I should check my allergies!
What a purely awesome post!
Thank You for the gift!
Shaunna

Hi Shaunna
Leaking eyes are a sign of gratitude too :-) Thank you for your gift to me.
My pleasure to share and I appreciate you spending time with me this way.
Blessings
Louise

Louise, that was beautiful and so uplifting. I need that from time to time, but first the most part I am pretty happy with my life. I am not a needy person and sure I would like to have a little more than what I have but so far I have my health and the love of family so really what more does anybody need?

whitemink

Hi Connie
Thank you - I am very happy to read that this message is uplifting.
Health and the love of family are priceless.
Blessings
Louise

This is a fantastic practice. And an amazing quote at the end. Every one should practice this. Gratitude is amazing.

Absolutely Kimberly - I didn't understand the impact of gratitude until I followed the exercise.
Thank you for reading and commenting. :-)

Thank you for the gift. I will unwrap, enjoy and gift it on.
Great post, thanks for sharing.
Justin

Thank you Justin :-)
I appreciate you stopping to read and comment. Even more, so that you received the gift and will be gifting on.

Awesome text! I think world needs more gratitude :)

I agree, Mira, it starts with us as individuals and we can choose to spread it, or not. xxx

You are so right! Thanks for reminding us about that :) xx

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