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“Expressing gratitude works. The moment we start
taking things for granted—whether it be our husbands or our health—those
things stop making us happy." -- Sonja Lyubomirsky, Happiness
Researcher
Researchers have found a concrete way to raise your happiness set
point. Every day -- as you fall asleep at night is a good time --
think of three positive things that happened that day. People who do
this get happier almost immediately, and stay happier for as long as
they continue this practice. READ POST
"When we experience a sense of gratitude, we give ourselves a dose of mental sunshine. Suddenly the world seems brighter, and we have more options. And the greatest thing is that as we experience the mental sunshine of gratitude, we begin to glow with sunshine ourselves. Suddenly not only is the world brighter, but we are too. Soon we notice that our lives are full of people who want to be around us because we exude peacefulness, happiness, and joy." -- M.J. Ryan READ POST
“We're not grateful because we're happy. We're happy because we're grateful.” - Brother David Stendl-Rast
"If the only prayer you said in your life was 'THANK YOU,' that would suffice." -- Meister Eckhart
Every spiritual tradition has a practice of gratitude. Not just for
some presumed spiritual or ethical benefit, but because it works. The
heartfelt expression of gratitude lifts us out of the mind’s usual
restless feeling of “not enough” into the joy of sufficiency. We open
ourselves to take in the blessings that surround us. READ POST
"It's especially important during the holidays to remember that aiming for a PERFECT holiday ritual is actually a bad goal. Not only is perfection impossible and striving for it adds stress, but honestly, the holidays families remember most fondly are those when the dog ate the cake, or everybody got the flu on Thanksgiving. Play it loose, have a sense of humor..." -- Meg Cox READ POST
"You are a great wizard. You can use your powers to practice white magic on yourself instead of the other kind. The most basic way to do that is to concentrate on naming, savoring, and feeling gratitude for the blessings you do have -- your love for your kid, the pleasures of eating the food you like, the sight of the sky at dusk, the entertaining drama of your unique fate. Don't ignore the bad stuff, but make a point of celebrating the beautiful stuff with all the exuberant devotion you can muster."-- Rob Brezsny
Every wisdom tradition has a practice of gratitude. We offer thanks not only for some presumed spiritual or ethical benefit, but because it works.
The heartfelt expression of gratitude lifts us out of the mind’s usual restless feeling of “not enough” into the joy of sufficiency. We open ourselves to take in the blessings that surround us.
Let's do an experiment, right now. Put your hand on your heart. Name 5 things for which you're grateful. Feel that gratitude. Immerse yourself in it.
Actually do this, right now. It takes one minute. At least 5 things.
What do you notice after doing this practice?
Now, name 5 things about your child for which you're grateful.
See how this could turn your whole life around?
As Meister Eckhart said, "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough."
READ POST
"Gratitude is noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary. And then taking the nanosecond to feel it." -- Karen Krakower Kaplan
Happy Tuesday! Want to rock your life? Do these 3 simple things every day this week:
1. Do something from your Joy list to nurture yourself, so your cup is
full enough to overflow with joy toward your child. Don't have a list
of the things you can do to help you feel joyful? Make one, right now!
Put it up and keep adding to it every day.
2. Spend fifteen minutes in private, unstructured, loving interaction
with each child, preferably including lots of listening and snuggling.
Can't get your kid to engage? Try physical games, the kind you would
play with a baby -- kiss each toe, give a massage. Resist the urge to
tickle, teach or engage with any kind of technology. Just be -- and
let love rush in.
3. Find something to be grateful for every minute. Gratitude
transforms our mood, attitude, actions, how we perceive our world. If
all you do is offer appreciation all day long -- to your child, your spouse,
yourself, Life -- you'll find your whole day transformed.
May your week be filled with miracles, large and small.
READ POST
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