Gratitude Quote: Robles

“Stop thinking of gratitude as a by-product of your circumstances and start thinking of it as a world view.” 
~ Bryan Robles

The power of gratitude is not solely in reacting with thanks to a particular life situation. It is in a broader view and experience of a thankfulness for the overall elements of life; big and small.

When thankfulness is relegated to the big gifts, it's a bit like the kid being encouraged to say thank you to the birthday party guests... but showing real enthusiasm with a couple of the standout gifts.

The beauty of gratitude is in the ability to carry the spirit of true appreciation into any situation and any moment. It allows you to see those moments with a more positive point of view. It can light up your life and color the world in a most wonderful way. Even in difficult times, it becomes easier to see the good. It's a world view that touches your life and the lives of those around you.

Gratitude Quote: Clark

“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

Grateful people are able to give thanks for what they have, and in doing so are setting up the conditions for more good to flow into their lives.

We all know what it is like to give to someone who appreciates the efforts we have made. Their appreciation stirs good feelings in us and we want to find ways to give more. The reverse is true as well. If we go out of our way to help someone or give them a gift and we see no visible signs of appreciation, we feel less motivation to give more in the future.

But a person who is unable to experience gratitude for today's gifts is unlikely to be able to find his or her way to gratitude in the presence of future gifts.

Start with what you have. Appreciate it now. Build on the feelings of thankfulness for the constant flow of blessings into your life.

Gratitude Quote: Shakti Gawain

“Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level. We need to literally ‘count our blessings,’ give thanks for them, allow ourselves to enjoy them, and relish the experience of prosperity we already have.”
~ Shakti Gawain

Most people juggle a myriad of responsibilities, facing personal challenges, and needing to make difficult decisions on a regular basis. We often feel stretched for time and focused on whatever is most pressing and tugging at us for immediate attention.

As we are caught up in the "daily chaos", it is ever so important to make a concerted effort to take time to reflect on all the good that fills our lives. It becomes essential to make a commitment to take regular gratitude pauses and look beyond the personal strain and stress. In doing so, we color our days with what is good and shift our consciousness from our troubles to a sense of appreciation for what we have. This is a gift we can give ourselves in any moment. The time we take to focus on giving thanks has a positive effect on our entire being.

A Month of Gratitude for the Earth

Photo Credit: Melissa Braun

Day 1: Thirty Days of Gratitude for Our Earth

With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, I decided to spend the entire month of April expressing gratitude for the planet we call home. To me, it makes sense to love and care for the only planet with the atmosphere and oxygen to meet the essential needs of life as we know it.

With the current assault on our home, I had to do my small part to promote an appreciation for the Earth. There appears to be a current willingness and effort to deny the need to caretake our air and our water... the building blocks of life. I see a determination to place big business above the basic needs of humankind.

I don't understand how the protection of our environment could possibly be a partisan issue. Why would we be comfortable with the effort to pour waste into our waterways and put carcinogens into the air? Why would anyone choose to take steps that would or could make our water undrinkable and our air filled with particles that cause suffering, disease, and death?

So, I am here to promote an appreciation for what we have on this planet. I love this amazingly beautiful Earth. I am wowed by the magnificence of nature, each and every day.

Throughout this month, I will be posting daily images of appreciation: "30 Days of Gratitude for Our Earth." The images will appear here, on the Gratitude Habit Facebook page, and on Pinterest.

Gratitude Quote: MJ Ryan

“Whenever we are appreciative, we are filled with a sense of well-being and swept up by the feeling of joy.”  ~ M. J. Ryan

Oh, how true this is! One of the greatest gifts I experience through my personal gratitude habit is the amazing feeling that fills my entire being. It feels as if an inner light has been turned on. I feel energized yet peaceful, expanded and full, as my worries dissipate and my joy is enlivened.

Oh what a feeling!!

Gratitude Quote: Maslow

“(Some people) have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.”
                                                      ~ A.H. Maslow

Each moment is an opportunity to renew our feelings of appreciation. Gratitude is truly an experience we have in the present. Any feelings or expressions of gratitude from our past are gone. We only have now to be appreciative.

Every morning, I give thanks for another day of life; for the opportunity to love, to learn, to be creative, and to be me for another day. It feels good to take the time to appreciate the new day ahead and all of its possibilities. Any thankfulness for the days gone by have no relationship to this day.

The way I see it, the same is true for all my appreciations. I get to continuously light up my life each time I feel thankful for one of the many gifts that bless my existence... no matter how many times I have appreciated that gift before. It is now that I delight in the good things that touch my days and I am so happy to say thank you in any new moment.

Gratitude Quote: Rabbi Kushner

“Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted – a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.”
                                          ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner

It is a matter of seeing the world through new eyes with a new vision. By shifting our view of the world around us we can fine tune our perspective and learn to appreciate even the most overlooked of aspects and items in our lives. The greater our appreciation for all the building blocks of our existence, the greater the expansion of our inner world. When we are able to fill our lives with gratitude, we are positively adjusting our life course and feeding our souls.

Gratitude Quote: Krech

“To live a life of gratitude is to open our eyes to the countless ways in which we are supported by the world around us. Such a life provides less space for our suffering because our attention is more balanced. We are more often occupied with noticing what we are given, thanking those who have helped us, and repaying the world in some concrete way for what we are receiving.”
                                                                                     ~ Gregg Krech

 We are bombarded by negativity in the news, in advertising, with friends and coworkers who focus on their troubles, and in our often unconscious complaints. Gratitude is the ideal antidote to this negativity.

When we adopt gratitude as a platform on which to view our world, we cannot help but experience life from a more positive vantage point. Our perspective becomes brighter and lighter and we have the ability to see the good things in life with clearer vision. As gratitude becomes a more natural part of our days, we find it easier to see the good, even in difficult times. This bright focus and positive outlook generates greater appreciation for the gifts in our lives and we want to share our thankfulness with others.

Pollyanna Wisdom

One of my favorite movies when I was a kid, and for years afterwards, is Pollyanna with Hayley Mills. This story seems to stress an appreciation for the basics...

• a home
• a room of one's own and a bed
• good food
• being able to love and be loved
• family or finding family
• friendships
• helping others
• an experience of community
• personal growth
• inquisitiveness
• positive thinking
• and gratitude for what you have

I cannot imagine this movie ever growing old and becoming out of date. These are the basics of any good life and what we all strive for. And... this list is a perfect reference for gratitude journal prompts.

Pollyanna is also a great teaching tool for introducing children to the concept of gratitude and positive thinking. Viewing the film or reading the book as a family, provides a wonderful springboard for conversation.

Links:
Pollyanna, the movie with Hayley Mills
Pollyanna, the book by Eleanor H. Porter

100 Things I Love, Like, and Enjoy

Last year I posted an article at The Shared Easel Newsletter, titled: Gratitude Plays a Part in Happiness. It refers to the experiences I had after completing my first list of the things I wanted in my life. (I had been doing a lot of smiling around that time.)

Today I included a link to that article on The Gratitude Habit Facebook page, with a brief description. This is what I wrote this morning:

Last year I made a list of 100 things I like, love, or enjoy doing, things I'd be interested in adding to my life, activities I would like to spend time on, places I would like to go...You've got the picture. It wasn't easy to come up with 100 but because I stuck with it, a list developed with lots of little surprises. And by focusing on doing something small, each day, I found myself smiling more...and appreciating me quite a bit. After a year, I could use to recharge. I'm about to write another list today. How about you?

 Now I realize it would be a good idea to clarify the list and give some examples. So here goes.

The list became somewhat of a wish list of things I would like to have present in my life, what I would like to manifest, what I would like to be active with, what's important to me, who I would like to be or become. The list included both tangible and intangible items, things that touch my heart and those that touch my interests. It also included the kind of people, places, experiences, and situations I would like to attract or manifest in my life.

The first 35 items, or so, were of things I would love to spend time doing; many of which were already a part of my life, and some I had not done in awhile. The next group of entries included anything I might like to have in my life; some were dreams and most were important or practical. And then I focused on who, what, and how I would like to be, as a person, moving forward; who I would like to be when with others and how I would like to be me in the world.

Much of my list included things I already have in my life. The list helped me to focus on what's important to me and gave me another opportunity to appreciate all that I have and what I can create in my life.

At the time, one of the benefits in making the list was to focus on me and what I like. It was easier for me to focus on the needs, wants, and likes of my family than on my own. The benefits, after the fact, were many. I began to be more conscious of what I enjoyed doing and began making an effort to do something for me each day. I did things and went places that I enjoyed...for me. I was so very grateful every time I incorporated something from my list into my day. And I smiled a whole lot.

In order to help you get started on your own list, I am including some of mine. here:

• to walk on the beach
• to dance
• to hug
• to laugh
• to learn
• to paint
• to create
• to have time to myself
• to have college costs covered
• to have health and wellness
• to have opportunities for growth
• to have running water
• to have passion for the work I am doing
• to have a working car
• to have time with family
• to be grateful
• to be loving
• to be able to travel
• to be forgiving
• to be able to let go
• to feel financially secure
• to be able to find the good in difficult situations

 Hope you find this helpful.

Turn Ordinary into Extraordinary-2

After writing last Saturday's post, Turn Ordinary into Extraordinary, I really wanted to create a visual poster with that sentiment. So here it is!!

I've found it quite a zing to pause for a moment during simple everyday tasks and raise the experience to another level, through heartfelt gratitude. It seems quite remarkable when something so ordinary can become something closer to the highlight of my day. All it takes is a new appreciation for the ability and opportunity to complete that task.

If you haven't already read it, check out Saturday's post.