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GRATITUDE |
Many philosophers and spiritual healers
teach us to be grateful and to celebrate and practice
gratitude. From Cicero to Buddha, gratitude has been
encouraged as it attracts reciprocal kindness and promotes
emotional well-being.
"Gratitude
is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent
of all others."
- Cicero |
"Let us rise
up and be thankful, for at least if we didn’t
learn a lot today,
at least we learned a little and if we didn’t
learn a little at least we didn’t get sick
and if we got sick at least we didn’t die:
so let us all be thankful."
- Buddha |
It has only been recently, that scientific
research has been conducted on gratitude. The outcome
is extremely interesting. The result of research conducted
by Drs Michael McCoullough and Robert Emmons indicated
that daily gratitude resulted in higher levels of alertness,
determination, energy, optimism and enthusiasm. In fact
the attitude of gratitude can increase happiness levels
by approximately 25%. The research also proved that
those who practiced regular gratitude were less depressed
and had lower levels of stress and also achieved more
in terms of their goals and aspirations. McCoullough
and Emmons also noted that there was a positive cycle
of reciprocal kindness – i.e. an act of gratitude
encouraged another. The results also showed interestingly
that gratitude works independently of faith and religion.
The research basically concluded that anyone can increase
their well-being and create a more positive and fulfilled
life just by counting their blessings!
"The hardest arithmetic
to master is that which enables us to count our
blessings."
- Eric Hoffer
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The Hebrew term for gratitude is hikarat
hatov which means ‘recognising the good’.
In other words practicing gratitude simply means recognising
the good that is already yours. Sadly so many people
focus on what they don’t have i.e. the deficiencies.
There is no limit to what we don’t have however
if this is where we focus, our lives will be filled
with endless dissatisfaction.
| "Gratitude rejoices
with her sister joy and is always ready to light
a candle and have a party.
Gratitude doesn’t much like the old cronies
of boredom, despair and taking life for granted."
- Rebbe Nechman |
Albert Einstein said he gave thanks
many many times each day…to those scientists who
had preceded him and for numerous things he said he
was grateful for.
An interesting article by Steve Pavlina says that gratitude
should be practised at 2 levels. Level 1 refers to things
such as material possessions, your health, your relationships,
your family, your job etc. It’s fairly simplistic
and would be what you are likely to come up with if
you made a list of things to be grateful for. Level
2 is holistic gratitude – it is independent of
situations and circumstances. This is gratitude for
life, for existence, for everything. It is also more
challenging as there are often times we would question
why on earth we should be grateful for certain things
like problems, challenges, hardships, mistakes, emotions,
people who treat us unfairly/unkindly etc. However Pavlina
says by practising gratitude on a holistic level brings
much greater benefits
There are a number of ways to start the practice
of gratitude:
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Every day express your gratitude for
the new day. |
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Consciously say thank you –
especially when you feel the need to complain! |
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Have a mental ‘gratitude list’
and make a point of thanking everything/everyone
on it when you can. |
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Do something good for someone each
day – no matter how small (or big!). |
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Every so often make a written list
of all the things you are/should be grateful for…you
may be surprised! |
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Before you go to sleep run few a few
things that happened during the day that you are
grateful for – even if it hurts! |
….I hope and trust the benefits and positive
spin-offs will become visible soon. Being grateful and
not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving
it!
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