| How to Use Gratitude for Maximum Effect in your Life |
Throughout the past year, in all the editions of Adam Up that I wrote, I wrote about many different techniques and approaches for using your brain, your mind and your own resources for getting what you want in this life (or for getting more of what you want). This notion about gratitude is up there with one of the more esoteric ways I have mentioned, it is more metaphysical than usual. I started using the idea of gratitude for getting more of what I wanted many years ago, and it has really worked for me, whether you want more resources to achieve the changes you want to make, more money, more clients, more time, more health or anything else.
Because many people consider it to be a bit new-age… I wanted to point out that there is research done on the psychology of gratitude.
Us humans are incredibly adaptable… We get used to all kinds of adverse (and not so adverse) things… Like noises, sounds, sights of all varieties. After a while, it can even vanish. For example, when I enter the kitchen when my wife is baking, I am quickly aware of the delicious smell. But then once I have stayed in the kitchen for a couple of minutes to chat, the smell seems to disappear. In fact, the only way to really get that same level of smell again, is to walk out of the kitchen and come back in a short while.
The same notion can be seen in many areas of our lives. All of us have much to be grateful and happy about. Things like a happy relationship, good health, roof over your head, a job, friendships, interesting hobbies, caring parents, clean water to drink, and more than enough food to eat.
As life goes on, people tend to get used to all those things they have and, just like the smell of baking in the kitchen, and those very good reasons to be grateful disappear from our awareness. As Joni Mitchell sang, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
I recently read the book ‘59 Seconds’ by Professor Richard Wiseman, and in it he cites psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough who wondered what would happen to people’s happiness levels if they were asked to carry out the conceptual equivalent of leaving the baking-smelling kitchen and coming back in again.
The researchers wanted to discover the effect of reminding people of the good things that were constantly present in their lives. Three groups of people were asked to spend a few moments each week writing. The first group listed five things for which they were grateful, the second noted down five things that annoyed them and the final group jotted down five events that had taken place during the previous week.
Everyone scribbled away: the ‘gratitude’ group remarked on things from seeing the sunset on a summer’s day to the generosity of their friends; the ‘annoyed’ group listed taxes and their children arguing; the ‘events’ group detailed making breakfast and driving to work. The results were startling. Compared to those in either the ‘annoyed’ or ‘events’ groups, those expressing gratitude ended up happier, much more optimistic about the future, physically healthier and even exercised significantly more.
The word gratitude is something so many overlook and I recommend that you introduce it into your life properly and for good.
It is very true indeed that if you want more of something in your life, be grateful for what you already have. As what you have increases, you can allow yourself to become even more grateful. You can be grateful to whatever (or whoever) you like, including being grateful to yourself of course.
I’d recommend that in addition to the process coming up today, that you write in a journal all the things you are grateful for at the end of each day… And really pan for gold. Here are some practical steps to take to implement this notion of gratitude into your life.
Gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to focus your mind. The pattern of gratitude in your consciousness gets you into receiving mode, and receive you will. Stuff you can feel grateful for includes:
Money, your work, love, awareness, your mind, friends, loved ones, books, fun, laughter, health, knowledge, family, your home, feelings or pretty much anything and everything else.
Remember, what you focus on increases: If you had to raid the piggy bank for one pound’s worth of two pence pieces to buy yourself a pot noodle for dinner… Then be grateful for that and you are opening your mind to get more. If you haven’t been in love since you stole that kiss behind the bike sheds aged 11, be grateful for the love you had then. If you are only able to be focused for 30 seconds a day, be grateful for those 30 seconds. If you are desperately finding ways to disagree with this notion, then be grateful for your capacity for critical thinking.
OK, so secondly, make a list of the stuff you want more of. Then, be grateful for whatever amount of it you’ve already got. Obviously (and I know the ironic amongst you will be thinking this), if what you want is a brand new BMW sports car, and you don’t have one, you can’t be grateful for it. But you could be grateful for your existing vehicle, or your bicycle, or your legs, or your wheelchair. Be grateful for what you’ve got.
If you want to, be scientific about it: experiment with gratitude for a week and record your findings.
In addition to writing a gratitude journal each day… Why not consider writing a list of all the things you have accomplished already this year? Be grateful for all those wonderful things that happened. Keep the list close to your bed for a few days and each morning before you get out of bed, acknowledge what you have done already this year. Give yourself some praise and acknowledgement.
Relive some of those moments and achievements and use them to enhance your state. What about using your self-hypnosis skills? Take yourself into a state of self-hypnosis and regularly review all the wonderful things you have to be grateful for, the self-hypnosis will amplify the entire process even more.
I am so grateful for the Spring arriving… And I am grateful for you, my reader — have a marvellous week experimenting with gratitude. |
