The Power of Gratitude

The Attitude of Gratitude
by Karol Avalon
From: http://www.bleeping herald.com/ jan2007/ gratitude

Traditionally, "gratitude" is a sense, or feeling, of thankfulness in response to receiving a tangible gift or abstract gesture of kindness.

Another view is that gratitude is a conscious choice to focus on life's blessings rather than on its shortcomings. In this understanding, the practice of gratitude is a way of life. Every moment is filled with opportunities to fill our consciousness with feelings of gratefulness, thankfulness and appreciation. From the littlest flower we see in the garden to the traffic jam on the way to work, we can choose to be grateful.


Participating in regular, deliberate appreciation
improves almost everything.


In the relatively new field of "positive psychology," researchers are studying the science of thankfulness . In The Psychology of Gratitude, Dr. Michael McCullough of the University of Miami and Dr. Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis, show how participating in regular, deliberate appreciation improves almost everything. By having their research participants keep weekly or daily gratitude journals and practicing self-guided exercises, the researchers discovered their participants slept better, exercised more, increased positive emotions, had more rhythmic heartbeats, progressed toward personal goals more quickly, and helped others more often.

"Psychology has generally ignored the positive emotions," says Dr. Emmons. "Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress, and to achieve a positive sense of self."

The work of Dr. Darren Weissman, author of The Power of Infinite Love and Gratitude, supports Emmons findings and applies them directly to physical health. Weissman's search for healing modalities that actually heal patients lead him around the world to study a wide variety of techniques.

A well-known figure in alternative healing circles, Weissman eventually presented at two World Congresses of Alternative Medicine. However he intuitively knew that there was something missing. Then, working with a deaf chiropractic student, he stumbled across a key. His friend signed the universal symbol for "I love you" and Weissman felt the energetic impact of the symbol on his own body. After some testing, he realized that signing the symbol actually caused weak reflex muscles in the body to strengthen.

Now Weissman has developed something called the LifeLine Technique which integrates and transcends all the techniques he already knew and practiced. But the glue and foundation of the LifeLine Technique is the power of infinite love and gratitude.

Waves of gratitude

Have you noticed the waves of gratitude spreading across the globe, undetected by the mainstream press, yet felt in every grateful heart? All around the world, people are creating venues to support and reinforce each other in remembering and practicing the principles of gratitude.

Brother David Steindl-Rast, author of Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer, is a Benedictine Monk and world-renowned spiritual leader. His website, gratefulness. org attracts 25,000 visitors a day from countries across the globe, all united in the practice of grateful living.

Radio Gratitude is an emerging network offering powerful positive programming to this growing community, both online and via satellite. The shows are being designed to engage minds and hearts with music, talk, humor and cutting-edge commentary. Appreciation Awards will be given to special individuals who are actively making a difference on the planet. Founder Jan St. John seeks to create an on-air convergence zone for the growing Gratitude Movement. She believes a "critical mass of consciousness, united in gratitude, can turn the tide on the planet,"

In San Francisco, Matthew and Terces Engelhart have opened Café Gratitude now in three locations throughout the Bay Area. Café Gratitude patrons come to eat a wide array of delicious living foods. An awning outside their Berkeley location in greets passers-by with the words: "What Are You Grateful For?" This question is embedded in all the café's colorful serving dishes as well as T-shirts, caps and posters.

The Gratitude Movement is even taking to the high seas. From February 20-28, 2007 the Ocean of Gratitude Cruise will feature Dr. Masaru Emoto, author of The Hidden Messages in Water and several other presenters who will give people the opportunity to explore many implication of the power of gratitude. Emoto's work researching Hado, the intrinsic vibrational pattern at the atomic level of all matter, shows that the Hado of love and gratitude creates the most beautiful water crystal formations. Mary Manin Morrissey, author of Building Your Field of Dreams, M.J. Ryan, author of Attitudes of Gratitude, and Michael Stillwater, Inner Harmony, will share activities and practices anchoring the Way of Gratitude.

The Ocean of Gratitude Cruise will bring together like-minded people from across the U.S. in an environment of relaxation and play, where gratitude pioneers can meet, connect and network with one another. Just imagine - people, from all walks of life, coming together in a "convergence zone" of gratitude. This is the kind of space where a quantum shift can occur, on both the inner and outer planes.


Connecting with others, in a spirit of love and gratitude, creates the space of miracles.


As Rupert Sheldrake points out in his theory of morphogenetic field resonance, the "100th Monkey Effect" occurs when enough people drawn together by a shared purpose, are holding the same thought all at the same time. When that happens, the rest of the world, in varying degrees, will experience an internal shift.

Think of it. The nerve center of the entire planet touched and enlivened by simply sharing an expression of genuine thanks. Could it really be that simple?

Yes!
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Subject: Count your Blessings and Be Joyful

If you woke up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.

If you attend a church meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.


If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back, a roof over
your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet, and spare change
in a dish someplace, you are among
the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare,
especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile
on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.


If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can
offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this message,
you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways
you may never even know.

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If there is one prayer to pray...let it be simply:
"THANKYOU!"

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Words of Wisdom



One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.
We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a
parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks,
skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other
car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just
smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined
your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me
what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They
run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of
disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and
sometimes they'll dump it on you .
Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their lives.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so.....
"Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't."



"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters
compared to what lies within us."



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...
If you are seeking closeness to the Beloved,
love everyone.
whether in their presence or absence,
see only their good.
if you want to be as clear and refreshing as
the breath of the morning breeze,
like the sun have nothing but warmth and light
for everyone.



~Shaikh Abu-Said Abil-Khair

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http://1000awesomethings.com/

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We can't force ourselves to feel gratitude,but we can force ourselves to practice gratitude.
And practicing gratitude leads to feeling grateful.

Nurturing a sense of gratitude focuses our attention on the good in others.