Expressing Gratitude
At this moment, I think we all feel a bit traumatized. The quality of life we are experiencing is not like anything most of us have ever lived through before. In this time of physical distancing, our thoughts are even more engaged. As we spend more time in mental solitude, it can become quite easy to focus on the loneliness and allow negative thoughts to enter into the mind. It is with intentional practice that we can use this time of separation to strengthen our positive-thinking muscles.
There can be dramatic improvements to how we experience life when our internal and external communication is affirmative. The stimulation of our brain’s activity (what we think, what we believe, how we feel) endlessly influences our physical health.
Our brain is the root and roadmap to our destiny. All actions result from our thoughts, because our mind, body and spirit are interconnected. Negative self-talk creates congestion in the highway of our mind, making it easy to lose the connection to our breath, the beat of our heart and the feelings associated with our life experiences.
One way to resolve this is to incorporate expressions of gratitude into our routine. Often this is done in the form of prayer, but I have found concrete clarity in reflecting and journaling and this is another way I form my spiritual connection to the goodness of God.
Journaling is one way to improve the quality of our brain communication. Drawing from two decades of research, the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) at UC Berkeley created https://www.thnx4.org, an online public gratitude journal that makes it simple to sustain the habit of living into the abundance of appreciation.
Studies from the GGSC, suggest that people who regularly express gratitude experience more satisfaction in their lives and have more joy and optimism.
Another way to combat thoughts about our fears, failures, insecurities, stresses and irritations is to face them. Write them down. Daily. Additionally, for each of the negative thoughts in the queue, cue up a positive thought and write that down. Respond to the looping playback of lack, with a routine of rewarding and reminding ourselves of all the good that exists. Repeat until it becomes a habitual part of our thought process. For me, it’s a self-esteem boost that shifts my perspective, manifesting healing and strengthening my spirit.
Especially in this time of solitude and uncertainty, make time to focus on what is certain.
Reflect on what is, not what if.
Remember the people and experiences that fill us with faith, hope, peace, love and joy.