Possessing the Power of Gratitude

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Possessing the Power of Gratitude The practice of gratitude as a tool for physical, emotional and spiritual well-being has been in the mainstream for many years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness for improving the immune system, increasing creativity, greater success in business, an improved outlook on life and even a faster rate of recovery from surgery. But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or missing in our lives. For gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time. That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing. Gratitude can change our story from one of being a victim of our circumstances, to one of victory over our circumstances. Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope. Even if you have lost a loved one, think about the enjoyable memories you have with that person, or the positive impact he or she had on your life. There are many things to be grateful for: friends who care fresh tomatoes the ability to see pleasant memories our health the ability to ___________ (fill in the blank) warm clothes a bed to sleep in a beautiful sunset Some Ways to Practice Gratitude Keep a gratitude journal in which you

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