GRATITUDE: NOUN
“The
quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return
kindness.” —
Lexico–Oxford
Dictionary
No
matter where we are on our life’s path, we always have something to be grateful
for. Luke Bryan states this well in his smash country hit, “Most People Are
Good”: “…every breath’s a gift, the first one to the last.”
Even
on a bad day, there are so many things to be grateful for—our breath, shelter,
food, family, friends, pets, our planet, and even for life itself. The list is
endless if we take time to contemplate.
When
we feel gratitude for the blessings in our lives, we cultivate a deep sense of
positivity. According to Psychology Today, feeling grateful boosts
happiness and delivers physical and psychological health benefits. Our
gratitude also benefits others. When we’re feeling grateful, we’re kinder, more
generous, and more giving toward our family, friends, and really, everyone around
us.
So how does one cultivate a practice
of gratitude? There isn’t just one way, but many paths to gratitude.
In my contemporary
romance, Nora’s Promise, Nora uses an easy technique—she runs through a
mental list of gratitudes in her mind. Below is a brief excerpt:
Nora needed to pull herself together and focus on the now. Using a technique Steph had taught
her, she silently listed her gratitudes. Ben,
Davey, Steph, Cruz. Cosmo, Concordia, Chance. Ella and Hud. The mountains and
open land around them. Her mood lifted and she felt a smile tug at the
corners of her mouth. Her list had barely scratched the surface. With so much
to be thankful for, how could she be in a bad mood?
6 Easy Ways to Practice Gratitude
- Like Nora, make a mental list of the things you’re grateful for (this works no matter where you are—in a car, on an airplane, in line at the grocery store…the possibilities are endless!)
- Write your gratitudes in a journal every morning.
- Give gratitude at the beginning of your meditation or yoga practice.
- Take a mindful walk and give thanks for the experiences along your journey.
- Take turns sharing gratitudes with a group of family members or friends.
- Perform a random act of kindness (this can be as simple as a smile or a hug, a cup of coffee, or a gift to someone in need.) When you show compassion to others, it’s hard not to feel a corresponding sense of gratitude.
Gratitude is a powerful process that fosters optimism by
shifting energy from negative to positive. Given the significant benefits, why
not make gratitude a part of your daily routine?
“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the
spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” – Amy Collette
This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author
of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age
spirituality.
Nora's Promise, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—Reader's Favorite 2019 Bronze winner in Contemporary Romance and 2019 NIEA Bronze winner: She trusts animals more than men. He races through women like checkered flags. Can one orphaned boy bring them both to the finish line?
https://amzn.to/2OktquX
Nora's Promise, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—Reader's Favorite 2019 Bronze winner in Contemporary Romance and 2019 NIEA Bronze winner: She trusts animals more than men. He races through women like checkered flags. Can one orphaned boy bring them both to the finish line?
https://amzn.to/2OktquX
***FREE
PROMO AUDIOBOOK CODES ARE AVAILABLE FOR NORA’S PROMISE, while supplies last. To
request a free Audible audiobook code, please send an email to:
SedonaYHutton@gmail.com.***
The
Perfect Lap, A Racing Hearts in
Serenity Romance—2019 Reader's Favorite Contemporary Romance Finalist: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line?
https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv
https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv
Cloud
Whispers—2019 IPPY
Bronze winner for Visionary Fiction. The daughter she gave away. The
family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate….https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc
To sign up for Sedona’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter,
please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/ (No spam—ever!)
Recommended
Reading:
Disclosure: The above links to recommended
books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a
small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been
meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However,
from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.
No comments:
Post a Comment