An old man walks into a bar, sits down and begins crying. The bartender asks him “What’s wrong?” Amidst a fit of tears the old man replies, “I have a beautiful young wife at home who is intelligent, giving, passionate, is a great cook, maintains a beautiful home, loves me and thinks I’m wonderful and handsome despite my advanced years.” Confused, the bartender exclaims, “What’s so bad about that? That sounds great!” The old man sadly moans, “I can’t remember where I live!”
The old man sadly moans, “I can’t remember where I live!”
Without gratitude, our experience can be like that: We can have so many wonderful things, experiences and people in our lives. We can be surrounded in abundance, gifts and opportunities — but if unable to fully appreciate it, with no gratitude in sight, it’s as if we can’t find our way home to be nourished or fulfilled by them. And nothing — no relationship, achievement or object — will ever be enough. Gratitude brings us home to the joy waiting for us.
Essentially Grateful
It’s not just us that think gratitude and appreciation are important. Men and women from all times, races, philosophies and wisdom traditions have spoken on the importance and power of gratitude — spiritually; in relationships; in the work place; as a hallmark in health, wellness and vitality; and as the foundation of a successful civilization. As Brother David Steindl-Rast says, “Gratitude is a state of being that is essential to a life well lived.”
And don’t get us started on the effects of gratitude… Ok, we’re started, they’re eye opening:
With gratitude our health improves, our immunity increases, our biochemistry and even our DNA itself changes. The more gratitude we feel — and through it — the more positive states of mind we experience, the more our bodies enter a positive parasympathetic response, able to nourish, heal and rebalance physical disharmony — keeping us happy and healthy! Our relationships can improve. We naturally trust the world and others more often, allowing us to just, simply, relax. We become more freely generous — wanting to share the bounty of feelings with others — more humble in the recognition of receiving and more optimistic. We sleep better; feel more connected to others with a sense of belonging, and generally become happier people. (Listing the positive effects of gratitude feels a little like a clown pulling an endless handkerchief out of his or her pocket. It just keeps going!)
Gratitude rewires our brain and fundamentally changes how we see and act in the world. And how does it do all this? Just like that classic old western phrase — ‘This town ain’t big enough for the two of us’ — gratitude and feelings like unhappiness, resentment, envy or jealousy can’t co-exist within us at the same time. We ain’t big enough for the two of them! And whichever one gets our attention is the winner of the showdown!
Really it’s no contest:
There are few states and feelings more endearing, more universally accessible, more profoundly rewarding and heart-warming, which capture us more whole heartedly, than gratitude.
We can even go as far as saying that gratitude is fundamental to a well lived life.
Welcoming Gratitude
To summarize all that — gratitude is really, really, good for you and is a key quality in a bright experience of life! Expressing gratitude not only helps others feel better by affirming they are seen and appreciated (and who doesn’t want that?), but it’s also one of the quickest ways to feel good ourselves. So offer gratitude whole heartedly and often. Truly, gratitude connects us, transcending race and boundaries, culture and opinion, age and definition. Whoever it touches is left brighter, richer and more present. But there’s no need to take our word for it, try it out for yourself and see what happens!
Thankfully, gratitude is available to everyone and can be introduced and practiced at any age, young or old. There are no fancy fees involved or certificates required. No workshops to attend or places you have to travel to. No teachers to place trust in or any contractual obligations beyond keeping an eye out for what is wonderful about your life, feel good about it, reap the rewards and share it with others to keep the cycle flowing; because gratitude only grows by sharing it. What greater offering is there than to help create a more grateful world?
Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for being here.
Ps.
Interestingly, some of the effects listed here are similar to those noticed by people who regularly take Medicinal Mushrooms like Red Reishi, Chaga or our Complete 360 blend. That’s the effect of whole system adaptogenic influence at work!
Try This —
Let’s start with the most common and basic exercise in the world of gratitude — The Gratitude journal.
For many it is a hugely powerful and fundamentally life-altering practice, despite its simplicity, IF done regularly.
Here’s the deal:
You’ll need paper, a pen or pencil, and wide open eyes.
(Writing by hand is recommended over using a computer. It helps us slow down, be present with less distraction, and can even help with sincerity. Plus, there is a certain intimacy and magic to writing by hand.)
You are simply going to write what you are grateful for that day… That's it. That’s the whole exercise. You can write about anything, no matter how big or small, simple or magnificent — all is welcome — providing it’s something you are sincerely grateful for. But you must write at least a few things or experiences or moments or words you are grateful for.
You can do this first thing in the morning, over a cup of coffee, tea or Zensations (always something to be grateful for), or just before you lay to sleep at night.
This is a great way to begin or complete the day; reminding us that things are well. (Our Zensations Clear Mind can really help here. The Lions’s Mane is great for inspiration, and helping create new neural pathways of gratitude in the brain. And, if you are elderly and happen to have forgotten your way home to your beautiful wife, it helps with memory too!)
Maybe the most important effect of gratitude journaling is that it trains us to pay attention to the beautiful, the beneficial, the inspiring events of life, and deeply feel how each one is truly a gift.
Tips for keeping a gratitude journal:
- You could write anywhere from 3-30 things you are grateful for in one sitting, or you could simply write one thing. Better than running through a large list of grateful things is to focus in detail on something you are grateful for — quality and depth over quantity. The important part is to feel it. 3-5 seems to be the ideal number.
- Take your time, savour the feelings, relive the experiences, feel the depth of gratitude.
- Keep a gratitude journal visible so you remember to write in it.
- A great practice, if journaling just before bed, is to review your day with grateful eyes and write about something from that specific day.
- In the beginning it’s good to keep this practice up everyday but, once you’re in the habit of it, you can let your feelings of gratitude build up, and give yourself a good amount of time once, twice or three times a week, to add to your gratitude journal.
- Try to write and reflect on something different everyday, because it truly makes you see the day, or whatever you’re grateful for, as unique and precious. Recognizing the cornucopia of gifts truly present if we are open to see it. Avoid repetitive generalities like writing, day after day, about being ‘grateful for family and friends', or your poodle (even if they’re worth a whole journal in themselves).
- If struggling to feel gratitude, explore what your day or life would be like without these gifts.
- Remember — each time you sit down to journal, that you are doing this to help yourself become happier and healthier.
- Read your entries anytime you need a boost.
- Periodically share entries from your gratitude journal with someone you love (especially if it relates to them). Sharing the gifts of your life helps inspire others. Gratitude is contagious in the best possible way.
