Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude & Peace!
We are living in some pretty arduous times. Our world seriously needs an abundance of peace and gratitude; there is no better time like the present to put them both on display for all to recognize and receive. This coming weekend, World Peace will be celebrated, followed by International World Peace Day and Gratitude Day on Tuesday, the 21st of September. This year’s theme for World Peace Day is: Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world. Though a lot of work needs to be done, this theme is a great start to get us going in the right direction. Reach into your heart and offer up some of your gratitude goodness in whichever manner you like. Show the world surrounding you good people do exist. The smallest gesture really can make a difference.
Both World Peace & Gratitude Day ironically fall on the same date every year (September 21st.) It is a day to celebrate peace and gratitude on a global level. With so many people sick and lives lost due to COVID-19, hardship, mental and physical breakdowns, it is days like this that we really ought to be appreciative of what it is that we have. We do not need to wait until Thanksgiving to acknowledge what we have right now, we can do that right now today, tomorrow, and every other day. It is imperative that we let everyone that has lifted a finger or an ounce of breath to help us in any way know that we are thankful for them. For who they are and what they have done in our lives to get us to where we are. Just this month, I let one of my providers know how grateful I am to them for being of service to me with great solutions anytime an issue arises. These customer service agents are human beings first and foremost and they do not need me to tear them down, the problems of the world do that just about most days on their own. It may be nice to speak with my dollars, but sometimes words are helpful too. Sometimes people just really need to hear that they are doing a wonderful job.
What is Gratitude
Gratitude is “the quality of being thankful; it embodies readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” Being grateful and having such an attitude can lead to an enhanced mental, physical and spiritual life. A life filled with continuously flowing blessings.
Displaying Gratitude
Tips to display and implement gratitude:
Declaring or Speaking:
Begin each day stating how grateful you are for waking up this day. In addition, acknowledge two other things you are grateful for before leaving the house.
Giving thanks
Before meals, even if you’re not religious or spiritual acknowledge what you are grateful for. Be grateful for the farmer who grew the food, the grocery store or farmer’s market that sold it, and the person who prepared the meal.
Smile.
Whether it is at yourself in the mirror, a stranger, family member, or friend. A gesture of kindness and gratitude can easily be displayed with a smile. Positive energy is certainly felt and radiated out to others; well so does negative energy, but it is so much advantageous to be appreciative and optimistic/
Maintain a gratitude journal.
Each night before bed, write down anything that occurred during the day for which you are thankful. This list should be no less than 5 for it is quite hard to go through an entire day with nothing to be grateful for.
Reach out.
Let that person/group/organization that has inspired you to do something different that has changed your life know what they have done to help or empower you.
Conclusion
No matter where you are at in your life presently, you can make a difference in someone’s life to propel them to a place they were seeking to get to and could not have gotten to without you. At the same time, there are people or organizations that may have done the same for you; appreciate them with some form of kindness. Shine some light on their world. Gratitude can be cultivated by being mindful, so anyone can develop an attitude of gratitude and significantly improve their mental, emotional, and physical health whenever they want to. If we are breathing today we have something to be content about. Will you allow acts of gratitude to enter into your life today?
Pondering Question
In what ways are you able to express gratitude to those who have blessed you?
How many people do you need to contact today or this week to display your gratitude?