A HAPPY NEW... ATTITUDE!
(1/2/2009) By Joan Pingitore

And so, the New Year is upon us and we are looking forward to a bright future. We have many resolutions to make and countless goals to accomplish. Along with trying to change all our bad habits, there is also another resolution we can make. We can resolve to have a change in our attitudes. We could change them from those of impatience, worry and want, to those of having appreciation and gratitude. Here’s an experience that brought this thought to mind.

Recently, I took a walk on our backyard mountain on a very cold windy day. I knew it would make me feel better to get out of the house and get some exercise. I thought I must be crazy to do this, but I dressed warmly and trudged up the mountain. As I was walking I felt the fresh cold air rushing into my lungs and it felt invigorating. While I walked further, I looked up at the sky and it was bursting with the blazing colors of a full setting sun. “An amazing sight”, I thought. And the bright, puffy, animated clouds created excitement in their desperate need to get somewhere. In addition, the trees were happily bantering to me with the wind as their voice. My senses were alive. I was on top of the world and I felt great ! I thought to myself, “how can it get any better than this?”.

At that moment I realized… I have so much freedom, so much joy and so much to be thankful for. I’m truly lucky for my life. Living in the wilds close to nature, having a good home and family, a career I enjoy, good health. Wow, I am so grateful ! I was so busy appreciating the good stuff that I didn’t even think of all the things that could bother me. And then I felt a compassion for all the others who don’t have this freedom. I recognize that there is so much turmoil and oppression in the world. Do you know that there are people who have never even seen green grass? There are so many people who’s lives are totally controlled by their circumstances, and who don’t even know what freedom is…which makes me appreciate my life even more.

And for most of us, there are so many reasons to be grateful ~ If you’re alive, have a roof over your head, have a few friends and a loving family, that’s more than enough to be joyful about… but of course, we have so much more. Also, what we choose to focus on expands. If we focus on the problems in our lives, they tend to increase. But, if we focus on the good things we already have, they too, have a tendency to grow.

So, what are the benefits of Gratefulness?

Studies show that it’s a wonderful attribute that brings richness and fulfillment to our lives. It puts the important things in perspective and the small things in dim light. It will make you appreciate yourself and the wonderful life that you’re living. Gratefulness will help you value the good and endure the bad. And it will help you have tolerance and patience and a genuine love for others. And when you’re more grateful, you will be kinder to others and they will be naturally attracted to you. It will bring your life full-circle…what goes around, comes around. Wouldn’t it be more worthwhile just to enjoy each special moment that we have left on this earth? As we never know just when it will end.

Here’s an interesting factoid from the natural health website- AbundanceAndHappiness.com – which describes to us the importance of understanding the “Laws of Nature”, in which our bodies emanate what we are feeling :

“It has been scientifically discovered that everything within our universe, when broken down into its purest form, is a vibrating mass of energy. In humans, your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, determine the level of energy that you project. What does that have to do with the power of Gratitude? Absolutely everything! When you are in a sincere state of gratitude your energy is one of acceptance and harmony. You resonate a different frequency, which is exactly what attracts others to you and also you to the circumstances that you desire.

Consider the following analogy...Think of yourself as a giant magnet. Whatever you’re feeling, whether it’s love, fear, anger, joy, gratitude, resistance etc., you are in essence creating a magnetic force that attracts and draws to you these circumstances which are in direct correlation to what you are feeling. Fear of something creates a magnetic force that will attract more of what you fear. Expressing gratitude for any situation projects a magnetic force that draws to you more of what you are expressing gratitude for. In other words gratitude puts you in a harmonious resonance which attracts additional healthy energies.”

How can we teach ourselves to feel and express gratitude in our daily lives?

The website suggests this task ~ Keep a Gratitude List . Just take out a piece of paper and make a hand written list of the things that you can think of that you are grateful for. Think deeply about each area of your life and begin to write in detail the good things that come to your mind as you write. Don’t fight it or strain, or attempt to come up with things, but just “allow” them to flow.
Depending on your particular situation, you may find that it’s hard to come up with things to be grateful for initially, so dig deep and things will begin to flow. Make sure though that you are finding and writing things that you are sincerely grateful for. If the emotion isn’t there, the result won’t be either.

To give an example, let’s say that you’re working on a relationship issue. You and your significant other have been at odds for some time and you are feeling really hurt and angry over the situation. Although your state of mind is telling you how angry you are, think about the good that you saw in this person that attracted you to them initially. Begin to write down what comes to mind and more will follow. Write in as much detail as you are able regarding each item on your list. If it is hard initially, that’s OK, just do the best you can. It will become easier and easier the more you practice at it.

Utilize this technique in whatever area of your life you are working on, regardless if it’s money, health, relationships, or others. It is extremely powerful and with practice and persistence you will begin to see circumstances begin to change almost magically.
Make a commitment to yourself that you will do this at least once per day and stick to that commitment. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Even 5 minutes is better than not at all. Put into it the time that you can spare, but make sure you do it every day.
Surprising, little by little, your happiness and satisfaction with life will grow. Go ahead… try this new attitude and put it to good use!

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” - Wayne Dyer