The opposite of showing gratitude is being critical. The first step to showing more gratitude is to simply be aware of instances where you are slipping into a critical mode. When you are aware of this, then you will start to notice and you will catch yourself at some stage going into that critical stance. That is, when circumstances conspire against you or when you hit a proverbial speed bump in the road. There are three things levels of thinking.
The first level is that when you catch yourself thinking in a critical way and you change that thought around by finishing the sentence “Thank your lucky stars that…..” This method is useful because it switches thinking from a negative stance to a positive stance. It is the first level however, because it is only a surface diversion. For example, when I once accidentally locked myself out of my car, I thanked my lucky stars that I had my wallet with me and it was not locked in the car and there were some shops open, so therefore, I was able to wait in safety while help arrived.
The second level is where you diary out a time every evening or every morning to make a list of everything that you can be grateful for. For example, I have made it a habit to set aside a time last thing at night to think of 5 things to be grateful for. This is a good activity as it encourages the mind to focus on wins, to construe the days activities as wins and to make a conscious decision to review the day in a positive light. However, this level does not encourage us in a moment of trouble or when anger or frustration might normally well up, to deal with that feeling in a healthy way.
The third and deepest level that I have discovered yet is when something unexpected or unplanned happens, to challenge yourself to think – in this moment, what are three things that I can be grateful for. Like the first level, this activity encourages positive reflection. However, I have been able to move on from that high level, at least I am not… to being really creative with the moment and experiencing something unexpected in the moment.
I am the product of a powerful personal development program that not only draws together philosophical wisdom and communicates this in an easy to understand way, but that incorporates that into a supportive community and business model. To find out more visit my website http://www.seachangetoday.com and fill out the short application form. Judith Symonds PhD.
Article Source: Showing Gratitude – Three Levels Explained That You Can Apply to Your Life Now
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Great article on Gratitude! I’ve realized that in every day there are just as many positive things as negative things to occur. We simply have to stop, reflect and find them! Survive365