Attitude of Gratitude: 5 Facts to Be Grateful For By: Debbie Toomey

Has your fast paced life and heavy workload kept you from enjoying what's around you? When was the last time you had a good night sleep without having to take anything for it? Do you recall the last time you took a few minutes just to savor the things that made you happy? Here's a simple way to add more richness, relaxation, and rejuvenation into your busy work-life schedule. Try incorporating a regular dose of "Attitude of Gratitude" into your day. That's right: gratitude. This technique takes less than 1 minute to do and can boost your health and happiness with persistent practice. First of all, let's get clear on, "what is gratitude?" Gratitude, according to Cicero, is the mother of all virtues. He said that within this simple gracious self-affirming act comes a cascade of many wonderful inner human qualities. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines gratitude as: a feeling of appreciation or thanks. Scientists since the late 1990's have studied this human quality and have found many health and happiness benefits with the constant practice of it. Gratitude, according to Robert Emmons, the world's leading researcher in the science of gratitude, explains that gratitude has two parts. According to him, "First it's an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we've received." Second, he states that it is "a relationship-strengthening emotion because it requires us to see how we've been supported and affirmed by other people." Here are some interesting facts about the practice of gratitude: 1. It leads to increasing levels of optimism and other positive emotions, which will eventually help you live a longer and happier life (R. Emmons and Sonja Lyubomirsky). 2. It's nearly impossible to be grateful and feel envious at the same time. The positive emotion of gratitude cancels out negative emotions (R. Emmons). 3. Grateful people sleep better (Wong Wing-Sze, et al). 4. Grateful people tend to exercise more than those who don't practice gratitude (R. Emmons). 5. Gratitude is an immune booster (R. Emmons and M. McCullough). Are YOU ready to start applying this powerful technique into your life? Here are 3 simple ways for you to choose from to begin your "attitude of gratitude" practice: 1. Do the 3 Blessings exercise, created by Robert Emmons, where you list the 3 things, big or small, that you consider being a positive experience. 2. Say more Thank You's to people around you --- especially when they seem to be correcting you. (A technique I learned from one of my Acupressure Shiatsu teacher, Caroline, over 10 years ago.) This made me feel less inadequate for making a mistake but appreciative for the potential for being better in my practice. 3. Just like the old saying, "Stop and smell the roses!" Literally stop and smell the beautiful scents of nature around you whether you are in your kitchen cooking up a quick meal or outside on your way to your car for an errand. Stop for 30 seconds and take in all the good around you.

Attitude of Gratitude: 5 Facts to Be Grateful For

Debbie Lyn Toomey, RN, Health & Happiness Specialist, offers quick, practical, and powerful programs to today's busy women that will triple their energy level, clarity, productivity, and enjoyment within minutes so that they will have more time to rejuvenate their body, quiet their minds, and express their inner divas. For FREE tips on how to gain more by doing less, visit http://www.ultimatehealingjourney.com Article Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051627357-1-attitude-of-gratitude-5-facts-to-be-grateful-for/

Meditation: Isha Kriya Guided Meditation by Sadhguru. For Morning & Even...

HOW TO GET PAST THE BLOCKS TO BELIEVING IN YOURSELF By Janette Novak

Most people struggle with believing in themselves to some degree. While it's natural, it also can be quite debilitating. No one ever accomplished great things without a solid foundation of self-belief.

Here are a few signs that believing in yourself is a challenge for you:

1. You give more importance to others' opinions of you rather than trusting yourself.

2. You often focus on the fear of what could go wrong or of making mistake rather than focusing on the potential big rewards of going after what you want.

3. You tend to put yourself down; your inner critic is loud and unrelenting.

4. You're still waiting for others' approval or permission before you act on just about anything that you're unsure about.

Do any of these hit close to home for you? You're not alone!

Self-belief is defined as having the ability to believe in yourself. Of course, it sounds simple and it can be relatively simple to believe in yourself, especially when things are going well for you. However, it is a different game entirely when things are not going well or when you've suffered from low self-confidence for long periods of time (for many, self-doubt struggles have roots back to childhood).

If you're ready to believe in yourself more fully, then it's time to explore the blocks to your self-confidence.

Here are four blocks to believing in yourself and some solid ideas for getting beyond them once and for all!

1. Block: You're hanging around the wrong people. Solution: Steer clear of negative people whenever possible.

Start beginning to notice who in your circle of friends, family, or co-workers brings you down. Who puts you in a negative state of mind and who elevates you? As the saying goes, misery loves company. Avoid people who bring you down, constantly criticize or demean you, and undermine your sense of self. Start spending more time with people who support you and lift you up.

2. Block: Your self-expectations are unrealistic.
Solution: Set realistic standards for yourself; no more expecting absolute perfection.

People with low self-belief tend to have ridiculously high standards for themselves. They expect perfection and since they know they can't live up to that absurd standard, instead of admitting their expectations are wrong, they decide they're just not good enough.

Life always has hurdles, no matter how talented you are. There will be times when you won't be successful. That's not an indictment on your skills or self-worth, it's just a fact of life.

It's time to stop taking the stumbles that everyone experiences in life as an indictment on your worth. Believe in yourself despite the fact that sometimes you'll fail; start believing in your ability to survive life's downtimes, knowing you can rebound from whatever life throws at you.

3. Block: You care too much about what others think. Solution: Stop waiting for others' approval or permission.

You are a strong and unique person who deserves to live a happy, fulfilling, and successful life. You don't need anyone's approval or permission to go after what you want in life. Do not let your boss, parents, family, spouse, friends, teachers, or anyone else decide your value. Your value was decided the day you were born; you're here for a reason. Claim your high self-worth now.

4. Block: You're mean to yourself. Solution: Start loving yourself more.

Loving yourself fully and completely is the most important step in believing yourself. It's time you finally accepted yourself, quirks and all. It's time you gave yourself the nurturing love that you've been giving others all your life, but which you've failed to offer yourself. Loving yourself isn't vain or selfish; it's the path to a beautiful life.

Wally Amos said, "It's so important to believe in yourself. Believe that you can do it, under any circumstances. Because if you believe you can, then you really will."

Believing in yourself gives you a fresh perspective on life, especially when you have spent your whole life thinking that you're not good enough. Believing in yourself is the key to living the amazing life you're fully capable of living.

Start now. Begin with one positive thought about yourself and then add another and another until your confidence is sky-high. Deciding to believe in yourself is the best decision you'll ever make in your life.

Author's Bio: 

Janette is the Founder of Believe and Create (www.BelieveAndCreate.com), a personal development initiative dedicated to helping people believe in themselves more fully and create lives that they love. Visit Believe and Create and grab your free copy of our self-discovery guide, How to Create a Compelling Vision for Your Life. Janette also owns Illuminate Marketing Communications (www.IlluminateMarCom.com), a digital marketing and copywriting agency headquartered in Flagstaff, AZ

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