Gratitude as a Key
to Happiness
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the
others”. — Cicero, 106-143 B.C.
When
I have gratitude towards someone, I feel humility, respect, an open heart, and understand a fuller meaning of that person
and their gesture. It would not have occurred had the individual not valued me and cared about me.
I appreciate his/her generosity and have the urge to reciprocate, and to perpetuate the circle of kindness. When I feel grateful
for an inanimate object like my house, it transforms from merely a structure into an almost organic entity
that protects and nourishes all who live in it.
With these examples in mind, the following
excerpt has proven delightfully true for me and other loved ones in my life:
“Feeling thankful is one key to happiness…A conscious focus on gratitude may also remind
you of unassuming pluses that get lost in the ups and downs of a busy life…Grateful reflection helps you pick out and
savor the good in life, even if the good isn't flashy…What's more, gratitude turns your attention to what you do have
instead of what you don't…Consistently ungrateful people tend to think that material goods, such as a big-screen TV,
or winning the lottery will make them happy. On the other hand, people who recognize the blessings they have tend to think
they'll get happiness from things like fulfilling relationships—which, research shows, are the real sources of satisfaction.
Because grateful people don't fixate on money or material goods, they may cut back on envy and nagging comparisons with the
Joneses…Call it corny, but gratitude just may be the glue that holds society together.” (1)
I once saw a poignant documentary entitled Born Into Brothels about seven children living in
the red light district of Calcutta, India. There was one scene where a small, thin girl was crouched in
a dimly lit, dank room washing tin bowls with scarce and dirty water. I have never forgotten that image,
so much so that each time I wash our dishes with plentiful, clear water from our faucet, I experience a moment of gratitude
and happiness.
Moreover, I have always strongly believed that we are able to consciously choose to be
happy. This choice does not come from selfishness or narcissism. On the contrary, our
self-awareness and self-nurturing ultimately enable us to contribute more to those around us and the world at large.
In fact, well-respected trainers and speakers Rick Foster and Greg Hicks assert that there are nine choices
happy people consistently make in their lives which reliably result in them achieving and maintaining “a profound,
enduring feeling of contentment, capability, and centeredness—the 3 Cs.” These are Intention,
Accountability, Identification, Centrality, Recasting, Options, Appreciation, Giving, and Truthfulness.
So how
can happiness sustain in the face of extreme challenges or tragedy? Foster and Hicks provide clarifying
insight:“There’s no way around the fact that life brings pain…Happy people universally react to pain
in the same way. We call it RECASTING…First happy people dive into negative feelings
head on and experience them deeply…They don’t censor raw emotions, deny feelings or run from pain as many of
us do to ‘just go on.’…Once they are fully engaged with their emotions they move into the second phase.
They begin to transform their feelings with new actions and insights. What lessons can
they learn? What new meaning can they create in their lives? What opportunities for
the future can they create from this experience? They search for the seeds of growth and insight.”
My writing of this book is a direct outgrowth of the
suicide of a loved one, and my dedication to engendering positivity over negativity, knowledge over fear, creation over destruction.
LIFE.
(1) Lauren Aaronson, "Make a
Gratitude Adjustment" article featured on the Psychology Today website.
NOTE: Text for this page's Gratitude and Mindful sections is excerpted from
the book: "Inspirations for Thriving in Our Troubled World." See the Products page of this website for more
information.
Positive Emotional Consistency
When we buy a car, reliability and safety are often amongst the most prized attributes. When
we regularly go to a special restaurant, we hope—nay, expect—that our favorite dish will always be as succulent
as the first time we delighted in it.
Why then are we not as exacting about our own emotional consistency
with one another? Most of us have surely experienced the now you see me now you don't mercurial personality, someone
who is virtually impossible to count on. Or the even more dangerous now I love you now I'm angry and judgmental personality that
renders everyone dazed and appalled.
A viable assertion, then, is that without emotional consistency,
relationships struggle while teetering on a foundation of quicksand. The results can include confusion, hurt, insecurity,
resentment, anger, and even emotional shutdown. However, our own 'reliability factor' can be a daily practice that
will come more easily and organically over time, and will hopefully engender consistency from those around
us. Relationship quicksand can transform into stable bedrock. What
is a Culture Without Character?
News stories
that depict a breakdown in the daily practice of good character reside every way we turn. It seems that many of
us have abandoned fundamental tenets of civilized life. The organization CHARACTER COUNTS! is
conducting an educational program to once again raise the tragically sinking bar of civility. Ultimately though, the
primary accountability lies with us as parents and our families to manifest The Six Pillars of Character.
This website is quite wonderful: http://charactercounts.org/sixpillars.html
 |
|
DID YOU KNOW?
* The way Sandra Bullock is transforming her high-profile
heartache into the creation of new meaning in her life, growth and insight is an excellent example of RECASTING (full definition
to the left). An excerpt of an article on Bullock is here:
http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20364464_20364639,00.html
* "People with a winning blend of perspectives have hope for the future, feel securely rooted
in the past, and are energetic and joyful about being alive in the present." —
Carlin Flora
Full article available at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200911/life-in-balance-timely-makeover
Mindful Graciousness & Courtesy
I believe that positive emotion and spirit can imbue all of our daily interactions.
Yet it takes a highly conscious and conscientious mindset to live a gracious, courteous life. It
is something one has to commit to, and something that is enhanced as you become increasingly aware of your impacts on others. Really, the small gestures do make a difference,
carefully considering what causes someone else to be happy or more comfortable. It is also about respect
for others and honoring their value. But perhaps at the core of it for me is having an open heart for other
people.
A handful of personal examples follow:
* Fulfilling the ritual every morning of having tea
and coffee ready for my partner and myself, with soft lights and jazz music in the living room conducive to quiet conversation
* Making sure my stepson is sitting at the second head position of the table across from his father
* Respecting my daughter’s right to have a sacrosanct private space in our home
* Consistently and genuinely asking for the opinions
and input of the young people in our home
Stephen R. Covey sums it up effectively:
“With people, little things are the
big things…Small courtesies and kindnesses given consistently yield huge dividends. This is the
realm of EQ (emotional intelligence)…Genuine kindness, courtesy and respect come from a deep character
reservoir of SQ (spiritual intelligence) and even obviate the necessity for a lot of social niceties and
ceremonial-type courtesies…Often when I speak to children at home or school, I tell them that if they will learn and
use four expressions sincerely and consistently, they can get what they want in most cases.”
One word – "Please.”
Two words – “Thank you.”
Three words – “I love you.”
Four words – “How may I help?”
(2)
(2) Stephen R. Covey, The 8th Habit, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004, pages 171-172.
Interfaith Harmony Is Possible
A beautiful and immensely hopeful documentary entitled Sound of the Soul tells the story both of
the religiously tolerant Moroccan city of Fez where Muslims, Christians, and Jews live in peace, and also a manifestation
of that in the form of the “Fez Festival of World Sacred Music.” Sound of the Soul
demonstrates the essential connections between all faiths. It also eloquently speaks to the necessity that
we cultivate our hearts and spirituality so that humanity can survive and thrive.
For more information, consult: http://www.cemproductions.org/sound.shtml
Explore several religions on an interfaith web portal: http://www.patheos.com/Religion-Portals.html
Nourishing Your Spirit Amongst Wildlife & Currents
More than 35 weekends of each year, we go kayaking in a double sit-on-top in Richardson
Bay just off Sausalito near San Francisco. Especially when the water is glassy calm like liquid mercury and swelling
up to meet the boat, we feel peacefully at one with Nature. Many times, the seals, seagulls, pelicans, and cormorants
are all out in an exquisite display of interspecies harmony. Then, there is a point in every paddle as we're floating
between air and water currents when our minds elevate to a sensation of deep calm and joy. Truly, there's
nothing like it. Even windier, choppy water days provide an invigorating glad-to-be-alive outing.
If
you live in or are visiting the Bay Area, "Sea Trek" of Sausalito offers great deals on kayak rentals:http://www.seatrek.com/
Perfect after-kayaking meal—wonderful food, service, and value—is at "Paradise Bay" of Sausalito:http://www.paradisebaysausalito.com/
|
| Houseboat with birds |
|
| Seagull & seal |
|
