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"It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack." – Germany Kent
Table of Contents
The internet says, "Gratitude is when you feel thankful for the good things in your life. This could be stuff people often take for granted, like...
having a place to live
food
clean water
friends and family
Let's take it a step further. I would say that real gratitude is feeling thankful for life itself - Everything within life is simply a byproduct or side effect of the gratitude we show.
GRATITUDE KEEPS YOU HEALTHY
...According to a lot of smart people at
Many studies published on the topic of gratitude support a major association between being thankful and an individual's physical and mental well-being. Harvard researchers said that even simple acts improve happiness, like:
Writing thank you notes
Thanking someone mentally
Keeping a gratitude journal
UCLA Health reviewed 70 studies across 26,000 participants and found that practicing gratitude, even 15 minutes a day, five days a week for at least six weeks can enhance mental wellness and promote a lasting change in perspective.
The findings state that practicing gratitude:
Reduces depression
Lessens anxiety
Supports heart health
Improves sleep
Relieves stress
Since stress is a major cause of illness, gratitude helps with eliminating all the bad juju. University of Minnesota researchers state that grateful people also tend to cultivate better health habits.
The research also shows that thankful people eat more nutritious food, exercise more, and avoid more risky behaviors (such as smoking). Grateful and optimistic people also heal better and faster - research shows that people with optimistic attitudes have better outcomes after medical procedures.
How to SMASH DISEASE with Gratitude!
The Centers for Disease Control says, "Gratitude may be the BEST KEPT SECRET to improving physical well-being." It reduces stress. It's now known that stress is a cause of most major diseases. The Mayo Clinic states, "Stress that's not dealt with leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes." The National Library of Medicine has a study that discusses the link between stress and cancer.
Stress Causes Disease
Thankfulness Eliminates Stress
Therefore...
Thankfulness can eliminate Disease
4 Tips to be thankful, more often...
Say Thank You: When you are buying groceries, smile and say "Thank You" to the cashier. Even if the cashier is taking too long or doesn't treat you well, try saying thank you anyway. You have no idea what they may be going through. When you say thank you and smile, it makes their day a little better. This will also come back to you through karma.
Allow 'THAT' driver to cut you off: Smile and wave them over. Allow enough room to pass... even if you saw what they did. Try to be thankful that you can own a car and drive anywhere you want. Think about how many times you have cut someone off due to circumstances beyond your control. You won't NOT get to your destination so be nice.
Remember When: Any time you are feeling depressed, try thinking about the things in your life that 'seem to' make you happy. Maybe it's your spouse, your kids, or your pet. Try dwelling on the times these people or animals made you smile. What is something funny they did? When did they love you the most? Relish in that moment.
Think of the Present Moment: There are 2 reasons why we seem to be happy or unhappy and only 2. The first is that we are thinking about the past that has already happened and the second is that we are thinking about a future that hasn't happened yet. Try focusing on the present moment. If you are reading this right now, you are in the present moment. No tiger is chasing you, no one is beating you with a spoon. You are OK. Everything is fine at this moment in time.
Crazy Amounts of Money don't buy happiness.
I can't sit here and tell you "feel happy" if you are starving and sleeping on the streets. I mean, don't get me wrong... If you manifest it, it WILL work but sometimes we can't buy into this universal law until our mind is ready... until our belly is full and our basic needs are met. It is difficult to focus on anything until you can breathe. I get that. Money does help people survive and live in comfort, but only so much.
A 2010 study found that money could only boost happiness up to a certain point. This was about $75,000 in annual earnings for someone living in the United States. If you take inflation into account, this equates to about $106,000 in 2023 dollars. Beyond that figure, the researchers concluded, that money had very little impact on the overall happiness of people as a whole.
👀Perspective👀
In the U.S.A., the average household income is roughly $74,580, which is a little under the $106,000 mentioned above. However, even in 2023 dollars, that amount can meet the basic needs, probably in any country on Earth.
IF YOUR EARNINGS ARE AROUND THIS LEVEL, YOU ARE MORE FINANCIALLY WEALTHY THAN 94% OF THE ENTIRE WORLD! Think about that for a moment. Better yet, go CALCULATE YOUR EARNINGS and see where you land.
Perspective is everything. Imagine how a family of 4, living in the United States, would live and struggle if they only made a total of $8,000 per year. They may have to live in a makeshift shelter and rummage for food. They might not have access to clean water.
Did you know that they would still be in the top 50% of the world's income earners?!
In my opinion, how dare we be unhappy, ungrateful, and unkind, based on how many numbers are on a screen, at our local bank? Could it be possible that the loving creator of the universe isn't focused on how much money you have but on the thankfulness you have in your heart?
Wealth is a Tool
As a species, the entire Earth is getting wealthier. As we all get wealthier, it is our responsibility to take care of one another. American adults are roughly three times richer than our grandparents and our grandchildren will likely be three times richer than we are. "Furthermore, people in most developing countries are now also increasing their standards of living.", says Charles I. Jones, Stanford Professor of Economics.
Imagine How Many Lives Will Be Changed
...when you are living your dream life
KARMA works both ways - The original meaning of Karma, " कर्म "is the Sanskrit word to perform a deed or action. It includes actions that we do, not only through our body but also through speech and mind.
The fruits of Karma are not punishments, but simply, consequences of our actions or intents. Without getting too esoteric or religious, It's simply the law of attraction for your actions. You do good things and good things come back to you. You do bad things and bad things come back to you... whether in this life or the next.
So why do bad things happen to good people? I don't know... This is a sensitive topic. Anything I say here may cause a disturbance in the force.
I can't say why horrible things happen in this world so I choose to continue sending love, light, and good vibes to anyone who needs it. Prayer is a tool that we can all use to make the world a better place. Since Karma works both ways, do something good for someone today - Someone who didn't even ask for it. Just make their day and you will be helping make this a better planet to live on.
THANKFULNESS & SYNCHRONICITIES!
We can show thankfulness in all ways every day because someone was so kind as to breathe life into us. Whether it was God, your higher self, or whatever... You and I were given this gift and the only requirement to live the life of our dreams is to live in appreciation, as if you already have that item that you are requesting.
WHEN WE ARE THANKFUL & WALKING AS IF WE ALREADY HAVE 'IT', THEN WE START TO SEE SYNCHRONICITIES. Dr. Joe Dispenza has a saying, "Walk as it."
A synchronicity Story:
I was looking for someone in my area to talk to about the "Quantum Realm". It seemed difficult to find a friend because I live in the 'Bible Belt' and I thought that people like me just didn't live here. I knew nobody that was like me and believed in the law of attraction, other than my wife so I made a decision I was going to manifest it.
I did 3 things:
I meditated on & felt the emotions of being thankful for having a friend that I could resonate with.
I pretended and believed that I already had this friend and just gave it to God.
I forgot about it.
Welp! My tankless water heater broke! We were without hot water for about 2 weeks. Since I live in a small town, there are only 2 people that work on these units. The first person I hired didn't know how to diagnose the issue and went on vacation 1 day after he made a service call so I called the 2nd person on the list.
When he fixed the unit, I said, "I am so happy that I can take hot showers again." He told me that he took cold showers due to the immune system response.
I kindly asked if he knew about 'The Ice Man Wim Hof.' This started an entire conversation about the fact that our bodies were created to heal. This opened up an entirely new discussion about metaphysics. Come to find out, this guy is a plumber by day and also is a reflexologist. We have the same beliefs.
In other words, I walked as if and then gave it to the universe... and a friend was given to me with no intentional intervention on my part. I didn't work for it. I didn't search for it. MY DESIRE WAS BROUGHT TO ME. CO-WINKY-DINK? I think not
Now let's fast forward 6 months. I now have 11 friends who participate in things like the law of attraction, healing, and meditation! Eleven!
Update! As of 1/19/2024, it's 13!
How to Feel the Emotion of Gratitude
...even when you don't feel like it!
Up until this point, we have discussed the importance of gratitude but what if you don't feel grateful? What if it seems as if your life has been turned upside down and you are simply not in a good mood? How can you have an attitude of gratitude?
Let's talk about a concept and then you can continue with the article. The Mission 300 is a term I coined for a specific type of journal. If you follow the steps, you will be amazed... Flabberghasted at the awesomeness that comes.
Click Here to Learn about the Mission 300 - Scroll about halfway down the article or you can get a basic understanding through the following video.
So... you now have a bunch of stuff written in your gratitude journal right? How many do you have? ALL 300? 200? 100? If you don't have at least 50, please start right now!
You can misspell words. You can have a list. You can draw pictures. You can record them on your phone or make cutouts from magazines. However, you create your MISSION 300 is up to you. The important thing is that you do it. The list doesn't have to make sense to anyone else. Be free and create the way you want to create!
“Describe + Scribble = Describascribble... which makes no 'cents' to anyone but the describbler." Ryan Herron
When writing your list, you will notice...
Your very first item was the easiest. You were able to write it down with ease. In fact, your first 10 items were easy. These were things that have been on your mind for a while. You started with a bang, determined to write everything today! As you went on, however, did it start to become a bit more difficult around the 30-item mark?
How about around the 75 mark, as Steve mentioned in the video? Oh wow - This is when you start trying to pull things out of thin air. Your brain may not want to give in but keep working at it and eventually, just like taming a wild bronco, your brain will give it and you will be sailing! Once you get past the point where you want to quit, this is where some magical woo-woo starts to show up!
This is what it means to 'Up Your Ask.'
AFFIRMATIONS ALONE DON'T WORK.
...but here's what does!
One thing I want you to understand is that this list isn't affirmations. It's not simply a blind list of things we want either. When you were thinking of the items on your list, how did you feel? Did you have some type of emotional attachment to each one?
On my list, I currently have, "Hard Wood Flooring" as one of my wants. I have an emotional attachment to what it would feel like to be walking on that shiny new hardwood floor. How good would it feel when the sun shines through the window and glistens off the floor? How awesome will it be when I decide to pull a 'Tom Cruise' and slide across the floor in my socks?
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1 This verse is just about the same things as Mark 11:24 and Corinthians 4:18. - You must have a belief that your dreams have already happened.
Think about the following statement:
If belief is caused by an emotion AND emotions are the end product of an experience that has already happened AND our brains process things that have already happened AND it processes desires in roughly the same way as it processes beliefs THEN when you associate an emotion with something that hasn't happened yet, get ready because it or something similar will happen.
The Feeling is what matters.
I had the opportunity to attend a couple of Joe Dispenza Week Long Events in 2023 and it changed the course of my life. There is a "Me" before the event and an alternate "Me" after. I have followed his work, along with numerous other mentors but the most important thing that he teaches is:
The thought sends the signal out and the feeling draws the experience back to you.
The thoughts are what we have... Good or Bad. The feelings associated with those thoughts are the driving force to make it happen. Your brain doesn't care about words; it cares about the feelings you have. When you continue to think, " I am no good. I'll never get out of this hole I'm in", all I have to say is, "Of course, you won't... until your thoughts and feelings (emotions) change. Whatever emotion you have, good or bad, is what God gives you.
The language of the universe
Whatever frequency you are vibrating at is your 'ASK'. If you are focused on losing all your money and you are emotional about it, you will lose more. If you are focused on making a lot of money and you are emotionally vested, you will make more.
You don't have to agree with it but the truth, as far as I am concerned is that whoever has more will be given more. Not only that - They will have it in abundance. On the other hand, whoever doesn't have, even what they have will be taken from them. I didn't say that but a guy named Matthew did about 2000 years ago. Check out "The Parable of the Talents." Matthew 25:29.
The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30 is a story Jesus told about a man who entrusted his property to his servants, before he left on a journey. Each servant received a different amount of money (talents). Two of the servants use the money wisely and doubled it through investing. Thet the third servant was afraid of losing it so he hid his money and didn't earn any additional money.
Upon the master's return, he praises and rewards the first two servants for their good stewardship. The third servant was reprimanded for his inaction and the money he hid was taken from him and given to the servant that had the most money. For the full text, you can refer to the Bible, Matthew 25:14-30. It may not seem fair but it's simply the way of the Universe. Fear of lack breeds more fear and lack.
Get Emotional!
Anyone can tell if someone is emotional about whatever they are speaking about. Have you ever watched a speech from someone that was so dry, you almost fell asleep? How about the time you were on the edge of your seat, with anticipation because the speaker was emotionally engaging? Which speech do you think you would remember more? Even by looking at the 2 statements below, you can tell which one has more emotion attached to it.
STORY #1 - I have a brand-new car.
The car is suitable for my needs. It gets me wherever I need to go. The car has 4 tires and a trunk. It gets 30 miles to the gallon and needs an oil change every 5,000 miles. The color is red and the interior is leather. I can afford this car.
STORY #2 - I have a brand-new car.
My new red car gets me wherever I need to go in record time! The 4 tires have nice trim and the trunk is huge. It gets 30 miles to the gallon too and only needs an oil change every 5,000 miles. The interior is leather & I can afford it!
Both of these paragraphs tell the same story but which one has an emotion attached to it? Story #1 was a total bore. All he did was state the facts. Story #2 was told with enthusiasm - You could feel his thoughts.
2 Different ways of asking
FRANK:
Please!!! I need this! Puleeeeeze!!!
God, I don't know what I am gonna do.
My car broke because it's a piece of shit.
I never get good cars but I need one.
I'm gonna get fired if I can't get back and forth to work.
How come I always pray and pray and nuthin?!
JIM:
OMG! Thank you sooo much! You rock!
God, I am thanking you for my brand-new ride!
I envision it being red, having shiny new tires.
The thought of great gas mileage is a plus!
I'm enjoying my new ride and all my friends love it too!
Thank you! Thank you!
Based upon the laws of the Universe, both Frank and Jim will get what they asked for.
Frank was describing his shit life and this is what he will continue to receive because this is what he is focused on and emotionally attached to.
Jim was describing his dream car so this is what he will receive because this is what he is focused on and emotionally attached to.
Both men were sending the signal out with their thoughts and attracting it back with their emotions. Let's pretend you are Frank and Jim's friend and you had a car to give away. Who would you give it to? The complainer or the appreciative one?
BE Descriptive!
The universe will give you what you ask for but if you fail to tell it what you want, it will try to fill in the blanks. For instance, once I wanted to own a home and I thought I was descriptive when I said, "I want to live in a house, surrounded by trees, in the woods but close enough to town to go shopping and be connected with the universe."
The universe gave me that house but it also came with a weekly need to pick up sticks and a mosquito problem. You have to try your best to think about every aspect of your wants. The universe gave me exactly what I asked for.
Chat GPT Mimics God
(Important Note about AI: We use chat GPT for images and ideas but none of our blogs are ever written with artificial intelligence. We believe this takes away from the experience that only humans can have. All of the words come straight from the heart and mind of a real-life human.)
Let's play a little game called, 'Chat GPT Mimics God.' Pretend you are a single woman looking for Mr. Right. You ask the universe for a man and you get one. Later on, you may find out that this man isn't the right person for you. Why? Because you asked for a man and that's it.
Look at the second set of pictures. You asked for a man and gave a set of instructions as to what type of man you want and the lifestyle you want.
The moral of the story is: Whenever you ask for something, be super descriptive because you can have exactly what you ask for but you have to ask for what you want.
Focus on 1 item
Pick one item from your Mission 300 list. Pick the one that you want more than anything. Make sure it is something you believe can happen and not something like, 'I want a hundred billion dollars in 30 minutes.' Once you have the item, write that on a separate piece of paper and then list:
All the reasons why you want it
All the emotions associated with having it
EXAMPLE: "I love my work-from-home job." I enjoy working from home because it gives me freedom. Being able to work from my couch gives me the feeling of comfort. I am so grateful that my salary is (fill in with your desired salary) and this allows me to live the life of my dreams at my house in the woods. I love what I do because I help so many people and I feel loved for doing this. My new role excites me! Write it however you want. There are no rules except for one. You have to feel the emotion of gratitude because you already have it.
My shirt, below, is true. If I am going to use my energy for something I want, I am going to play the part... fake it till I make it... manifest it in such a way that I will become the person who has it before I see it.
It's a catch-22 but you can do it. Can you play and believe you already have it? If you can be grateful and rest knowing that it's already yours, then it will be yours. It's the law of the universe.
In Conclusion:
Remember the very first picture of this article? It was the lady hugging the tree. It was because my wife envisioned and felt the emotions of our family going to see the Sequoia National Park in California and I envisioned and felt the feeling of us driving our Silver Infinity QX80 through the National Parks of Utah and Arizona. Not too long after that, we were driving our Nissan Armada through both parks and more.
What does the Infinity QX80 have to do with a Nissan Armada, you ask? ...because they are the exact same car but the Armada is $30,000 more affordable so I won both ways! I got my dream car at a much better price!
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