Have you ever watched a child when they are excited about something? They keep saying “MORE” or in the words of one of my favorite little two year olds – “MAS”!
You repeat the activity- or give them a taste of the treat and they yell “MORE” again! And again… and again!!!
This activity is fun for all until you declare “no more”. At that point- they become more frantic- broken hearted even- for in that moment- they have been separated from that which they desire. “Nada Mas”! The realization of “no more” sinks in and they can instantly become angry and sullen.
How do you teach a two year old the foundational principles of “GRATITUDE”? Even better, how do you teach all of humanity the mental, emotional and physical importance of living with a spirit of gratitude?
We are all somewhat conditioned to scream for more! More has it’s place- it pushes us out there into the world seeking, striving and creating! “More” is what gets us up in the morning! More coffee- tea- muffins- hugs- love- giggles- adventure- connection- opportunity, etc. We are wired for “MORE”!
Just as we are wired for “MORE”- we are wired for GRATITUDE. The two balance one another out in a very beautiful way! Gratitude creates the space for us to be able to fully FEEL and APPRECIATE the wonderful state of our very existence!
Gratitude is what allows us to breathe into all that is! Gratitude allows us to pause- to savor- to offer up a spirit of acknowledgement that there is abundance and richness within so many areas of life.
Gratitude can also help you LIVE LONGER and HAPPIER!
Gratitude has produced such miraculous results for people that scientists have been studying the practice of gratefulness and its effects on our physical and psychological health and longevity.
In a Life Hack article entitled “Why Grateful People Live Longer and Lead A Happier Life” they list a few of the benefits associated with the state of being grateful:
- You’ll Feel Happy
- Your Physical Vitality Improves
- Your Personal Relationships Get Stronger
- You’ll Be More Resilient
- You’ll Sleep Better
- Your Life Satisfaction Score Goes Up
If you are seeking “MORE” in your life, I invite you to consider the Vital Lifelong Alignment’s new “Vitology System”. Through the incredible Possibilities Explosion Transformational Experience along with the Rapid Change Method- you can begin to clearly identify the “More than Matters” in your life!
How do you define GRATITUDE?
Benedictine monk, Br. David Steindl-Rast, suggests that two qualities belong in our basic definition of gratitude. The first is appreciation: You recognize that something is valuable to you, which has nothing to do with its monetary worth. The second quality Br. David mentions is that gratitude is gratis: freely given to you. In his book entitled “Gratefulness – The Heart of Prayer- An Approach to Life in Fullness”, he treats the main aspects of gratefulness in a systematic way.
One of Brother David’s many amazing reflections on Gratitude is: Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy — because we will always want to have something else or something more.
As we enter into the full SEASON of THANKSGIVING:
Let us not forget to practice the daily art of living in gratitude.
Let us acknowledge and notice all that is already present within our lives from the tiny to the grand.
Let us dwell within the affirmation that all of life is a gift, as we look to the stars and dream of all possibilities available to us!
Here is today’s Vital Reset ReMINDer:
Grateful living is important in the world because in our constant pursuit of more and better we can easily lose sight of the riches that lay right in front of us and within us. ~ Guri Mehta
My very best wishes for an exceptional day and to your long and vital life.
