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Gratitude Attitude
(click for podcast) (7:05 min.)

The Words in Our Heads
I have Gratitude as the second to last section of the “Essential 10 Minutes”™ journal practice, just before the Free Writing section for a great reason. It re-directs filters and lenses we may be perceiving through to a more resourceful place.

That makes this section extremely powerful, not only for its own impact, but for its compounded impact when linked to the earlier sections. Not to go into the whole practice (I’m working on a short online course and workbook for that) but basically, when we get to this section, we’ve already identified and embodied core values, designed a Future Vision, and reverse engineered Goals to get there, based those values.

Gratitude gets much more into how we feel about these Values and who we actually are when they’re embodied. This gets our entire brain more involved in the process, as the more our feelings can be verbalized, the more wiring we’re doing. More on that in a bit.

It’s far easier to find things to be grateful for than we might think. Going back to those values, we can simply be grateful for having them; perhaps more grateful for the opportunities to express them. I can be grateful that I value patience, as it reinforces my desire to be patient. If you have an ability that brings you and others joy, that’d be something to be grateful for any day. It gets easier and easier as you do it.

Worst case scenario, you can be grateful for whatever works, instead of looking at what doesn’t. I’ve had lots of injuries in my life, and there were times when I needed to be grateful that only one leg was broken, or only one rotator cuff was torn. I’ll repeat that I’m saying worst case scenario.

The Physical Impacts
Gratitude affects us on several levels. First, there are biochemical changes that take place when we focus our attention on gratitude (increased dopamine, serotonin, etc.) The more these neurotransmitters are flowing, the less the fight, flight, freeze neurotransmitters are in effect. In this way, we’re more likely to approach free writing -- or anything really -- with a much better, more resourceful state of mind. That gives us better results overall, and of course has a positive impact on our mood as well.

Another important impact of Gratitude is in how we increase the amount of wiring in our brains. We used to think that primary logic centers were in the left hemisphere, and spatial relationships and non-linear thought were in the right hemisphere. We now know that the brain is more like an orchestra, and many different areas work together to affect how and what we think and feel.

Again to not get too neurosciencey, recent studies show that most emotional, and reactive functions are happening in areas behind the prefrontal neocortex, where our logic and executive functions live. Wiring them together, using language to describe feelings creates a two way street, and we become far more aware of what we’re feeling and why, as well as how to express it.

It also gives us the ability to make some space for a Mindful response, as we don’t simply bypass our analytical in reaction. The more we think about and express what we’re feeling, the more different areas of the brain cross wire, and we open up neural capacities previously untapped. White matter grows with increased usage, (neuroplasticity) so we literally increase the density and strength of this cross-wiring. As IQ is primarily a function of the ability to take in, process, and use information, the increased wiring leads to higher IQ. Aw, shucks.

Now we’re in a more resourceful state of mind, employing logic and feeling together in harmony, creating richer experiences and more diverse problem solving capabilities. You might think of it as being more “creatively analytical” or more “analytically creative.”

Back to the Words in Our Heads
Another interesting experiment is playing with how the words we choose can feel more active or passive, and which feels more authentic for us. For example, to say “I’m grateful for the loves I’ve had in life,” puts me on the receiving end of gratitude. To say “I appreciate the loves I’ve had in life,” puts me in the active role of appreciating. You’ll likely use some of each, and I personally use both, as I like covering all the bases. For example: I’m grateful for and I appreciate having a roof over my head, and food in my refrigerator.

Give yourself the space to feel appreciation and gratitude for what you already have. To re-focus attention on what we have instead of what we lack, shifts our perspective from negative and skeptical to positive and optimistic, from scarcity to abundance. Obviously this is a much healthier and more resourceful state of mind to start the day with, and it helps put a smile on your face

Want to learn more about how to become the best you possible? How your communication can hold you back or catapult you forward? Come visit the web site, or better yet, contact me and see how we can design a program to fit your needs and desired outcomes.

     - Ian J. Blei

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Special Offer -

November has a holiday that's dedicated to gratitude. Sure other things happen that can take us to the glass being half empty, but how does that serve us?  It makes more sense to put our minds into a resourceful state, so that we make more intelligent choices.  We can do this. We can improve every aspect of our lives using a process that uncovers resources you never knew you had. Come check out what's on "special" this month.

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The Integram - the podcast series

Kind Ambition - 3rd Edition
 

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