Category Archives: Gratitude

Mental Health – Letting Go

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“What’s past is past and there is little to be gained by dwelling on it. There are perhaps no sadder people then the men and women who have a grievance against the world because of something that happened years ago and have let that memory sour their view of life ever since.” ~ Rabbi Harold S Kushner

7 Lessons from the book “Reasons to Stay Alive” by Matt Haig

1. Mental Health is Real

Acknowledge that mental health is just as important as physical health. It’s essential to understand that mental health struggles are valid and should be treated with the same care and attention as any other health issue.

2. You’re Not Alone

Remember that you are not alone in your struggles. Many people have experienced or are currently going through similar challenges. Reach out to loved ones, support groups, or professionals who can provide empathy, understanding, and guidance.

3. Seek Help

It’s crucial to seek help when you need it. Don’t hesitate to reach out to mental health professionals who can provide the necessary support and treatment. There is no shame in seeking help, and it can make a significant difference in your recovery journey.

4. Focus on the Present

Practice mindfulness and focus on the present moment. Anxiety and depression often make us dwell on the past or worry about the future. By grounding yourself in the present, you can find peace and reduce unnecessary stress.

5. Find Meaning in Small Things

Look for beauty and joy in everyday life. Engage in activities that bring you happiness, whether it’s spending time in nature, pursuing hobbies, or connecting with loved ones. Finding meaning in small things can help shift your perspective and improve your overall well-being.

6. Self-Care is Essential

Prioritize self-care and make it a part of your routine. Take care of your physical and emotional needs by getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Remember that self-care is not selfish but necessary for your well-being.

7. Recovery is Possible

Believe in the possibility of recovery. While the journey may be challenging, it’s important to have hope and faith that things can get better. With the right support, treatment, and self-care, it is possible to overcome the struggles and find renewed hope and joy in life.

Gratitude is Powerful

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“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” – Amy Collette

Gratitude is a powerful life-changing mindset and attitude. It is an emotion that involves feeling thankful and appreciative for what you have in your life. It’s a powerful tool that can significantly improve your well-being, both mentally and physically.

By practicing gratitude, you can cultivate a more positive outlook, strengthen your relationships, and increase your overall happiness. It’s a simple yet profound practice that can significantly enhance your life. By focusing on the positive aspects of your experiences, you can shift our perspective, reduce stress, and cultivate greater happiness.

Why is Gratitude Important?

* Enhanced Mental Health: Gratitude can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
* Improved Physical Health: Studies have shown that gratitude can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
* Stronger Relationships: Expressing gratitude strengthens bonds with loved ones.
* Increased Happiness: Focusing on the positive aspects of life leads to greater overall happiness.

How to Practice Gratitude

* Gratitude Journaling: Write down things you’re grateful for each day.
* Mindful Meditation: Focus on the present moment and appreciate the good things in your life.
* Expressing Thanks: Share your appreciation with others through words or actions.
* Volunteering: Giving back to others can increase feelings of gratitude.
* Practicing Mindfulness: Pay attention to the positive aspects of your life.

By incorporating gratitude into your daily routine, you can unlock its transformative power and experience a more fulfilling life and joyful existence.

Happy Thanksgiving: Always Be Grateful

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“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Thanksgiving encourages you and others to reflect on what you are thankful for.

Research has shown that being thankful and practicing gratitude can have significant positive effects on your mental and physical health.

For instance, studies by psychologists Dr. Robert A. Emmons and Dr. Michael E. McCullough found that people who regularly wrote about things they were grateful for experienced greater well-being, exercised more, and had fewer visits to the doctor.

Gratitude helps you feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve your health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

“When you are grateful, you are not fearful. And when you are not fearful, you are not violent. When you are grateful, you act out of a sense of enough and not out of a sense of scarcity.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner

Source:  https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier

Gratitude is Powerful

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Gratitude is a powerful emotion and mindset that can have a profound impact on your life.

When you feel grateful, you are acknowledging all the good and blessings in your life. You’re acknowledging all the peace and abundance that surrounds you.

Gratitude opens your heart and mind to receive even more good.

Gratitude is also a mindset and attitude of optimism and positive thinking.

When you are grateful for what you have, you are also showing your unwavering belief and confidence in yourself and your abilities. You are telling yourself that you are worthy of good things  You are telling yourself that you are worthy of peace, happiness and abundance.

Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to improve your health and increase your overall sense of well-being. It can help you attract more positive experiences and circumstances into your life. It can help you feel happier and more fulfilled with life.

Gratitude is Powerful

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“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

When you shift your focus towards uncovering the goodness in every experience and circumstance, you open the door to a life brimming with gratitude.

By actively seeking out the positives and good in any situation, you’ll find that your perspective transforms, which allows gratitude to flourish and to permeate your daily experiences.

The key to magnifying your blessings lies in recognizing and appreciating the goodness, peace abundance already present in your life.

Rather than fixating on what is lacking or imperfect, choosing to count your blessings cultivates a mindset of abundance and contentment. As you acknowledge and give thanks for the good things that surround you, you set in motion a powerful cycle of positivity and growth.

What you nurture with gratitude and appreciation inevitably thrives and multiplies. So, focus on the goodness and blessings, not the storm

By fostering a spirit of thankfulness for the blessings, both big and small, you invite more goodness into your life. The act of counting your blessings not only amplifies their impact but also serves as a beacon of light, guiding you towards a path rich with fulfillment, joy, and a deep sense of appreciation for the beauty that exists within and around you.

Focusing on the positives in your life and appreciating how a mindset of gratitude can lead to greater abundance and contentment!

 

This Too Shall Pass

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“We can endure much more than we think we can; all human experience testifies to that. All we need to do is learn not to be afraid of pain. Grit your teeth and let it hurt. Don’t deny it, don’t be overwhelmed by it. It will not last forever. One day, the pain will be gone and you will still be there.”

— Harold S. Kushner

“Life is painful if you do it right. Life will inevitably hurt you and the quality you need is not to lead a charmed life so that you’ll never be tested,” writes Rabbi Harold Kushner.  “The quality you need is the resilience to get over that. The answer is: live bravely. Live bravely in an unreliable world.”

The phrase “this too shall pass” is a powerful reminder of the transient nature of all things, both good and bad. It encourages you to stay grounded and maintain perspective during challenging times, knowing that they are temporary.

Incorporating this mindset into your daily life can be a form of gratitude practice. By acknowledging that difficult moments will eventually pass, you can focus more on the present and appreciate the positive aspects of your life.

Simple ways to practice gratitude:

  1. Keep a Gratitude Journal: Write down three things you’re grateful for each day. This helps you focus on the positive aspects of your life.
  2. Express Thanks: Take a moment to thank someone in your life, whether it’s through a note, a call, or a simple “thank you.”
  3. Mindful Moments: Pause during your day to appreciate the small things, like a beautiful sunset, a good meal, or a kind gesture.
  4. Gratitude Jar: Write down things you’re grateful for on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Review them whenever you need a boost.
  5. Reflect Before Bed: Spend a few minutes before sleeping to reflect on the good things that happened during the day.
  6. Acts of Kindness: Perform random acts of kindness. Helping others can increase your own sense of gratitude.
  7. Meditation and Prayer: Incorporate gratitude into your meditation or prayer practice, focusing on the blessings in your life.

Always be grateful!

Reading, Writing, and Thinking:

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Give yourself time each day to read, write, and think.

Reading:

Pick up a book and lose yourself in the pages of a fascinating story, or open your mind to a new way of thinking or approach to life.

You don’t have to read for hours, but start giving yourself time each morning or night to read. A few pages a day can go a long way to helping you think more clearly.

Writing:

Pick up your pen and write. One of the things I make sure I do every morning and night is to write in my journal, connecting with my thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

Writing will help you think more clearly, organize your thoughts, and process your challenges and opportunities on paper.

Writing in your journal should be part of your morning and evening rituals. There should be no rules or format you follow. Write it down if it’s in your head and heart! Let your words, feelings, and thoughts flow.

Thinking:

Give yourself time to think, ponder, and let your mind wander. If you’re always busy or connected to your devices, your mind won’t have time to relax and think clearly.

One of the main principles is to give yourself time each day to be still and alone with your thoughts. Allow yourself time to slow down and think things through.

Having a clear head and feeling more in control and confident about yourself and your life is vital to your performance and well-being.

Write down your thoughts. Journaling helps you clarify your ideas, track progress, and express gratitude.

Reading, Writing, and Thinking:

Building a habit of finding a few minutes a day to read, write, and think is simple once you give yourself permission to look after yourself and prioritize your well-being and mental health.

Make reading, writing, and thinking part of your daily routine. In this way, you will Continue to learn and grow throughout your life. Engaging in lifelong learning keeps your mind active and curious, adding richness and depth to your life.

Doing these small and life-changing things will bring more joy and happiness to your life.

Additionally, you must commit to continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning. Recognize that cultivating gratitude is an ongoing journey. You should always seek ways to express your gratitude, better yourself, and contribute positively to the world around you.

Life Humbles You as You Grow Old

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“Life humbles you as you grow old. You stop chasing the big things and start (being grateful and) valuing the little things. Alone time, enough sleep, a good diet, long walks, and quality time with loved ones. Simplicity becomes the ultimate goal.”

Age brings a profound sense of humility. The pursuit of grand ambitions fades, replaced by a deep appreciation for life’s simple treasures.

Solitude becomes a sanctuary, rest a cherished luxury, nourishing food a form of self-care. Long walks offer moments of reflection, while quality time with loved ones becomes the true measure of richness. In this metamorphosis, simplicity emerges as the ultimate aspiration.

The value of life shifts from the grand to the serene, from the extravagant to the essential, unveiling the beauty and fulfillment found in embracing and being grateful for life’s small wonders.

Life is Painful If You Do It Right

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 “Life is painful if you do it right. Life will inevitably hurt you and the quality you need is not to lead a charmed life so that you’ll never be tested. The quality you need is the resilience to get over that. The answer is: live bravely. Live bravely in an unreliable world.” ~ Rabbi Harold S. Kushner

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/life-enriching-advice-from-harold-kushner-1.5488838?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

More than eighty times in the Bible it says “Don’t Be Afraid”. “Do not be afraid is the most mentioned passage in the Bible.

Fear distort your ability to think clearly and to accurately assess risks.

“There are worst things in life than being killed and one of them is to live everyday of your life being afraid and living in fear.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner

The cure for the fear of death is to live a life that matters.

Living a Life That Matters

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“Much of the time, we cannot control what happens to us. But we can always control how we respond to what happens to us. If we cannot choose to be lucky, to be talented, to be loved, we can choose to be grateful, to be content with who we are and what we have, and to act accordingly.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner,

Each person has the ability to do great things, according to Rabbi Harold Kushner. Every single person has the ability to change the world, for the better. Each individual can live a life that matters.

At Point program begins at time 7:40.

Source:  https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2002/09/03/living-a-life-that-matters