Gratitude in Action
By Stephanie E. Wilson-Coleman, Ph.D.
Author of Be Sure You Dance: Life’s lessons to make every moment count,
Embracing Life’s Lessons and Is Anybody Listening?
www.champagneconnection.com · www.asipofinspiration.com
The month of November kicks off the season of giving while leading the way to the month of December where thirty percent of all given occurs. Homeless shelters, food banks, and soup kitchens will be inundated with volunteers, and an enormous amount of groceries will be donated. The eagerness to demonstrate our gratitude and to reach out to provide a helping hand to those less fortunate is commendable. Statistics have revealed that the joy experienced when helping others during “the season of giving” has resulted in Americans ranking this time as the happiest day of the year. Sixty-eight percent of Americans state they feel happier, free of worry and experience less stress when focused on giving. Giving allows us to put gratitude in action. Melody Beattie said, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Recent research has proven consistent practice of gratitude will improve your physical health, emotional health, self-esteem, mental strength, help you sleep better, and reduce aggression. Also, Abraham-Hicks said, “because the vibration of gratitude/appreciation is the most powerful connection between the physical you and the Non-Physical You, this process will also put you in a position to receive even clearer guidance from your Inner Being.”
The reason the “Season of Giving” means so much to us is that it provides the “reason” for us to slow down long enough to express our gratitude and to help others. To keep this cycle of giving, receiving and giving active, here are a few steps that will help you experience the joy and excitement of giving every day while improving your health and your life.
1. Write a gratitude letter to a person who has had a positive influence on your life or who has helped you in ways that were beneficial. If possible, read this letter to the person. If you are unable to write a letter, you can send an email. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Periodically, write a letter to yourself and mail it.
2. Send a token of appreciation to the person who has had a positive influence in your life.
3. If you do not have time to write a gratitude letter or send a token of appreciation, send the individual a mental thank you. Think about the person and say “thank you for…”
4. Send postcards to sick children. For example: Cards for Hospitalized Kids will deliver the cards to children in the US Hospitals.
5. Be an active listener and give out compliments.
6. Daily, list 3-5 things for which you are grateful in your gratitude journal.
7. Apologize to people you have caused harm and forgive those who have harmed you.
Here’s to living in a constant state of thanksgiving.
Dream Big! Live the life you have imagined.
Remember, life is too short to drink cheap champagne.
Stephanie, the “straight no chaser” Empowerment Doctor, has the uncanny ability to help others break through toxic emotions and heal the residue left from traumatic experiences that are causing them to sabotage their success. She lives her inspiration as the founder of The Champagne Connection, Inc., the author of 3 books and the Host of the television show "A Sip of Inspiration.” She is also a regular contributor to The MetaMonthly Magazine, Champagne and Beyond Magazine and Ezine Articles. Her superpower: Transforming Lives
Visit: http://www.empowerdr.tumblr.com and http://www.asipofinspiration.blogspot.com and
https://medium.com/@empowerdr
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