Affirm goodness in your life

Yale’s centre of emotional intelligence defines gratitude as “A state of mind that arises when you affirm a good thing in your life that comes from outside yourself, or when you notice and relish little pleasures. Though some people and things are clear blessings, this state of mind doesn’t actually depend on your life circumstances. Whether it’s the sight of a lovely face or a tasty bite of food or good health, there is always something to be grateful for. Even bad experiences at least teach us something. And gratitude is not just a feeling outside your control that arrives willy-nilly. It’s more like a radio channel: you can choose at any time to tune in.”

The message of expressing gratitude has been acknowledged by several intellectuals, philosophers, scientists and religious beliefs from around the world.

Marcus Aurelius wrote – “Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC-43 BC) wrote “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was thank you, that would suffice”.

Victor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist, survived the harrowing experience of living in a concentration camp. He later wrote a book titled – Man’s Search For Meaning. In his book Frankl provides detailed accounts of his experiences while living through this ordeal. Frankl laboured in four different camps, including Auschwitz. His parents, brother, several friends and pregnant wife perished during this time. He attributed his ability in finding blessings irrespective of circumstances in life, as a crucial factor in his survival. This practice not only enabled him to maintain hope but also experience post traumatic growth. Frankl writes in his book – “everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Emiliana R. Simons is the science director of the Greater Good Center in Berkeley. She is a leading expert on the neuroscience and psychology of compassion, kindness and gratitude. She says “after eight weeks of practice, brain scans of individuals who practice gratitude have stronger brain structure for social cognition and empathy”.

People who express gratitude, have more enthusiasm, optimism, love and joy. Grateful people are more insulated from negative emotions like envy, greed, fear, anger and bitterness. Gratitude has consistently been shown to lower the incidence of eating disorders, anxiety, phobias, dependence on drugs, alcohol and nicotine.

Gratitude is an effective strategy for positive reframing of events that unfold in our life. Through a regular practice of expressing gratitude, we begin creating biographies of joy that enable us to live happier and more fulfilled lives.

Are you ready to tune into the gratitude channel and affirm goodness in your life?