From https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/gratitude it is described that gratitude can increase well being, happiness, energy, optimism and empathy. On the website http://jamesclear.com/positive-thinking it is stated negative emotions program your brain to do a specific action and therefore the rest of the world around you does not seem to matter. This means negative emotions narrow your mind and focus your thoughts. Negative emotions closes your brain off from the outside world and focuses on the negative emotions of fear, anger and stress. On the flip side positive thoughts have the opposite effect. When you have positive emotions your sense of possibility broadens and your mind opens up to more options. Positive emotions also enhance ability to build skills and build skills for later in life.
The past few November's I have noticed people posting about what they are most grateful for each day for the entire month. I think this is a good way to practice and build positive thoughts. It's also nice when people are able to put a gratuity journal next to their beds. I tried this sometime about a year and a half ago for a few weeks. I still feel like I have subsiding effects from that exercise. My narrow mindedness, lonely days or yucky days have lessened the past year. It's not easy and it does take practice, focus and effort. But internally I feel like I have noticed a difference.
I realize that some of my recent posts have been somewhat "alarming." She has an amazing job where she helps kids with disabilities, that allows her to support herself and she gets summers off, what's her problem?
The point of this post is to say I KNOW all of the above are true!
On the flip side you can never know what people are going through until you've been in their shoes.
Other facts running through my mind regarding positive thoughts and gratuity include the fact that there is a large number of people with disabilities who are unable to be employed for various reasons. I am on the other side of that statistic which is a thought that runs through my mind often. I'm eternally grateful for this. The majority of my work week I work with several compassionate, dedicated, friendly, loving people. Some of them may end up being present in my life for a very long time to come. I never get caught in traffic on my way to work.
I have also begun to realize it's okay to be grateful for having the mind, passion and drive to allow myself to keep wanting more when it comes to exploring what paths my education and current work and life experiences could take me down. This is how I will expand my horizons and become a unique individual. I am grateful for the stability I do have so I am able to explore my passions and things that are interesting to me. I'm grateful I chose a profession that has a variety of areas that I like to learn about. I'm grateful I have the attitude to think about things in this perspective rather than complain or react due to fear or anxiety.
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