Gratitude is the key to everything good and great It should come as no surprise given that we live in a fear-based society. Often, the fear of missing out (what has been renamed/rebranded as FOMO), fear of suffering, and fear of appearing to be lacking are beamed into your brain everywhere you turn. Radio, social media, tv, billboards, and everywhere there’s advertising will tell you if you don’t buy this product or that service, you’ll miss out, suffer, and appear lacking. The truth is that, for the most part, we need a lot fewer goods and services than we think we do. Sure, it can be nice to have those things – but at what cost? People stress out, overwork, and freak out because of the suffering they most fear that will result from missing out or appearing to lack. Suffering is what you most fear It doesn’t matter what the fear is – most fear is less about the thought or feeling you’re afraid of and more about suffering resulting from it. More often than not, the suffering you fear is far worse than what actually will occur. Fear of suffering tends to focus on worst-case scenarios. Since worst-case scenarios are literally the worst – of course, you envision horrific suffering as a result. The power of gratitude Why is gratitude so powerful? Because whether given or received, gratitude is ALWAYS positive. Always. Real, genuine, true gratitude is a blend of thought, feeling, intent, and action that’s positive. It is one of the only things I can think of that’s a construct of every element of mindfulness. Let’s say you’re grateful for a person. Thinking about them makes you feel good and thanking them (action) shares that they make you feel that way (intent). Given or received, gratitude is positive. Your thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions align to face the positive end of the flexible cylinder between the extremes (negative and positive). Express what you’re grateful for frequently There’s a simple, universal truth at work here. When you give gratitude, you get gratitude. When you express gratitude for the things you have – tangible or intangible – you draw more things to you to be grateful for. This is conscious reality creation in its purest, most unadulterated form. When you see lack, scarcity, and insufficiency – and give it energy and attention – it will dominate your consciousness. But when you use your mindfulness to be thankful, here and now, for what you have – that is abundance energy that will draw more abundance to you. Think, feel, and say thank you frequently, joyfully, wholeheartedly, and unreservedly. Allow gratitude to flow – because giving it will get it in return. This week’s Applied Guidance for Mindfulness Tool: Get something that you can carry around within you a pocket, your bra, a purse, or whatever have you. A stone, a coin with meaning to you, or something similar to these. Throughout your day, take ahold of whatever that thing is, and think of something you’re grateful for in that moment. Aloud, or not, say, “I’m grateful for *insert tangible or intangible thing here*. THANK YOU.” This gratitude serves as a physical reminder you can use at will to express gratitude. After a week of this practice, see if you notice any improvement in your overall day-to-day experiences. Author Website: https://mjblehart.com Email: author@mjblehart.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Blogs: titaniumdon.com and mjblehart.medium.com Cover artist Fe Mahoney: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TaliasInspirations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices