Denise's Blog
Money Insights, Wisdom, and More
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE, A NEW KIND OF WEALTH
Attitude of gratitude? Joy, Love and Gratitude all live in the same vibrational house. The experience of these energies in our lives is mind altering. When we are in a state of deep appreciation, dopamine (a neurotransmitter) washes over our brains.
This neurotransmitter creates a natural euphoria in us. This veil of euphoria helps us view the cup of life half full rather than half empty, it directs our focus on the virtues of another rather than character defects, and it gives us that warm honey feeling inside that opens up our flow of generosity.
I find it interesting that the same areas of the brain light up when scanned, whether experiencing deep appreciation or if taking an opiate, such as heroin. Practicing gratitude turns on our internal pharmacy, naturally creating that inner “high.”
So what does practicing the attitude of gratitude have to do with money? Well, research done by Dr. Michael McCollough, of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis, suggest that gratitude plays a significant role in a person’s financial well-being and general well-being.
WHY AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE CREATES A FEELING OF “ENOUGH”
When we are in a state of internal fulfillment, there is less of a tendency for us to create fulfillment in external ways, like retail shopping.
People that practice daily gratitude define success in ways other than possession accumulation. This alone is a positive bottom line way of thinking.
Living in an attitude of gratitude protects you from the behavior of comparing yourself to others. Comparison is a behavior rooted in lack consciousness. It cost money to keep up with the Joneses or the latest greatest (fill in the blank)_________.
People that practice gratitude realize that abundance comes in many forms, not just monetary wealth. Examples of other forms of abundance are: health, relationships, soulful work, pets, etc. Wealth takes many forms if we are open to seeing those forms and inviting them into our lives.
This research is important because Americans have a history of living beyond their means. Our focus is on better and more. We’ve become disconnected from what truly makes us feel satiated, which are things money can’t buy. These things are love, freedom, connection and purpose.
Dan Gilbert, a psychology professor at Harvard University and the author of the new book Stumbling on Happiness, tells us multimillionaires from the Forbes 400 list aren’t much happier than the average suburbanite. He says once basic human needs are met, a lot more money doesn’t make one have increased happiness.
I do a simple daily gratitude practice. I close both hands into a fist. Then as I release one finger at a time, I think of one gratitude. This helps me to focus on ten things each day I am grateful for. I’ve been doing this for over five years and it has changed my internal chemistry and focus. Here are my top ten gratitudes that just about are the same every day.
- My connection with Source energy
- My health
- Relationships with my husband, friends and family
- Soulful work
- Our dogs, Sadie and Kiska
- Our home
- Hiking mountain tops with friends
- Connecting with the Sacred in nature
- Strong french roast coffee in the morning
- Sinking into a comfy down bed at night
One of the best things about doing a daily gratitude practice for me, is that it has gotten me in touch with my core needs. When my true and deepest needs are met, there isn’t much else I truly want. Do you relate to this?
Denise, what I love about this is that it is a practice we can do at any time of the day and in any circumstance. I am so grateful for soulful work, when we are able to illuminate for others the subtle parts of their lives–within those subtle parts is such magic. Most immediately, as I prepare to move cross country with my family in three weeks I am going to remember to CREATE gratitude–gratitude that recognizes the dream come true that this move is! I feel better already! It dies release the stress!
Whitney, thanks for linking the energy of gratitude with illumination and that internal shift that feels like magic! Wishing you an effortless move and may you soak in all the sights and experiences that traveling cross country to your new home bring you. I celebrate your dream and may it be sprinkled with grace and blessings!
Your posting has so many great points, Denise, but I especially like the gratitude exercise using all 10 fingers and finding 10 things to be grateful for. I regularly find things to be grateful for, but I like the idea of finding 10 things! This is going to become part of my daily routine. Thanks!
I did not know that the release of deep appreciation had such a positive effect on our internal chemistry. Wow! And, I’m with Linda, I’m going to add your gratitude process to my daily routine. And, for some reason, I find it easier to access appreciation than gratitude. On some level, I know that they are the same thing, but for me, I can FEEL appreciation when I can’t feel gratitude.