Vibratory Awareness

Gratitude has been referred to as ‘the secret of life’, ‘the key to all doors’, and the ‘most passionate and transformative force in the cosmos. Ben Stein has been asked numerous times how to get rich quick. His reply: I can’t tell you anything in a few minutes on how to get rich quick, but I can tell you how to feel rich quick, which is far better than being rich. Be grateful. It’s the only totally reliable get-rich quick scheme; gratitude is richness.

Scientist and Professor of Psychology at US Davis, Robert Emmons says gratitude has the power to heal, to energize, and change lives. A two-step process, gratitude is first affirming goodness (saying yes to life and that there are good things in life) and second, recognizing, or giving credit to others that results in the feeling of gratitude.

His 15+ years of scientifically studying the effects of gratitude show that on a physical level, people who practice gratitude consistently have stronger immune systems; are less bothered by aches and pains; have lower blood pressure; exercise more and take better care of their health; sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking. On the psychological level, these people have a higher level of positive emotions; are more alert, alive, and awake; have more joy and pleasure; more optimism and happiness. Finally, on the social level, they are more helpful, generous, and compassionate; are more forgiving; are more outgoing; feel less lonely and isolated.

All sounds like good stuff, but how do you cultivate gratitude? Dr. Emmons says one exercise is to keep a journal and list out just five things you’re grateful for every week. This practice works by intentionally focusing our attention on developing more grateful thinking, thereby reducing ungrateful thoughts. We’ve all heard and used the term “taking things for granted”. This practice helps guard against that, and daily attention to what you’re grateful for yields faster results.

Another exercise is based on the phrase “count your blessings”. Again, we’ve all heard this phrase, but do you ever really do it? We’re in California this week and there’s a wonderful running/walking trail my husband loves. We went yesterday; he ran five miles while I fast-walked my piddly three. At first, I was doing the loving-kindness meditation each time someone passed me. Then, because I was tired and grumpy, I switched over to a ‘count my blessings’ or ‘gratitude’ attitude. I’m grateful for this path that allows me to be in such a beautiful, natural setting. I’m grateful my husband prodded me into coming out here. I’m grateful for my husband who is the most patient, loving, kind, trustworthy, honest, steadfast person I know. I’m grateful I brought these running shoes with me. I’m grateful for my children – at which point I switched back to loving kindness for each of them. Then, back to being grateful for the reservoir (low), the birds, the trees, and this wonderful day. By theend of my three miles, I was in a much better mood.

Of course, you can also use a guided meditation to foster gratitude and there are some really good ones free on YouTube. Here are two of my favorites you can search for:

*) Gratitude meditation by Joanne D’Amico. 11 minutes, 15 seconds.

*) Gratitude meditation by Alicia Cramer. 18 minutes.

Jack Kornfield says gratitude is confidence in life itself. It carries us, it is not sentimental, not jealous, not judgmental, does not envy or compare – and as gratitude grows it give rise to joy. And as our joy grows, we find happiness for no particular reason other than being alive. Pure, simple joy. Here is an excerpt from his gratitude meditation:

With gratitude I remember the people, animals, plants, insects, creatures of sky and sea, air and water, fire and earth, all whose joyful exertion blesses my life every day. With gratitude I remember the care and labor of thousands of generations of ancestors who came before me. I offer my gratitude for the safety and well-being I’ve been given. I offer my gratitude for the nourishing blessings of this earth. I offer my gratitude for the measure of health I’ve been granted. I offer my gratitude for the family and friends I’ve been given to love. I offer my gratitude for every kind of community around me. I offer my gratitude for the teachings and lessons that life has offered. I offer my gratitude for my breath, for the knowing mind and wise heart; for the ability to love life and that which is given me every day.

Just as we are grateful for our blessings, so can we be grateful for the blessings of others. Bring to mind someone you care about. Picture them, feel the natural joy you have for their well-being, their happiness, their success. With each breath, offer them your grateful heartfelt wishes as you hold them in your heart and mind.

May you be joyful, may your happiness increase, may you not be separated from great happiness, and may your good fortune and your causes for your joy and happiness continue to grow.

Let yourself open to the happiness of this loved one. May you be joyful, may your happiness increase. Now, picture another person you love and care about – with the same phrases, wish them well. May you too be joyful, may your happiness increase, may your good fortune and the causes for your joy and happiness increase, and may you be joyful. Expand to others, your community, your state, your continent, your world. As many as you have time for. Opening and expanding your heart. Let the spirit of gratitude and joy embrace you as well. Let the feelings and blessings of joy fill your own life.

May I be joyful. May my happiness increase, may my success and good fortune and the causes for my joy and happiness increase, and may I be joyful. Let the feelings of gratitude and joy open from your heart in every direction as if your heart could radiate the blessings of gratitude and joy. May all beings, far and near, young and old, known and unknown, be joyful. For all beings, may your happiness increase, may your success and good fortune and the causes for your joy and happiness increase. May all beings rest in gratitude and joy for this life they’ve been given. When your meditation is finished, open your eyes with the gratitude of an expanded heart.

You may need to record the above to make it easier to use as a meditation. If you do, remember to speak slowly and allow some time between sentences. Meanwhile, I found this fantastic TED talk that’ll inspire beauty and gratitude: . This is under 10 minutes and is beautifully done. Be sure to turn up your speakers. I found out that the narration on this video was done by Brother David Steindl-Rast. Searching on his name also turned up a TED talk, but more to the point of this post, he is co-founder of . This site is full of interesting articles, videos, and even daily questions to help us all live a more grateful, and therefore, joyful life.

I encourage you to give some serious gratitude a try. Do some meditations, watch the TED talk, and explore the gratefulness website. You have nothing to lose, and happiness and joy to gain. Not a bad deal!!