%20(1).png)
Many search for the key to happiness. They think they're going to find it in something they attain. Like a new car, or a house, a certain partner, or more money. Sure, money can help take stress away from you. I've been there. However, to put this in perspective, i'll give you a quote by Roy Bennett. He says "If you aren't grateful for what you have, what makes you think you're going to be happy with more". Absolutely true. This is why you see successful people who are miserable.
WANT TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE? CLICK HERE.
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT GRATITUDE?
Gratitude is the cornerstone of your life. Attitude is everything. Without the proper attitude, you can only get so far..
It’s what separates the successful from the truly successful in life. When you have this, you truly have everything.
To acquire anything major or achieve anything great, the idea first has to come from our mind. From our mind comes our belief system, and from our belief system comes our attitude, from which we go out into the world and make things happen
WHAT IS GRATITUDE?
So, what is gratitude after all? Well, gratitude is a state of mind. Gratitude is a constant state of being. It is an attitude. Ever hear an attitude of gratitude?
Gratitude is an abundance mindset. It means that no matter what you may be going through in life, there is always something to be grateful for. Many of us don't realize that we were already born wealthy. We can be as emotionally wealthy as we want to be.
TOO MANY OF US FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE….
This is because we have old brains that are hard wired for centuries to run toward pleasure and run away from pain. Seeking peace and tranquility hasn’t always been our priority when we were running from sabertooth tigers or bears.. Before man was really evolved.
In our life we learn limiting beliefs that prevent us from fulfilling our potential.
Limiting beliefs can be any unconscious beliefs that’s holding you back. Things like…
-i’m not good enough
-I don’t deserve happiness
-i’ll never lose weight
-i’m not funny
-i’m not smart enough
These often come from past experiences and trauma……..
What does gratitude really mean?
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
I’ve been so fortunate in my life to have great experiences, travel the world
Met the love of my life while I was traveling, had a son…
Had a career that I was passionate about in the creative arts and I was always passionate… However, even when your passionate, doesn’t mean the money always comes….
I’ve struggled financially and had lots of issues with this…
Debt from college….
Had times of real depression
A friend close to me died…
My parents divorced…
I had a girlfriend cheat on me…
I’ve had some serious low points…
But here’s the thing about low points in your life.
The only way is up. Only through pain do we grow a tougher skin.
When you feel like you have nothing…. No food in the cupboard. No money. No energy left… You look at what you do have and you learn to simplify.
You go alright….. I have my health. I have two working legs to get me around. I have a brain that functions and I can turn this around…
The sun is shining…. It’s a beautiful day.
This is why the “worst things that have happened to me in my life have actually been blessings in disguise”....
Easy. You replace limiting beliefs with an abundance mindset.
-Positive thoughts over negative ones.
-Seek solutions instead of problems
-Put yourself in a happy mindset, and therefore attract happy experiences and events
WHAT STEPS DO I TAKE TO BE MORE GRATEFUL?
1) Wake up and smile
-Biologically, this gets you into a positive state right away
2) Practice meditation/mindfulness (5 - 10 minutes)
Bedroom, office, outside in your yard, your car, it doesn’t matter….
3) Write in your gratitude journal
Write 3 things that you’re grateful for…..
Personally I prefer meditation
You simply close your eyes.. Sit down and get comfortable. This helps you focus being avoiding distractions. You breathe deep and it naturally relaxes you. You put on calm music and feel the feelings through the experience.
Many people don’t know how to meditate. My wife has said the same thing…. I’ve done it for many years…….. Never talked about it. So I created a product to help people get into the act of meditating… It’s a guide through the whole process.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Jones is a writer and entrepreneur with multiple businesses who loves inspiring others to reach their full potential. He is also a musician, educator, and world traveler whom has been to over 65 different countries on all 7 continents.
His personal mission is to create and inspire. He is from Los Angeles, but is now based in greater London where he lives with his wife and son.
If you enjoyed this article, please let us know what you thought!