The term Gratitude comes from a Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (it depends on the context).
Gratitude can be considered a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives.
Gratitude and happiness are more important than a state of mind. Researches in positive psychology have found that gratitude and happiness are strongly linked. Gratitude implores individuals to experience positive emotions.
Ralph Waldo Emerson an American essayist, poet, and advocate of social reforms once said – “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
Gratitude is not just action based but is a positive emotion that serves as a biological purpose. You don’t do big acts but just small ones make a huge difference. It can be as small as watering plants, looking at the flowers you just got, writing a note to a friend/ family, watching sunsets or anything.
Everytime my partner gets me flowers, I feel grateful. I appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the nature and how they are so vibrant, unique and gives me a reminder of growth.
I always keep a picture of the flowers and looking at them. Makes me feel so good.
Staying is flow is not easy all the time, especially when there is too much information in your head, focusing on the external sources, or self conscious. Each by itself is insufficient.
You must have heard some people constantly complaining about constantly unable or incapable to experience flow.
But, what they fail to understand is less they require external stimuli to represent to their consciousness, could be events or anything, would make them more autonomous from the environment.
It on the contrary creates independence as compared to those who heavily rely on too many external stimulus. It allows you to have flexible attention.
Doesn’t it make you wonder how does one achieve it?
Learning can help you compensate and fall in place. And the only pre-requisite to it to become less self conscious as it acts as a motivation to not get disturbed by external events.
Here are some ways to stay in flow
Body You must be aware that each one of us have hidden potential within. That is how one excel in their bodily art and some become great athletes or dancers. It is a delight, and anyone can develop sufficient skills to find it.
Mind A place that allows us to have the most exhilarating experiences, is generated inside the mind. The most natural state of mind is chaos. Without training it adequately, no one can focus longer than just a few minutes. And, as often as we leave it to do nothing, it forms patterns, such as grudges, frustrations or things which aren’t so relevant. The reason why meditation acts as a way to gain control over mental processes.
Memory The oldest skill. It gives us the luxury to relive the experiences we once lived, or to brings things in order in our conscious. The better you are able to use it skillfully, more easy it gets to find meaning in the content of mind.
Communication One of the way to enhance your life is through improving the quality of experience. It gives your mind a disciplined means of expression. Writing could be one of the ways and self communication brings things in order.
Job Your job provides you an opportunity to stay in flow. Looking at it as a way to have challenges, learning and growth. Of course there are certain days when the marketplace makes it sound like a burden from external source. But one can have momentary experience of joy.
“If you are interested in something, you will focus on it, and if you focus attention on anything, it is likely that you will become interested in it. Many of the things we find interesting are not so by nature, but because we took the trouble of paying attention to them.” ― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
While most of us enjoy life with the goodness it offers us. There are times when we end up feeling gloomy and succumb to some serious blues. If this keeps happening with you, find yourself some solutions and get over the dumps that push you down.
You will be surprised by the difference it creates. Believe in the minor acts and get your life back on track.
Here I share some back tracks toward a happy feeling.
Get to the source, read it yourself and find out where it actually dropped down.
Vent it out with someone who makes you feel better.
Watch something that adds to your purpose, or just the things that brings you joy.
Cook yourself a meal, cherish it.
Go for a walk and just observe yourself, your breath, your body, or the birds in the sky.
Listen to music of your choice.
Re-read the quotes, books, poems that instil calm and help you gain back a normal state.
Clean your surroundings.
Delve in your hobby or find one for yourself.
Take a nap (without any regrets)
Take a warm water shower.
Doodle, they don’t need to look pretty or make sense always.
Visit a place or your happy place, where you find that connect.
Write a letter to someone who just stood by you, even if it is you yourself.
Do some headbanging, shake yourself out of it.
And most importantly, allow yourself to experience it. Embrace it. And let it pass. 🙂
You must have heard the term “pay attention” since childhood on different instances. Ever wondered – why are you so distracted? So much so that you find it hard to get yourself to focus on the work.
Often, you must have read on topics such as productivity, getting goals accomplished but often missed the essence which lies in attention management.
Attention management is a simple practice of having control over your distractions in the present, and maximising your flow to focus on your potential.
Attention is integral part of personal growth as it has a lot to determine your experiences both inside and outside your home. It helps in a great way to get you closer to accomplishing what you want for yourself. As simple as, preparing your favourite dish, requires your attention.
Attention is like muscles in your body, using them in the right way is important. It puts you in track of your time.
Practising attention consistently is a good way to work around it. As it gets you in a practised routine and get you consistent results.
While looking at the consistency, progressing in it also creates an impact. Notice the time span you are investing in maintaining your attention. No hard and fast rule. You can increase it gradually over a period of time or maintain a fixed one; whatever works for you.
When you lose your attention, noticing that very moment where you lost it, when you lost it, how you lost it, in itself helps you. Noticing and correcting your focus, can be a simple mindfulness technique which can be applied in this case.
Taking control of your attention is the beginning step which can help you to manage your attention in a long run. Take control of your life.
If you wish to read more on it, you can read Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, psychologist Daniel Goleman. He delves into the science of attention.
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