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Can Gratitude Eliminate Depression?
Depression is Not a Lack of Gratitude Our topic this week is so important that I decided to make the article public for everyone to read. So in order to give you, the paid members, something special, I have recorded an mp3 so you can listen to the article while you drive, cook,…
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Choosing to Rush Through Life
Always on to the next Thing I have been really busy lately. Working long hours. Working through the weekend. Doing one thing and then another in less time than they need to be done right. But really, how is this different then any other day and any other week? We are all SO…
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Mary Oliver, Thank You for Giving Words to My Surrender
The Power of Letting Go The concept of our true self has been a theme lately that keeps popping up in different areas of my life. Who are you underneath that mask? Who are you when you are aligned in body, mind, spirit, values, senses, action and in ways that you didn’t even…
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Love is …
The Love Hangover It is the day after Valentine’s Day. What do we do the day after we focus on love? What do we focus on now besides half-priced chocolate? Love, of course, just like we do every single day of our lives. Just like there are myriad things to be grateful for, there…
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Shout It From the Sidewalk
When 1 gratitude becomes 1000gratitudes Obviously all of you are committed to gratitude. You know the importance of practicing gratitude. You are aware of all the good you are surrounded by and all the good you are. But not all of you have a written gratitude practice. Some of you practice gratitude through your…
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Hello. Thank You. You Are Beautiful.
A Way of Being For a while now I have been intrigued by this concept of Ways of Being. It is the idea of having a consciousness that is aligned with an intention but not being caught up in the actions or strategies that might get you there. For instance you could be of…
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Seeing the World with Curious Eyes
A Deep Open-Minded Noticing Right now I am sitting in a hospital room with my girlfriend. She has an undiagnosed terribly painful condition which is a cycle of nausea and extreme pain that comes in waves of abdominal spasms. She yells out in pain her face pale and red, her eyes pleading for…
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Racism and Gratitude
Thank You, Martin Luther King Today as we appreciate Martin Luther King Jr. let's take an opportunity to acknowledge our privilege. Our gratitude practice is one way we can look at the privilege we have with humility and appreciation. Instead of defending ourselves saying we don't have privilege and instead of being so…
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David Bowie on Entrenched Negative Thinking
Staying True to Ourselves, David Bowie Has Always Showed Us How Last night David Bowie passed away. He was one of those people who was so extremely creative that everything he did pushed our limits of understanding of art and of how the world works. There is an interesting dynamic in his costuming…
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The Power of What You Are Not Grateful For
Don’t Ignore That Big Void of Gratitude Did you reflect on 2015? If so, there were probably a few regrettable things that stood out. If you were reflecting with gratitude you may have just skipped right over those negative parts. Or maybe you still were able to find something you are grateful for.…
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Download Your 2015 Anthology eBook
A Year of Gratitude Happy New Year! I have once again created an anthology of the 2015 gratitude quotes, questions and photos into a pdf ebook. It is quite lovely and a great thing to look to if you ever need a little gratitude inspiration. [su_button url=”http://www.ourgratitudecollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ThankYou2015-eBook.pdf” background=”#e9e9e9″ color=”#000000″ center=”yes” desc=”A Year of…
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Solstice Gratitude – In the Dark of Night
On This Darkest Day of the Year Look inside and find your light; say thank you. On this darkest day of the year, Peer into your heart and into your mind; say thank you. On this darkest day of the year, Go outside and touch the earth; say thank you. On this darkest…
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Are You Saying Sorry Instead of Thank You?
Say It Like You Mean It I’m so inspired by this cartoon and concept. It resonates with me but I’ve had trouble incorporating it into my life. Mostly I realized I said sorry instead of thank you after the fact when I reflect back on my day. So here is my reflection of when…
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How To Express Gratitude for Loved Ones
What a Beautiful Way to Connect Writing gratitude is one thing but expressing it is quite another. Take your gratitude practice to another level by using it to connect with those who matter most. This doesn’t mean a simple, “thank you” when your loved one does something for you. This is about expressing detailed…
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Change Your Mind in Five – a Gratitude Meditation
Unplug. Breathe. Take a Few Minutes Just For You. This time of year can get hectic. We are pulled in many directions with work and family and friends and events. Preserving traditions and making our own traditions. Adapting to celebrating the holidays without those who have left us. Sometimes we are an after-thought. Let’s…
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Confuse Your Family with Being Grateful for the Dismissed
Show Everyone That It’s Not Just the Big Five Whenever I ask people, “What are you grateful for?” without any other direction almost everyone says the same thing. I call these the big five: Being alive, Family, Health, Friends, God. It reminds me of going around the table at Thanksgiving sharing our gratitude and…
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The Fantasy of Everything Settling Down
It’s an Inside Job I find myself saying that I will get to this and that when things calm down. But it never does. There’s always something new that shows up to challenge me. Lately the challenge has been emotional as you know from reading last week’s issue. What I have been struggling with…
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Desperately Seeking Abundance
When All Else Fails … Love Yourself I want a vast ocean of energy. I want a warm bath that holds me like a loving mom. I want to be able to give more. I want to be able to help more without checking my balance of energy. I want to love like I…
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The Most Beautiful Nudge
Finding Gratitude for Inertia I love the concept of a nudge. The idea is simple: Inertia is real. If we accept and embrace that then we can use it to our advantage. An effective nudge makes the “best” choice the easiest choice. A classic health example: If you often overeat, buy smaller plates. Another…
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Fact-Based Gratitude
Gratitude Need Not Blind You from Reality Fact: This morning as I used the bathroom I stepped in something wet. Fact: It was dog pee. Fact: I was not fucking happy about this. Fact: I was grateful for having a washing machine to be able to take care of the problem. Gratitude is…