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November 2012 Tip of The Month


11/20/12
Category: General
Back by popular demand: Gratitude Reduces Stress!

Thanksgiving is a traditional time of the year to focus on gratitude. Did you know that finding and dwelling in gratitude can significantly reduce stress? This is simple and easy to do with a "gratitude journal" and when you're done, you'll paradoxically feel that you have more time on your hands than you did before you started. Really. For a simple step by step on "how to", read more:
We've found the best time of day to make "gratitude journal" entries is either first thing in the morning or just before bed. If you choose before bed, do it the old fashioned way: a hand-written journal. The frequency of vibration of the pixels on your computer screen causes an increase in the "get it done" hormones which harms sleep quality and reduces the amount of renovation and repair your body receives during sleep.

In your journal, answer any or all of the following 4 questions as many times as needed to feel your stress level drop:

1. What happened today that was good for me, which did not occur due to my will, actions, efforts or resources?
2. What happened at any time in my life that was good for me, which did not occur due to my will, actions, efforts or resources?
3. What happened today that was good for me which, though my will, actions, efforts or resources may have been involved, never would have occurred unless something or someone else were involved too.
4. What happened at any time in my life that was good for me which, though my will, actions, efforts or resources may have been involved, never would have occurred unless something or someone else were involved too.

(See some sample answers below.)

One or two answers per day will have a cumulative effect which you may not notice immediately; approximately 5 to 10 per sitting will have a noticeable effect which begins within one to five days; 50 answers per sitting has never failed to have an immediate and noticeable stress reduction; 100 in a sitting and some people have found a new perspective on life! To keep it reachable, given our busy schedules, the 5 to 10 per day range works very nicely almost every time.

The most important element, regardless of the number of entries, is to invest a little time dwelling on the source of the blessing(s) that each answer reveals and its reality and positive impact in your life. If you miss a day, no problemo, just pick it up the next day you can. Having trouble restarting? Just review some of the ones you've already written. Also, having repeated answers on various days is fair game. What counts is dwelling on the source, reality and positive impact each time that gratitude item comes to mind. Lastly, quite often, one entry will beget several more in quick succession, so just take advantage of that phenomenon and jot down a couple of side notes before you finish the one you're writing so you don't lose them... you'll notice momentum building as you go. Many clients say that when working this gratitude journal, it's their favorite time of day.

Hyperbole you say? Remember that contempt prior to investigation will be sure to prevent you from benefiting. I am delighted to take phone calls or email from anyone who tries this... the stories are always so uplifting, a spiritual experience, really.

Sample answers:
1. The sun rose today. Again. Always. I couldn't stop it if I tried, obviously. I didn't plan it or invent it, I didn't pay for it, and I didn't maintain it. Yet I get light, heat, the benefit of the atmosphere with sufficient oxygen to breathe (remember the oxygen aspect of photosynthesis?) and don't forget... with no sun, no food is possible. I could go on, as could you.
2. When I was born, I had two parents who stayed in my life, even until today. A friend of mine when he was 8 years old almost witnessed the violent suicide of his dad. That created some problems. Problems which continue to this day. Problems I never had to deal with. I stand on the shoulders of all the love my parents gave, all their caring efforts (especially the efforts I didn't like at the time) and all their sacrifices. The view is great!
3. I drove over the Connecticut River on the Bulkeley Bridge today. Yes, I've always paid all of my taxes. But a lot of other people did, too, in order to finance the construction and maintenance of all the bridges, roads and highways I use daily to enable me to earn my living, visit family and friends, etc. And we have a system, though imperfect, to ensure that I can continue to do so.
4. A couple of years ago, I bought a Honda Accord. Never got a mechanical engineering degree or studied design. Never contributed anything to the initial startup of a billion dollars, plus or minus, that it took to tool up the factory to crank them out. Never had to reprimand a factory worker for a poor performance, etc., etc. Many people have devoted their entire educations and careers to the automotive manufacturing field so all I have to do is come up with a few grand and I get to drive relatively carefree for thousands and thousands of miles. (note: among others, this entry reminded me to make an entry about being grateful for the "Consumer Report's" annual car issue.)

Just think of it as grooming your grey matter on a regular basis to recognize and appreciate the full truth of your life, not just the seemingly urgent critical stuff that conspires with fear to get way more attention than it deserves.

I'm going to go back over my sample answers for a few minutes now and indulge myself in an accurate view of life.

Wellness... works!