Special Guest Author - Sarah Robinson

Today's article was graciously contributed by Sarah Robinson. Sarah is CEO of Everyday Alchemy Coaching and Consulting and holds a unique view of gratitude.

Sarah is a regular contributor to a marketing forum to which we both belong. I have admired the insight of her posts as well as her own Blogger presence: http://everydayalchemy.blogspot.com. I encourage you to visit Everyday Alchemy for a frequent dose of Sarah's unique insights.

Thank you, Sarah!
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An Attitude of Gratitude

I was introduced to whole concept of gratitude when I was in my mid-twenties. At the time, I thought my life was pretty miserable-so miserable that I complained about it loudly and a great deal. A friend of mine suggested that I make a Gratitude List. “A what?” I remember replying with great indigence. “I have nothing to put on a list like that.” He kindly replied, “Well then, you are the most pitiful person I know,” and left it at that.

Needless to say I did not like being called pitiful, so I stuck my lip out, pulled out a piece of paper and grumbled through my very first attempt at a Gratitude List. Much to my dismay, I felt better after writing down about five things. I called my friend. “You stink,” I said. “You’ve ruined a perfectly good self-pity party.” He laughed-and then I laughed, for the first time in ages.

What is the secret of gratitude? What transformational magic does it hold that can turn around the most dismal of attitudes? I believe gratitude’s power mainly lies in its ability to get us to stop thinking about ourselves for 30 seconds-our woes, our cares, our burdens, how unfair everyone and everything is. For the most part, we humans are really skilled at complaining. It is so easy-because we do have woes, cares and burdens, and life can be unfair most of the time. In spite of those facts, we still have much to be grateful for-especially if we live in the free Western World.

I can hear the Yeah Buts already. I know life can hand us a raw deal. I know that the pain can be tremendous. I know because I’ve been there and it is exhausting. As I see it, though, we can choose one of two paths: 1) Wallow in all that self-pity and continue to be miserable or 2) Make a conscious choice to find something-anything-that we appreciate in our daily lives. Which kind of person do you want to be?

By choosing to look at all that we have rather than all that we don’t have, we choose to short-circuit (even if only for a little while!) our self-pity mechanism. For the magic to really stick, though, gratitude has become an active part of our daily lives. For example, the friend I mentioned above has a daily habit of writing out a gratitude list-whether he feels like it or not. That is active gratitude. So is doing something nice for somebody else. Look around. It won’t take you long to find someone who is worse off than you are. Lend a helping hand, whether you feel like it or not. Put your heart into it and your heart will feel lighter. With time and practice, gratitude will become part of who we are and how we interact with the world will be forever changed.



Sarah Robinson is CEO of Everyday Alchemy Coaching and Consulting. Visit her blog at http://everydayalchemy.blogspot.com/ or email her at sarah at everydayalchemy.com.

What Is Gratitude Cubed?

To paraphrase Mohatma Ghandi,

"There is not a way to gratitude, gratitude is the way."

It's been said that gratitude is the currency of Life.

Spending this type of currency is what Gratitude Cubed (G3) is all about.

I don't mean life with the small "l" but rather Life with the capital "L."

Small "l" ife is that part of our existence that we see, touch, smell, experience, and account for each day we are alive. It is explainable. We can see it in the cause and effect relationships that fill our days.

Capital "L"ife is that portion of our existence that is unseen, nonsensate, and yet we experience this aspect of living every day as well. It isn't something we can't point to, label, categorize, or stratify. But, still, it is real.

What I've come to believe is that gratitude and the way we interact with it makes "L"ife more tangible.

Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian, spiritual author and speaker, puts it this way:

"When we commit ourselves to serving Life--not our personal, individual needs
and wants, but to serving Life Itself--Life will lead and support us."

I believe that there are three levels of gratitude. As we progressively live with gratitude, we become higher beings; not like angels or spirit guides, but rather higher versions of ourselves.

I believe this is what all humans strive for whether or not they're able express it.

G1 - The first level of gratitude. Most of us were taught to be thankful for what we receive. And for most, this is where our reltaionship with gratitude stays. But what if there were additional levels of gratitude? What would it be like if, by interacting at higher levels of gratitude, ourlives were elevated to higher planes of reality, possibly into the realm of the miraculous?

But there is more.

G2 - The second level of gratitude is expressing gratitude for the good even when it is difficult to see.

For example, when I became a single parent a few years ago, life was difficult. Add to the already emotionally charged mix an extended period of unemployment and you can see how difficult it was to see the good in any part of that situation.

And yet I knew, throughout the initial battle with depression, extended joint-counseling with my young son, and the often stressful court appearances that were required, that there was some unidentified, unknown element that was intended for my greater good.

Although I didn't believe it one-hundred percent, but instinctively I knew it had to be true. Believing this eventually opened my life to greater accomplishment, terrific new people with whom I associate, and a greater sense of compassion for those around me.

And I'm convinced that there is yet another layer, a higher plane of gratitude for us to discover.

G3 - The third level of gratitude is where miracles take place. It is where gratitude exists as part of our character. It isn't dependent on the good we receive or the gratitude associated with the good hidden within the bad.

Instead, it is a daily interaction with "L"ife to the extent that those around us associate something almost supernatural with our presence.

I know a few people like this. You probably do too.

I know that when I'm around them, the quality of my life is elevated. I feel better; I am better. And this much I know; I want to be like them.

And I'm willing to walk the path to find out.

Join me?

Peace.

Barry @ G3