If we 'thank' while we 'think' (we think better)
the 3 actions of gratitude that will give you a happiness advantage (and it can all start with your morning cup of coffee)
‘Living in a state of gratitude is the gateway to grace’ adrianna huffington
The happiness advantage is the key to a more sustained and happy life and in todays news, I wanted to really impart what it means to live this through gratitude (for even the smallest thing like your morning brew)
It all began with savouring my morning coffee. I purchased as usual from my local store, I thanked the lady at the till for making my coffee with love and care. I then carried it to my table and looked at the neat coffee cup and lid designed to perfectly fit in my hand hold without scorching me.
Then I moved my attention to the pattern the barista had put on top. The neat swirls of intricate patterns with clear definition to appeal with art was astounding. The milk that had been frothed to the extreme. As I sat there, I closed my eyes and took in the aroma, it felt good. I tasted the coffee and swirled it around in my mouth to fully feel it, this coffee was truly exceptional. But what had made this coffee experience so much better than any of the other numerous occasions before?
The truth : It’s because I was thankful as I was thinking, in fact I was thankful too whilst ‘doing’.
- how many people do you think had been involved with that coffee bean journey to my local coffee shop? It was like the coffee, it wasn’t just one bean, it was many beans. In fact over 1000 people would have been involved in delivering that slice of heaven. Boy…was I grateful now.
How do I know ?
A J Jacobs did the work and thanked all the people responsible for his morning coffee from the barista to the farmers to the truckers to the people that laid the road for the truck to drive on, it was 1000’s of people and I felt it perfectly captures how gratitude works and how grateful we should be.
Why? because the simplicity of a morning brew really has a stack of people behind it. Yet, I had never considered it before…I had taken it for granted until now.
Numerous studies show that what we should be thankful for we take for granted and this slowly ebbs away at our happiness. Happiness is a measure of our gratitude and most of society is chasing the wrong goal. Society says work harder, you’ll get success and you’ll be happy but in reality you could just be happy right now with the practice of gratitude.
So, what exactly does the science of happiness say?
Happiness is linked to gratitude, numerous studies have shown this to be true. Dr Robert Emmons has conducted studies on gratitude and its link to happiness for well over 10 years. In one of his experiments, he gave 300 people journals and divided them into groups
One group wrote about happy things they were grateful for
One group wrote about things they were annoyed
and the final group wrote about whatever popped into their heads, football, batman…you get the picture.
Emmerson found that those who wrote about things they were grateful for had a much higher well being than the other group, they also slept better and exercised better.
So, lets get to those 3 actions of gratitude that will unlock your most happiest life, here’s the gold…
#1 Start to feel an appreciation in everything you do as you go about your day. So your morning brew, how many people made it for you?
#2 Act on your authentic gratitude – write a thank you note, thank someone in person for everything they have done for you, , send flowers, show appreciation. Give thanks and say thanks to the army of individuals that serve you through your day…
#3 Write 3 columns in a gratitude journal – with an overall title ‘things I am grateful for’. Make 3 columns people, things, places. Give gratitude to those things on a daily basis through action and at the end of week assess how you feel about your happiness. Guaranteed if you have followed through on both the writing and the action, you will feel an overall greater sense of happiness.
In summary, the key to a great life is the discovery of happiness. A deep seated happiness for the simple things as you go through your daily life. When I say simple it’s about uncovering all the hidden masterpieces that sit behind people, places and things. Discovering that the one coffee bean actually had a thousand individuals delivering it to you, understanding that the plastic lid was actually designed for you. It could be as simple as saying thank you to the florist you bought flowers from, or perhaps it’s a more deeper thanks to a family member on how their unwavering support is truly appreciated. Giving thanks and being actively grateful will make you a happier individual all round.
In acknowledgment of the brilliant strive4higher community + my amazing mum who I am eternally grateful for, she loves without exception, gives with all her heart and smiles daily. Also acknowledging my amazing, wonderful friend Chrystel whose exquisitely designed journals have been helpful and steely in directing my daily gratitude, thank you Chrystel. Chrystel can be reached at https://plumdesignpublishing.com, ask Chrystel about her awesome journals.