One of my favorite things to do is...

One of my favorite things to do when I have free time is to go to Barnes and Noble to flip through books and magazines that look interesting.  That's how I came across Attitudes of Gratitude.  The book technically consists of 5 chapters but it's really a compilation of 60 short anecdotes about how to incorporate gratitude into your everyday thoughts.

These are some of my favorites quotes from the book so far:

Gratitude creates happiness because it makes us feel full, complete; gratitude is the realization that we have everything we need, at least in this moment.

All of us are free to change our minds, and as we change our minds, our experiences will also change.

One of the incredible truths about gratitude is that it is impossible to feel both the positive emotion of thankfulness and a negative emotion such as anger or fear at the same time.

Gratitude helps us track success, to notice what is right in our lives... instead of what is wrong.

And those are only from the first chapter!

We can't always control what happens in our lives but we can control how we think about and react to each situation.  For those of you that read my blog post from last week, you know that How you do one thing is how you do everything (for those of you that didn't, click here to read it now).  Doesn't it then make sense then that How you think about one thing is how you think about everything?  Thinking of all of the things that you have to be grateful for can change your entire mindset.

If you don't believe me, there's even scientific evidence* to back it up.  After counting their blessings for one week...

• 92% of people felt happier and 94% of people who said they were depressed felt less depressed.
• 90% of people found that expressing gratitude made them more joyful
• 84% said it reduced stress and depression, and helped create optimism
• 78% said it gave them more energy
• Research also shows that being grateful means you'll take better care of yourself.
• Folks who kept a weekly gratitude journal had fewer physical problems and exercised more regularly, ate better and got regular checkups

That's pretty incredible!  So what are you waiting for?  Start thinking about one thing that you're grateful for right now and watch how your perspective on everything changes... because How you think about one thing is how you think about everything. 

Have a great day!

*As quoted on Attitudes of Gratitude pgs 14-15