“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
I found myself in my home county, Kilkenny, in the South East of Ireland, over the weekend.
Our extended family had gathered to celebrate a BIG birthday for my mother (I’m not allowed to say the age as she reads this weekly email… 😉 )
We were blessed that the celebrations coincided with the sunniest day of the year. As a result we were outside all day until about 10pm – which as anyone in Ireland will tell you has been a rarity in 2024!
We had a great day filled with laughter, champagne, fun, food, photos, sun-cream, tears, jokes, gifts and stories.
For me, there were several pinch me moments of gratitude.
Gratitude is a funny thing. It’s really only a thought away. But I’ve learned the hard way, that if I’m not careful I can block gratitude of incredible things right in front of me. And that’s a slippery slope into a below-par state. A state that impacts my happiness, my clarity, my relationships, my business.
Some of the top benefits genuine gratitude brings include:
- Improved Mental Health
- Enhanced Relationships
- Better Sleep Quality
- Increased Resilience
- Physical Health Benefits
That’s a pretty powerful list of benefits! Any improvements in the above, in simple terms, mean a better you. And a better you does better in all aspects of your life.
Maybe this week consider taking a pause at the end of your day, and take a few minutes to deliberately reflect on, and maybe write down, what you have to be grateful for?
The mind needs to be managed carefully in this respect as, if left to its own devices, it can default to what’s wrong or missing in your life. This is inevitable to some degree but if you live from this point, it makes things heavier and more challenging. It distorts reality.
There’s a lot wrong with the world, but there’s plenty to be grateful for.
And a mind that is centred on gratitude, does better.
Best,
Shane
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The Inner Edge Podcast:
This week’s episode, Ep 178: Sleep, Anxiety & Power: An Interview With Fiona Brennan
Short, bite-sized nuggets of 10-12 minutes, designed to give you motivation and plenty of inspirational food for thought. Listen on my website here or on all major podcasting platforms.
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