A Blissful Life 10/29/24: The Power Of Gratitude

“What am I grateful for?” If you come to Ocean Bliss Yoga or if you’ve been reading my column for a while, you know that each month we have a studio focus. This November, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we will be paying special attention to Gratitude.

I invite you to think of a time when you were truly and deeply grateful. Close your eyes and put yourself back in that moment. As you recall the details, can you also remember how you felt in your body? Let yourself feel deep gratitude now. Breathe.

As you just experienced, gratitude is so much more than saying, "thank you”, in fact, this sensation has the power to change our perspective of our world. Gratitude is an uplifting emotion, similar to appreciation, that helps us focus on the positive aspects of our life, turning the little that we may have into abundance. We are in a state of gratitude when we recognize and acknowledge the good things that happen.

You may naturally feel grateful for profound life experiences or events, and this is wonderful! In addition, you can dive deeper and start appreciating the simple, everyday gifts and pleasures that can sometimes go unnoticed. In doing this, you move from experiencing moments of gratitude to living in a state of gratitude. By focusing on gratitude daily and recognizing the small things that you have to be thankful for, you turn gratitude into a personal character trait.

When we are grateful, we recognize the goodness in our life, as well as the goodness outside of ourselves— in other words, we recognize the good fortune that came to us, and the outsider (our creator, other people, animals, nature, the world, etc.) that brought it our way.

Studies that involve practicing gratitude show that it can be effective in pulling us out of a slump, helping us build and maintain relationships with others, increasing our life satisfaction and sense of happiness, giving us greater mental, emotional, and social wellbeing, helping us to forgive, and supporting us in overcoming addiction, anxiety, and/or depression (to name a few).

This month, I challenge you to make gratitude your attitude! Some ideas to bring more gratitude into your life include: creating a gratitude list and keep it where you can see it, gratitude journaling, acknowledging those you are grateful for through writing a letter, calling them on the phone, or paying them a visit, meditating (to help you decrease your stress and connect with the things you are grateful for), and/or practicing feeling gratitude in your body.

In prioritizing gratitude this month, you will do good for yourself and others! As you take the time to be grateful and express your sincere appreciation to others, you pass on this healing emotion. Investigations conclude that someone who experiences gratitude when they receive something from another is more likely to extend that help to someone else in the future. Additionally, people who are thanked for their deeds are more apt to continue to do good for others.

With that, I invite you to come explore and practice gratitude in community. Join Ocean Bliss Yoga classes and workshops all month to align body, mind, and heart! New November workshops have just been added to the schedule. Browse and sign up at oceanblissyoga.net. Call or text me with any questions at 917-318-1168. We are located on the 3rd floor of the Belle Harbor Yacht Club. Parking available in the lot downstairs. All are welcome!