Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Learning the Art of Gratitude


If I could offer you a pastry that would make you happier, healthier, more optimistic and more productive, and tell you that pastry creation (cake, cookie or what not) would cost nothing and will require only a few bite, would you be interested?

Let me put the question in a different manner.

If I have this pastry in my hand would you want some?

I know your answer would be a big YES! Unfortunately, I don't have a recipe for that pastry that will do these things. But each of us has something even better than a recipe for a pastry that will do all of those things and more.

It's gratitude.

Christmas is the best time to practice this, but it's not gonna hurt to practice this every time.


According to Gratefulness.org, GRATITUDE  is essentially the recognition of the unearned increments of value in one’s experience—the acknowledgment of the positive things that come our way that we did not actively work toward or ask for.  The International Encyclopedia of Ethics defines gratitude as “the heart’s internal indicator on which the tally of gifts outweighs exchanges,” a definition that echoes the notion of unearned increments.  The connection to the concept of gifts is a natural one. The Latin root of the word gratitude is grata or gratia—a given gift—and from this same root we get our word grace, which means a gift freely given that is unearned.

Nosebleed?  In simple words, it's a matter of saying THANK YOU.  

A speck of thankfulness, such as counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive definitely defines the word. But sometimes saying thank you may not be enough.  Gratitude has to come from within.


Notice and Appreciate Each Day’s Gifts

In the world of marketing and attending media (blogging) events, it is so easy to be ensnared by not being thankful, even with small stuff.  I've been begged not to open this up for the longest time, but I think it's time that bloggers know how a virtue of gratitude can really be worthwhile.

Blogging isn't my profession nor my bread and butter, so attending events can be both a risk or a fortune for me, it isn't for everybody, especially if you can't find time to blog each events you go to, much less receive tumblers or usb's as tokens for attending or blogging about the brand or happening.

Would you agree if I say that most of the time, gratitude should be a two-way street as well, especially in the media world?

Don't get me wrong, I know a lot of PR personalities who eventually became my friends, but still not all of them know the value of being grateful.

However, I still notice the love and even the simple stuff done for me that made me feel even a little special (coz I'm just that mababaw) even if it meant receiving Thank You's and even a tumbler.  Of course, as my way of thanking back is blogging about their products or programs.

Remember that when you are consciously aware of your blessings, and are grateful for them, you are focusing more clearly on what you do want in your life - and are attracting more of those things into your life.

So what's in it for us then, if we do value gratitude?

The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly limitless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they're thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.

Just like what my Pastor told us one Sunday- humility attracts grace.  Going down in the humility of gratefulness is accompanied by tons of blessings in forms of opportunities, finances and good relationships.  That's why thanking God in prayer times is pretty important for me.  Thanking God for everyday's fresh breath, sunshine, rain, roof on my head, food on our table, healthy family...etc, makes me see how He magnificently works out His plan for me.

Gastronomy by Joy is an advocate of Gratitude-practice



Ever since I started blogging, I've been a major practitioner of gratitude.  In fact, this blog wouldn't even last without being thankful to readers, to Google, to anyone who comes across this humble space in the net.  But I admit, I'm not a master to this value yet so if there were times I missed thanking anyone, please allow me, "Thank you!"

I've done a couple of ways to let people know how much I'm thankful of their generosity, their value of my time, for helping me be a better person, and of course for appreciating my blog posts.

This year alone, I've run a couple of Give-aways...



For the contest details check here
My last winner for 2015, Emiliana Singson of Luckfinds.com



A jar of home-made pesto for the Peppermint Kid Salon and Spa Event I hosted

Also, when I organize events, I make sure friends go home with special treats from Gastronomy by Joy's kitchen.

It matters to me, that everyone sees this blog as my way of being grateful to all that has happened in my life and I'll continue to do that in the coming years.  Seeing people happy by benefiting through my gratefulness is enough to say that I did something and in a way it also makes me HAPPY!

How about you?  Do give me feed backs on how well you practice gratitude...




1 comment:

  1. I know a lot of bloggers who doesn't even go out of their way to thank those who have invited them as if they are privileged. Thanks for the reminders.

    ReplyDelete

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