Security World

Original Security World illustration for this practical reflection. Gratitude can begin with a precise observation: someone listened, a tool worked or an ordinary comfort made a difficult day more manageable. Noticing that does not require declaring the whole day good. A useful practice leaves room for appreciation and dissatisfaction at the same time. Start with something specific “I should be grateful for everything” is a demanding instruction with little practical detail. “My friend checked in after a difficult meeting” names an event and the help it provided. Specificity makes the exercise more honest. You do not have to compare yourself with someone in worse circumstances to justify appreciation. Nor does needing material help reveal a failure to notice what is good. Money, housing, health and support can matter greatly even when someone also values ordinary moments. The 5-5-1 journal exercise The original Titan007 essay proposes a simple format: five minutes, five items an...

 Here's a snippet from the growing field of "gratitude research" to chew on: "Grateful people are happier, more optimistic, more satisfied with their lives," says Michael McCullough, a University of Miami psychology professor. "They are more empathetic toward others. We even have a bit of evidence that grateful people are viewed as kinder, more helpful, and more supportive than less-grateful people." --Jeff Diamant, Your mind tends to thank you for feeling so thankful, The Star-Ledger, November 26, 2003, How's that for an incentive to learn the fine art of being grateful? But there are far better reasons than just personal benefit to be gained from the practice of gratitude. The article goes on to say that the studies cited not only indicate an influence on the person as a specific entity but also that "the findings have potentially profound ramifications on society." I would imagine so - if you have ever found yourself unable to keep fr...

 Imagine that you are running away from a Nazi chase, and quite by chance, a stranger takes you under his wing. This stranger takes care of you all winter and provides you with food and shelter, even travels to other cities to deliver messages to your family, yet there is no expectation or hope that you will repay him. While your loved ones and loved ones are systematically trapped by Nazi fanatics, this stranger keeps you alive and nurtures your faith in humanity, offering you proof that amid widespread horror, many individuals still act with unlimited compassion and dignity. When you think about this stranger, what he risks and gains - how will you feel? You may experience a surge of positive emotions, a joy of relief that you do not have to worry about survival, and a sense of intimacy with the stranger who made it possible for you. Basically, these feelings can be described as gratitude... Gratitude as a feeling is celebrated throughout philosophy and religion. Recent scientifi...