When I began my journey to gratitude, it seemed easy to find examples of kind acts by people, fun pet moments, memorable acts of generosity between individuals, and so forth, but as this pandemic drags on I am observing more stress, more anger and frustration, greater impatience, visible sadness, signs of depression, instances of hopelessness, and fits of intolerance all around me. It is hard to stay grateful each and every day when you see and hear stories of death and dying, fights on airplanes and in shops over wearing or not wearing masks, lack of clarity on what will happen when school begins again, red States and blue States, and political disagreements.

How in the world does one stay grateful and joyful when there seems to be pain and sadness all around?

Do all of you sense this uneasiness from many people throughout your days as well?

I feel like I am an observer in a poorly produced movie.

I want to assume some responsibility to motivate all of my readers and to share even just a little bit of joy and hope to you.

So, I study and read various literatures to search for answers and processes to present to you to help us get through this very confusing, perplexing, and bewildering time in our lives. Here is some information which you may find useful:

1. Expressing gratitude can improve your mood and lower your rate of stress and depression.
2. Gratitude helps reduce your anxiety and improve your relationships.
3. Gratitude improves your sleep, and boosts your immunity.
4. Gratitude decreases your risk of disease.
5. Gratitude soothes your nervous system.
6. Gratitude helps people feel happier.
7. Gratitude improves your health.
8. Gratitude restores in you an inner peace.
9. Gratitude brings joy and praise.
10. Gratitude leads to a renewal of your inner self.

MY CONCLUSION is:

If I can boost my immune system right now, sleep better, feel more joy and peace and less stress, minimize any additional disease in my body, and achieve an inner peace, I believe that’s a great payoff to me. What do you think?

The above benefits from staying in a State of Gratitude are more fully described and explained in web sites such as:

http://www.nationwidechildrens.org under gratitude

http://www.psychologytoday.com under comfort-gratitude

http://www.mayoclinic.org

http://www.countryliving.com under life and inspirational stories

http://www.health.harvard.edu

http://www.positivepsychology.com under the neuroscience of gratitude

This posting gives you ten (10) reasons to stay in a State of Gratitude. How to get in this State will be described in another posting.

My very best to all of you as you try to achieve this. Remember to focus on the ten (10) benefits above to give yourself the motivation. I am. Again….. consider the benefits:

If I can boost my immune system right now, sleep better, feel more joy and peace and less stress, minimize any additional disease in my body, and achieve an inner peace, I believe that’s a great payoff to me.

What do you think?

#gratitudeultra