If Gratitude Was a Goal

If Gratitude Was a Primary Goal, how would it change your life? Consider how much your current goals result in gratitude every day. What if our lifestyle was changed to make feeling gratitude every day primary?

Now most people wake up with their “to do list” ringing loudly in their ears. There are first the morning routines and then off to our obligations. We put in numerous hours to fill our obligations and hopefully move our life forward. At the end of our day we might be recounting our results and happy the day is over.

What Gives Us Gratitude?

What if we started thinking about those items that would give us gratitude if we engaged? What if our day allocated time blocks to gratitude creating activities? If our goal was not promotion, making more money, buying a house, or retiring, what would we be thinking about?

What if our goal was self actualizing by making our life better through becoming better in our most valued activities. What are some gratitude inducing activities? Learning, creating, exercising, teaching, caring, and health. If we improve who we are each day and find happiness in that pursuit, how would it affect the other activities that seem to be our obligations?

The secret is to blend the two. Can your activities that improve who you are also be included with your obligations. Each day I start by writing. It is who I am. Each day I look to include exercise I love. That is who I am. I love my work so any effort on its behalf is supporting my survival and furthering my contribution to the whole.

What Are You Thinking at the End of the Day?

At the end of the day, I always want to say that was a good day and I will have the same good day tomorrow. Each day I am including the activities that give my life purpose and define who I am. I am a writer. I am an exerciser. I am a teacher/coach. I am healthy. My “to do list” comes after my important contributions to my goal of fulfilling my purpose.

We try to achieve for many reasons. We may think achievement rewards us with the monetary and psychological gifts which we desire. This should be true. If it isn’t happening, something is out of alignment. Achievement and contribution both stimulate happiness brain chemicals. These chemicals are designed to induce us to become better and enhance our chances of survival. This has been Nature’s guiding hand since we began as a species.

Finding our joy in improving our chances of survival is the joy of thriving. Those activities that enhance our survival and create gratitude that we can engage in these activities is the synchrony we want in our lives. These activities are going to be work, health, contributing, and caring. Each of these stimulate happiness brain chemicals when they express who we are and contribute to others.

How Does Your Life Feel Now?

Is this how our life is now? What needs to be changed? What could we add to our daily schedule that would further these more subjective goals. When we stimulate happiness brain chemicals we also bring along gratitude. Understanding “flow” and how to get more in our lives is peak performance and happiness.

“Flow” is engaging in activities that challenge us to improve even if its just by 4%. That is the number Stephen Kotler, author of the Rise of Superman about extreme athletes, says is sufficient to enter the state of flow. In it, we are engaging in an activity in which we have competence and pushing to become better. The brain supports our activities with dopamine and a hose of other neurotransmitters and hormones to help us reach peak enjoyment.

Getting into flow every day is a sure path to gratitude. You are thankful for the day’s fun and look forward to the next day. Writing, bike riding, and teaching keep me in flow. I am always looking to improve my capabilities with each. They define who I am. They keep me moving forward. They have no ceilings. They keep me in touch with my emotions, intellect, spirit, body, and Nature. I can’t imagine living differently.

Lifestyle Posts:

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Making Gratitude a Primary Goal

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Fitness Changes Your Life

How Important is Spirituality in Your Lifestyle?

Is Job Hunting More Important than Life Hunting?

Lifestyles that Prioritize Fitness and Happiness

Self-Actualization as a Primary Goal

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Gratitude should be a primary goal. It changes the orientation of our lifestyle from working to do lists and pursuing goals that may take time to feeling happy each day with where we are. It is the ultimate “be here now” feeling. It can be part of every day with our choice. Gratitude is thoughts and we can have them now. Take an inventory. Take it several times a day and especially when you are troubled or feeling sorry for yourself. Learn how to make it a daily practice and change your days dramatically.

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Happiness is more achievable than most people realize. It is not as complicated was we seem to learn when we are young. We can have it right away without first achieving some life goal. Learn more Available on Amazon as E-Book for $2.99 or Paperback for $6.95

Read my new book Self-Leadership. It is about time management and how to create a life that is meaningful to you and will make you more productive and employable at the same time. Available on Amazon. E-Book for $2.99. Paperback for $6.95