How To Be More Grateful (And Feel Happier!)
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- čas přidán 2. 11. 2022
- Did you know that being thankful for simple things can make you feel happier? In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness.
Author A.J. Jacobs took this to the next level for his book ‘Thanks A Thousand’, in which he documents his journey to thanking every single person involved in producing his morning cup of coffee.
And it got me thinking: when do I even pause to see the beauty in the mundane, and express gratitude for it? The towel in the shower, the chair I’m sitting on?
It’s so easy to take those things for granted and focus instead on what we feel is lacking.
But, as the Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast pointed out, happiness does not lead to gratitude. It’s the other way around: gratitude leads to happiness.
So how do you practice gratitude? How can you show your appreciation for everyday mundane things more often? That’s what I discuss in this video.
Enjoy!
Resources mentioned in video:
• A.J. Jacobs - Thanks a Thousand: www.amazon.com/Thanks-Thousan...
• David Steindl-Rast - Want to be happy? Be grateful (TED Talk): www.ted.com/talks/david_stein...
• Giving thanks can make you happier: www.health.harvard.edu/health...
- LINKS -
☕️ Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/petercook
♪ TikTok: / slowlivingminimalist
🖼 Posters: iampetercook.gumroad.com/l/po...
💻 Try Skillshare for free for 1 month: www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/...
📚 Interesting books to read:
• Stoicism For Beginners: a.co/d/hPU8GTX
• Minimalism 101: a.co/d/bJkA6Lt
• Declutter Your Life: a.co/d/carqttB
DISCLAIMER: Some of the links are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. - Jak na to + styl
What are _you_ thankful for?
My family and iPad🙏
A few years ago I missed my flight and had to wait six hours in the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport. I walked, bought a book to read, ate lunch and dinner, and finally resorted to riding the train. As usual, people were avoiding eye contact and had the normal bored, irritated, or exhausted look of travelers, likely thinking about their final destination.
Suddenly an excited three year old boy hopped on with his family, and everything changed. He couldn’t contain his excitement! This wasn’t boring and necessary transport. This was an adventure! His joy and non-stop enthusiasm changed the moods of every passenger as he spoke to everyone and talked about everything magical that was happening.
I remember thinking, I’m not stuck in an airport. I’m practically at Disney World! I’m fortunate they gave me a new flight at no cost. I’m lucky I can even afford to fly and purchase comforts like food and books. I’m lucky I can ride this monorail train! Oh, if we only saw through eyes of three year olds, we might enjoy being grateful and present in the moment more often.
What a wonderful story, thanks for sharing, Rebecca! 😀
It reminds me of something that happened with my young niece a few years ago. I was having a chat with my sister-in-law in the garden, it was getting dark. So she lit a few candles, those simple tea-light candles. I hardly took notice, and we continued our conversation.
All of a sudden I heard a loud WWWWWOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!! right next to me. It was my little niece, standing next to me, in her pajamas. Mesmerized by the light of the candles! My sister-in-law and I were both dumbstruck for a few seconds, surprised as we were by my niece's excitement. And then we started laughing.
That's another illustration of the point you made. When we are young, we explore the world around us with great excitement. Everything is still new, and surprises await us around every corner. But as we grow up, we focus more and more on the bigger things. And as a result, we stop noticing the beauty in the smaller things that are around us every day.
Thanks for bringing this story back to mind, Rebecca! 🙌🏻
What a lovely story, Rebecca! THANKS!
I am thankful for the day. Each is a present to be opened. Sometimes it seems that its the worst present ever sent to me and I get no joy from it no matter how I look at it. Those days can't be sent back so I ride them out.
More often than not the day is full of learning situations, the teacher being a child or an elderly person. Sometimes it is someone who is being sterotyped who dares to be bold and breaks out.
People are facinating and I am grateful that I have the moments in my day to observe.
Well put, thanks for sharing! 😀
Sometimes I’m only thankful when I see someone worse off than me, that’s a terrible way to be and I’m working to stop doing it. This came along at the right time thank you 🙏.
Glad you found the video helpful. Good luck, Steve! 🙌🏻
What a wonderful message. I’m thankful for you Peter, your message, your moulding of it, all the people that inspired you to develop it, and this platform for giving us access to it.
Thank you! 🙏🏻
Thank you for this, I have been struggling lately to be present
You're welcome, Sophie! I hope you'll find a way to be more present. 😀
A brilliant reminder, thank you Peter xx
You're welcome, Davina!
Thank you! I am learning a lot from your videos. Keep them coming. From the other side of the world, The Philippines.
Happy to hear the videos resonate with you! 😊
What a lovely perspective. You’re absolutely right, and I’m going to adopt this. I’ll let you know when I actually achieve it! I’ll take incremental progress to the goal. Thank you for this message!!
Good luck with cultivating more gratitude in your life, Julie, and keep me posted! 🙌🏻
Thank you, Peter.
You're welcome, Teresa! 😀
Besides all the obvious stuff, like my husband and son, I find myself thankful that I have spaces in my home where I feel comfortable and can just be. I love sitting on my couch in the morning before everyone has woken up. I curl up and read my Kindle. I never gave much thought to all the labor that went into my comfy couch or Kindle though... That's a refreshing twist. I also like the idea of looking for things in unexpected places.
Happy to hear you found that helpful! I also didn't give much thought to the whole supply chain start-to-finish of things I use on a daily basis until I read A.J. Jacobs' book. 😉
PS - looks like there’s no editing. I accidentally erased the most important word in the below: It’s the EXPRESSION of the feeling of gratitude that turbocharges it
You should be able to edit a comment, if you click on the 3 small vertical dots. 😉
@@IAmPeterCook Tried that, but It wouldn’t let me. I even tried to delete it and start over. Oh well !
I really enjoy your channel, Peter! Thanks for the great content!
Glad you enjoy it, Viviana! ✨
Great video as always Peter, your videos get straight to the point and are easy to digest. I hope you continue to make great content like this!
Thanks Joshua! 😀
Great video
I recently stumbled upon your videos and you bring me so much peace and joy. I am really grateful for you and your contributions to my crazy life. I am now starting my journey on slow living and this reminder to be thankful is a great way to keep me on the right track. Thank you, Peter.
Thanks for the kind words, Rue! I'm happy to hear the videos on my channel contribute to you living more slowly. Good luck, I'm rooting for you! 😀
Exactly right! And if you’re a believer, thank the Creator of coffee or, as in my case, tea!
Absolutely, Tanya. Enjoy your tea! 🫖
Thank you for making this video.
My pleasure, Neil. Glad to hear you enjoyed watching it! 🙏🏻
Great message❤
Thanks Linda! ✨
Thank you so much for the new video, waiting always on your new videos
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻
Thanks for the advice Peter! 🙂
Glad you found it helpful, Christina! ✨
Very cute . Great idea to do for me .
Good luck! 🙌🏻
Excellent topic and presentation as always Peter! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! [Oh wow…I really DO feel better - this actually works!! 😁].
For myself, I’ve found it’s the of the feeling of gratitude to the entity that triggered it is what really sets-up the positive feedback loop. People now seem to be so focused trying to capture on Instagram what looks like them having an awesome time that an actual connection with somebody who is obviously paying attention them in real time leaves them speechless. I consider the ability to sincerely express gratitude in real time a personal Superpower because it is seemingly so rare but has such a positive effect.
That's indeed a superpower, David! We're wired for connection and that can only truly happen when it's expressed in real time. Glad you enjoyed the video! ✨
This is a lovely video Peter! It's so easy to focus on the negative and trying to find solutions to problems etc. I am going to do my best to follow your wonderful advice, have a wonderful weekend 🌷🌱🙏🌿🌷☕️
P.S. I noticed you included footage of that delicious meal 🍴🍜 😋
Thank you, Rosemary, and good luck! 😀
@@IAmPeterCook Thanks, ha ha, I probably do need you to wish me luck since I woke up this morning after watching your video late last night and have been drinking my coffee and completely forgot about my intention to be grateful! Good thing you have reminded me again by wishing me luck - Have a nice day!!
Peter, do you mind me asking what accent you have? I keep thinking I can place it, but then I realise I have no clue. Thanks from Darwin 🎉
It's Dutch 😉
Oh, never in a million years would I have picked that. I’d settled for Danish or German. At least I was guessing the right continent. Thank you 🙏
👏👏👏🙏💫👌
Your voice is like the Character in Game of Thrones , Little Finger .
Ha, so I've been told by others, too! 😂
you seem to eat far too much pasta
There's no such thing as too much pasta! 😂
It's called enjoying life and not being so judgemental 😂