What would your day be like if you started and
ended it by simply noticing all that you have in your life?
If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.
Gratitude is a natural high. When you live in tandem with
your spirit, appreciating all of life and what you have, you
discover more joy and kindness in the world. Miracles happen
everywhere all the time, but only those with an 'Attitude of
Gratitude' seem to notice them. This circle of peace grows
and you return to your natural state of joy, love and peace,
knowing you are whole and complete just as you are.
'Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the
parent of all the others.' ~ Cicero

The following is a list of the top ten reasons to adopt the Law
of Gratitude in your life:

One. Being in Gratitude Only Has Positive Side Effects.
Positive emotions make you feel good and offer a
sense of comfort. When we take a few moments to express our
appreciation inwardly or to another, immediately we begin to
feel happier, more relaxed, more optimistic.

Two. Feelings of Gratitude Provide Short-Cuts to Miracles.

Negative thoughts and feelings create an interruption in the
natural flow of life. When you are feeling positive and
grateful you accelerate what it is that you desire.
Consciously appreciating what you already have is the
short-cut to manifestation and the secret to personal
fulfillment.

Three. Thoughts of Gratitude Flood Your Body
with Immune-Boosting Endorphins.

Studies also provide evidence that a positive, appreciative
attitude enhances the body's healing system and general
health. When you hold feelings of thankfulness for at least
15 to 20 seconds, beneficial physiological changes take
place in your body. Levels of the stress hormones cortisol
and norepinephrine decrease, producing a cascade of
beneficial metabolic changes. Coronary arteries relax,
thus increasing the blood supply to your heart. And your
breathing becomes deeper, raising the oxygen level of your
tissues.

Four. Feeling Grateful Puts you Back into the 'Flow of
Life' at the Speed of Thought.

Thoughts create things. If you are feeling and
thinking positive thoughts, you create positive situations.
You draw positive people to you. Like attracts like.

Five. Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life.

Feelings of gratitude turn what you have into enough, and
more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,
confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast or a house
into a home. Gratitude makes sense of your past, brings peace
for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Six. Feelings of Gratitude Give You a 'Natural High'.

Grateful people tend to be more optimistic, a characteristic
that researchers say boosts the immune system. Studies
indicate that daily gratitude exercises result in higher reported
levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and
energy. Grateful people experience less depression and stress, are
more likely to help others, exercise regularly and tend to
make more progress toward personal goals. People who feel
grateful are also more likely to feel loved.

Seven. Gratitude Provides an Immediate Sense of Well-Being.

Gratitude, it turns out, can help us better manage stress.
Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of
thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping
people cope with daily problems, especially stress.

Eight. Feeling Grateful is the Main Cause of 'Sustained Joy'.

Focusing on the gifts one has been given is an antidote to
envy, resentment, regret and other negative states that
undermine long-term happiness. Joy is the simplest form of
gratitude.

Nine. The More You Give -- The More You Receive.

You always get more of whatever you appreciate.
When you express love, gratitude and sincere appreciation,
you naturally expand. Consciously appreciating what you
already have is the short-cut to manifestation and the
secret to personal fulfillment. The more you assist others,
the more you will assist yourself.

Ten. When You Are Genuinely Thankful Anger and
Fear Disappear.

One of the incredible truths about gratitude is that it is
impossible to feel both the positive emotion of thankfulness
and a negative emotion such as anger or fear at the same time.

To Practice This Thought:
? Be lavish in your gratefulness.
? Make gratitude a daily ritual.
? Be thankful for whatever
forces you to deal with your own strong emotions.
? Set aside an hour or two to do nothing much except be grateful.

Focus on what is working in your life and what IS right in
the world. It doesn't matter how small or seemingly
insignificant it may be. Before long you will notice that
more things will fall into place with little or no effort on
your part. Gratitude is a wonderful tool to use to feel good
fast.

Amirah ? 2006 All Rights Reserved.

You have permission to publish this article electronically
or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are
included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be
appreciated.