The Frequency of Gratitude

By Kirsten Antony R.N. ~

As we gather around to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, things may appear different from years’ past.  We may be missing loved ones surrounding us in our homes, our dinner table may have a reduced bounty of delicious foods and our thoughts may gravitate toward the losses we have endured this year instead of the blessings.  But, this is a season of gratitude and we more than ever need to focus on our blessings as life seems to devolve into sterile bubbles of separateness.  Our natural inclination as humans is to connect with each other.  We bond through touch, eye contact, our smiles and interactions.  As we continue the need to separate and keep our distance from each other, we can join together through our heart space with gratitude.  The practice of gratitude can keep us connected, in union, happy and healthy.

Gratitude can be thought of as the quality of being thankful.  We offer prayers of thanksgiving to the many blessings we have in our lives.  Gratitude is also one of the most powerful emotional frequencies and it has the dynamic ability to change the way we perceive the world around us.  By donning the proverbial “rose colored glasses” we literally bring awareness and light to our darkest days by raising our vibration to one of the highest frequency of emotions.  Through the practice of gratitude, we can learn to embody the highest frequencies of emotions such as love, joy and peace.

The health benefits of being in a state of gratitude are numerous.  Benefits can include: developing a stronger immune system, decreased pain levels, improved sleep and the increase of the “feel good” neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin.  Beyond physical health benefits, gratitude can help increase our empathy toward others and bring awareness through mindfulness approaches toward living life.  This awareness can bring about a higher state of consciousness and feelings of bliss.

To bring gratitude into our lives, a daily practice of gratitude is a good place to start.  The practice could include writing in a journal and accounting for at least three things every day that you feel blessed by.  Start with the simple things in life such as food and shelter.  Eventually expand out into the poetic such as gratitude for the beautiful colored leaves dancing in the cool autumn breeze.  Embodying gratitude is like a living prayer where we become grateful for all reality.  It is awareness of the pain we endure in life as well, but transmuting it into a lesson of living and seeing the light even in times of darkness.

Spending time in nature is a beautiful way to practice gratitude.  The great outdoors naturally lifts our mood through the release of negative ions from the soil, water and plants.  The beauty in nature is immense and boundless.  If we were to truly count all our blessings in nature, we would never come back inside.

Become aware of emotions and where they affect the body energetically.  Empowering the heart center with lovingkindness toward yourself through positive affirmations and prayers can expand the heart center energy.  This energy expansion of love and gratitude is contagious and is just what we need on the planet right now!   Working with practices such as yoga or qigong can elevate our energy naturally and help change any energetic patterns of low frequency energy to high frequency energy.

Random acts of kindness are a wonderful way to circulate gratitude.  I love inspirational “pay it forward” stories.  These random acts of kindness are never forgotten and encourage love, kindness and gratitude to spread.  Appreciation towards those that we love and kindness to strangers always has a positive impact.  We may never know the effect a small gesture of kindness has on another life.

2020 has been a year of so many rapid changes and shifts that have affected everyone all over the world.  We also have been awash with fear and anxiety and more polarized than ever before.  These changes can be overwhelming, but I am hopeful that as we learn to shift awareness to a higher frequency, we can rise above this current level of negativity and hatred and come together in harmony.  Be a force for love and understanding.  May your heart be filled with gratitude this holiday season!  Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Kirsten Antony

Kirsten Antony is a Registered Nurse and practices holistic nursing in the Denver area.  For more information, please visit:  www.kirstenantony.com or www.facebook.com/soultosoleholistichealthcare or call 303-668-8992.