{"id":6941,"date":"2012-01-09T03:57:10","date_gmt":"2012-01-09T10:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/robertfagan.com\/?p=6941"},"modified":"2012-01-09T01:04:30","modified_gmt":"2012-01-09T08:04:30","slug":"thanks-outside-the-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/coaching\/6941\/thanks-outside-the-box","title":{"rendered":"Thanks Outside the Box"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>What if we all “thanked outside the box?”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s pretty easy to be thankful for grandchildren or nurturing grandparents, lovers, successes, good health, sunsets and the like.\u00a0 Those things that bring us joy and comfort, convenience and safety are the first things that come to mind when we consider our blessings.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But what about thanking the homeless people who come to the shelter where you volunteer? \u201cIndividuals who do volunteer work sometimes speak of the benefits they receive from service,\u201d writes Robert Emmons in his forthcoming book, Thanks! \u201cSince service to others helped them to find their own inner spirituality, they were grateful for the opportunity to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taking this idea a bit further, what if you were to become thankful for a business or job failure, a divorce, the loss of a loved one, or an illness, etc.?\u00a0 Each of us has a variety of ways we can look upon, perceive, and react to whatever happens to us.\u00a0 Our beliefs are formed by this process and they are never really right or wrong, and can be quickly changed.\u00a0 If we stretch ourselves and \u201cthank outside the box\u201d we might view that the person who does us harm teaches us forgiveness or helps us appreciate our own vulnerability.\u00a0 That failure in some activity may lead us to something even better or help us get back on track provided we are open to that perspective.\u00a0 While there is much pain in losing a loved one, their departure can emphasize for us how precious life is, or the gifts they gave us while we enjoyed them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Use your imagination to thank outside the box and explore and develop this more advanced form of gratitude.\u00a0 Pretty soon, your gratitude muscles and sensitivity will be stronger and healthier and your focus more effective.\u00a0 You will attract a higher energy to you and we may actually increase the level of love and goodness in the world by inspiring loving acts in ourselves and others.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Remember that it\u2019s never too late to finish strong!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bob Fagan is a Management Consultant and Coach and can be reached at rsf4653@aol.com.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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