** Disclaimer – The episode this week we used a different audio tool that caused a few audio issues, please bare with us as we have addressed them going forward. Thank you! ** 

Show Guest Ugo Eze:
Instagram: @reachue
Twitter: @reachue
website: ugoeze.com
Email: [email protected]

Short explanation of gratitude. 

·      It is one of many positive emotions, and just might be the most important of all the positive emotions. 

·      It focuses on what’s good in our lives and encourages us to be thankful for the things we already have that are not really to do with the materialistic world. 

·      It is showing an appreciation for all the little things in life we otherwise take for granted. 

What is the importance of gratitude? 

·      It increases the ability to enjoy and appreciate the good in life and generates positive emotions both for self and to others. 

·      It reduces materialism, which makes people more competent, and greatens the feelings of relatedness. 

o   Conversely, when you are materialistic, you feel less competent, less related, experience more negative emotions, and become more self-centered and arrogant. 

Gratitude and its impacts on mental and physical health.

·      Gratitude has been scientifically proven to help improve physical and mental health. 

·      It also improves sleep quality particularly when you use a gratitude journal before bedtime and take 15 minutes to jot down things you are grateful for. 

·      Gratitude improves self-esteem, and reduces aggression and other negative behavior traits like envy, jealousy, frustration, resentment, etc. 

·      There are studies that suggest gratitude also helps reduce stress and could play a major role in overcoming trauma. 

·      Gratitude helps you connect better with your spirituality, and in turn with the universe, which then the universe uses to reward you with an abundance of blessings and positivity

Tips for Listeners for Increasing Gratitude: 

·      Keep a gratitude journal

o   Write one thing or multiple things daily that you are grateful for (15 minutes before bedtime works wonders) 

·      Take anything challenging or difficult, and write one thing positive about it, and place your focus on that

·      Try using good manners more often, it’s not just something our parents taught us, it can literally open many doors for us to connect with the universe. 

o   Say “thank you” more and genuinely showing appreciation 

·      Before the new year, write down all that you want to release on a piece of paper, and burn it or throw it in the trash (please do this as safely as possible, I am not encouraging pyrotechnics)

·      Write down all the things you were grateful for this past year that you want to carry forward with you into the next. Keep that somewhere you can see it every day and add on to it as needed. 

Sources: 

1.     Demeter, Eric, and Tyler Huckabee. “Why Gratitude Is a Spiritual Discipline.” RELEVANT Magazine, 27 Nov. 2019, relevantmagazine.com/god/why-gratitude-spiritual-discipline/

2.     BodySoulMindSpirit. “Home.” Body And SoulMind And Spirit, 9 Mar. 2011, bodysoulmind.net/spiritual-law-of-gratitude.