This validates the very idea that we are what we think, or as French philosopher René Descartes put it, “cogito, ergo sum”. If you are more aware of your thoughts, you can stay in tune with what’s good and what’s bad – what you should practice and what you should not. As human beings, we have an innate attraction towards feeling good and the cultivation of feeling good is hugely hinged upon gratitude. The practice of gratitude is at the centre of the creation of the self because what you think about the most becomes replicated back into your life and positive emotion is cultivated by a positive response to the environment. The greater our capacity for genuine appreciation, the stronger our connection to our core, which houses intuition, boundless inspiration, and possibilities. A person creates whatever they want to create first in their mind and then lets that manifest in reality and that is a truly remarkable process, especially for creative individuals. You reach and can tap into your highest creative potential when you are being thankful for what you are able to create in the present moment..Over the years, several studies have focused on gratitude and how it can help you tap into many facets of your life, especially creativity. Gratitude has been described as the “quintessential positive psychological trait” by Wood and colleagues, as a “positive emotional reaction” by Tsang and colleagues, and as an "intrinsically rewarding state," essentially associated with happiness and positive mood by Emmons and Shelton. Furthermore, studies have proven there is a link between gratitude and creative problem-solving. When we experience positive emotions, we enhance our ability to solve problems and come up with more ideas for action. Any creative pursuit, any role that implores you to find answers that may not be already written down is simply easier when you’re able to embrace that progress doesn't happen overnight and that mistakes are a part of the process. When one approaches any setbacks and crises with gratitude, you are not denying the situation. It only means you are summoning your creative powers and being open to an epiphany to turn your crisis into an opportunity. Gratitude, like creativity, can be cultivated with practice. Through a daily gratitude practice, one can tap into and truly fulfill their creative potential at home, work, or play..A leading scholar on leadership and positive psychology at Michigan State University, Kim Cameron, discovered that workplaces that encourage more positive practices, such as showing gratitude and appreciation, improved not only happiness and productivity, but also creative thinking. One reason for the link between creativity and gratitude is that being grateful reduces stressors in our lives. When we are stressed, our thinking becomes more rigid, resulting in less creative thinking. According to stress-reduction expert Pete Sulack, gratitude can improve our innovative thinking because we are more present and grounded. As a result, to foster creativity, we must also foster a positive work environment in which we are less stressed and more grounded..Gratitude contributes to more than just creativity, in a sense, it can contribute to a more holistic individual who can be more present and supportive to their peers. That is the incredible, scientifically backed magic of gratitude. If you have an attitude of gratitude, you can enjoy the fruits of productivity and creativity. From a personal point of view, having been raised by a nonna who used to insist on things like please and thank you I can attest to the fact that gratitude works wonders. You should try it too…
This validates the very idea that we are what we think, or as French philosopher René Descartes put it, “cogito, ergo sum”. If you are more aware of your thoughts, you can stay in tune with what’s good and what’s bad – what you should practice and what you should not. As human beings, we have an innate attraction towards feeling good and the cultivation of feeling good is hugely hinged upon gratitude. The practice of gratitude is at the centre of the creation of the self because what you think about the most becomes replicated back into your life and positive emotion is cultivated by a positive response to the environment. The greater our capacity for genuine appreciation, the stronger our connection to our core, which houses intuition, boundless inspiration, and possibilities. A person creates whatever they want to create first in their mind and then lets that manifest in reality and that is a truly remarkable process, especially for creative individuals. You reach and can tap into your highest creative potential when you are being thankful for what you are able to create in the present moment..Over the years, several studies have focused on gratitude and how it can help you tap into many facets of your life, especially creativity. Gratitude has been described as the “quintessential positive psychological trait” by Wood and colleagues, as a “positive emotional reaction” by Tsang and colleagues, and as an "intrinsically rewarding state," essentially associated with happiness and positive mood by Emmons and Shelton. Furthermore, studies have proven there is a link between gratitude and creative problem-solving. When we experience positive emotions, we enhance our ability to solve problems and come up with more ideas for action. Any creative pursuit, any role that implores you to find answers that may not be already written down is simply easier when you’re able to embrace that progress doesn't happen overnight and that mistakes are a part of the process. When one approaches any setbacks and crises with gratitude, you are not denying the situation. It only means you are summoning your creative powers and being open to an epiphany to turn your crisis into an opportunity. Gratitude, like creativity, can be cultivated with practice. Through a daily gratitude practice, one can tap into and truly fulfill their creative potential at home, work, or play..A leading scholar on leadership and positive psychology at Michigan State University, Kim Cameron, discovered that workplaces that encourage more positive practices, such as showing gratitude and appreciation, improved not only happiness and productivity, but also creative thinking. One reason for the link between creativity and gratitude is that being grateful reduces stressors in our lives. When we are stressed, our thinking becomes more rigid, resulting in less creative thinking. According to stress-reduction expert Pete Sulack, gratitude can improve our innovative thinking because we are more present and grounded. As a result, to foster creativity, we must also foster a positive work environment in which we are less stressed and more grounded..Gratitude contributes to more than just creativity, in a sense, it can contribute to a more holistic individual who can be more present and supportive to their peers. That is the incredible, scientifically backed magic of gratitude. If you have an attitude of gratitude, you can enjoy the fruits of productivity and creativity. From a personal point of view, having been raised by a nonna who used to insist on things like please and thank you I can attest to the fact that gratitude works wonders. You should try it too…
