An Experiment In Gratitude - Dare You To Try It!
I'd like to share with you all a video that I really love. It's an experiment in gratitude! Check out the video here.
Did you know that gratitude is scientifically proven to increase your levels of warm, fuzzy happiness? 😁 That's why we have exercises in gratitude built into the Growth Path on 7 Cups! Members, you can access your Growth Path here.
It would be really cool if we could try out our own 7 Cups version of the experiment in the video and experience some of the goodness for ourselves. This is my challenge to you!
Here's how you can join in:
➀ Who is your special person? Think of someone who has had a positive influence in your life. It might be a friend, relative, teacher, health care professional, or even someone on 7 Cups! You can share who it is below in this thread.
➁ What would you say to them? Write them a letter. Again, you can post it here in the forum if you'd like to share. We'd love to see!
➂ Do it! If it's possible to do so, send them the letter! You could post it, mail it, or phone them and read it out, just like in the video.
➃ Post here to let us know how it goes! What was their response? How did it make you feel?
BE BRAVE - I dare you!
Post below to let me know if you're joining in!
I'm grateful for my boyfriend. He's my rock and he's always there when I need him
TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR ABUSE AND ASSAULT
The Issue of Gratitude In the Midst of Crisis
I would guess this is not an original idea. Lately I found myself watching slam poetry competitions and came across Kevin Kantor's "when you find your rapist in teh 'People You May Know' tab of Facebook" and I found myself following his path. I found my attacker in the same tab, though we share no mutual friends, we had both worked in the same fire department. At the time of the assault and for 20 years after I could only carry fear and hatred for that man. The years worn on and I began to use the emotional sensitivity and heightened awareness to fuel my clinical work in places as diverse as special needs offenders programs all the way down to head start programs. My sensitivity and awareness enabled me to reach some individuals that others could not. Sharing the same experiences is not necessary for a positive therapeutic relationship but it does lend a certain authenticity to my voice when I say "you don't have to do this alone."
So how to reconcile my sexual assault against the weight of the people I have been able to help because of what happened to me. I have no concept of the impact some of the boys and girls I served will have in the lives of others. What happened to me is a ripple in pond that continues to travel. It's my responsibility to make that ripple into a swell of love rather than a crashing wave of hatred.
I am grateful for my ongoing healing from what happened to me. Right now I am having some of the worst flashbacks I have had in the 20 years since the assault. I have to do a lot of self care and I allow myself to make use of clinical supervision and mentorship as often as I can. Despite being a crisis worker I frequently make use of the 7cupsoftea for support and places like 1in6.org when I am in need of professional support.
It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that I can feel gratitude, not for the negative event, rather for the opportunities for personal growth and the chance to have an impact in the lives of others that struggle. For years the negative feelings about the event kept any possibility of positive outcomes hidden even when I was looking. So yes, I am grateful to Alan. I hope he is able to reconcile in himself what he did and find some peace as well.
I wish you all peace and thanks for reading my story. J
I am grateful for my mother and husband who have always stuck by me,love me and have been my caretakers because I am chronically ill and disabled.I am grateful my husband saved my life when I was going to die from one of my illness.I am grateful he didn't listen to me at that time and called 911.I have written them letters in the past,but will again when I am able(having hard time writing due to pain,but will as soon as it eases up a bit).I am grateful for my dog too,who gives me love and always makes me smile.I am grateful for the great people here too.
I am grateful for the second chance.
Grateful for my husband who is supportive of me, 7 cups for helping me figure out myself
I am grateful for finally finding a good therapist that could help me with my depression and anxiety caused by verbal and emotional abuse while growing up.
Thank you all for being here on 7 cups
Today, I am grateful just for the gift of being alive.
I'm thankful for my life including my illness, learning to live with it, my family for being here for me as well as me for them.
I'm grateful today for my mom and husband for trying there best to get my truck running today.
