How does Gratitude make our lives better?
Dear Friend
Dr Hurtak tells us often that no matter the circumstances, be positive. But how can we be positive in the face of difficulties and challenges? As vicissitudes increase, this seems to be unattainable. So how do we go about it?
One of the foundations of a positive attitude is gratitude, which modern psychology tells us is an internal attitude where the experience of grace is able to manifest externally as thanksgiving and enhance personal happiness. The word ‘gratitude’ like ‘grace’ stems from the Latin gratia. All words from this root have to do with kindness, generosity, giving, and receiving what we have not earned.[1] The Happiness Doctor, psychologist Dr Sophia Godkin says: The secret to happiness is simple. And it begins with gratitude.[2]
Gratitude begins with thankfulness but these two words differ slightly as thankfulness is dependent upon external circumstances.[3] In a paper on gratitude by the Greater Good Science Center, Professors at UC Davis and UC San Diego, Robert Emmons and Michael E. McCullough are quoted defining gratitude as a two-step process: 1) “recognizing that one has obtained a positive outcome” and 2) “recognizing that there is an external source for this positive outcome.” The authors of the paper go on to say that while most of these positive benefits come from other people—hence gratitude’s reputation as an “other-oriented” emotion—people can also experience gratitude toward God, fate, nature, etc.[4] But is gratitude an emotion, virtue or behaviour? Living in a state of grace and acknowledging the grace that fills your life, whether experienced internally or demonstrated externally, allows us to overcome the duality of this reality we live in. For spiritually aligned people, gratitude to God and Higher Powers has been shown to result in more fulfillment in their spiritual practice and greater inner peace.
Research continues as to whether gratitude is either a personality trait (a disposition) or the result of cognitive factors (our thoughts impacting our moods). It appears to be a “complex cognitive and emotional phenomenon”[5] related to understanding how other people impact our happiness and help us to appreciate the good things around us. Interestingly, most studies appear to show that while woman display greater dispositional gratitude, men respond better than women to gratitude exercises like “counting your blessings”.[6] All studies, however, appear to show that living with an “attitude of gratitude” enhances personal well-being and leads to a happier more fulfilled life.
Interestingly, gratitude, like forgiveness, has been shown to impact our physical body. Neuroscience shows that many regions of the brain[7] are activated by gratitude[8]. These regions are involved in cognitive functions like higher-order thinking, decision-making, motivation and emotional awareness[9] and are currently being researched as to how they help to regulate emotion, decision-making and reward processing.[10] There are also changes in the posteromedial and insular cortices, medial prefrontal cortex, and nucleus accumbens when linked with the moral and social aspects of gratitude.[11] Zhan et al found[12] changes in the right anterior superior temporal cortex too, areas which relate to reward functions, emotion, memory. These physiological changes take place at the neuro-transmitter level creating happiness and contentment, according to Fox et al.[13]
Neurobiologically, regulation of the nervous system facilitates focus on positive thoughts, according to Wong et al.[14] In addition, they found activation within the limbic system helps to regulate emotions, memory and body functions, while boosting serotonin and dopamine from the brain stem helps us to feel good. It is well known that hormones like oxytocin are emitted when we hear stories about compassion.
Like forgiveness, gratitude can lower cortisol levels, suppressing the ‘fight-or-flight’ response of the sympathetic nervous system when stressed. It decreases headaches and lowers infection, dizziness, nausea, aches and pains and congestion. This helps us to feel relaxed, sleep well, have a better immune response and improved digestion and helps us to be emotionally resilient[15]
How can we aid in a cognitive rewiring of our brain through gratitude? If you are not naturally positively disposed, there are techniques to create gratitude such as self-appreciation which can lead to self-esteem and self-confidence; gratitude meditation (un/guided); thank you notes; gratitude pauses; gratitude journaling; gratitude visits; mentally thanking someone; counting your blessings; prayer; mindfulness; and acts of altruism.[16]
Gratitude is a predictor of mental well-being and higher life satisfaction, not only according to scientists, but also spiritual teachers from many traditions. Many psalms tell us to give thanks to YHWH, while Paul in 1 Philippians 4:11 assures the Philippians that he has learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Dr Hurtak affirms that gratitude allows the life force to flow through us continuously. Challenges in life prepare us as thinking humans to ask for Divine Help and to move into a positive Life path through Grace and Gratitude. Key 4-0-5[17] tells us to open up the vital receptors of our hearts to see all the gifts bestowed upon us including divine synchronicities, and verse 659 tells us “Gratefulness transforms what we think we have into something greater through the Grace of the Divine.” Gratitude enables us to recognise order in chaos and abundance in limitation as our perspective of the world around us is changed, bringing forth Praise and Thanksgiving. Expressing thankfulness in advance is the way of the True Higher Intelligence.
Gratitude is the best gift we can give ourselves – the antidote to feeling a lack of abundance – we need to appreciate what we have been given. All will be provided to us by the Divine, through Faith, as we rejoice in Gratitude[18]. In fact, we do not have to wait for a thing to happen and then give thanks. Give thanks before it happens; an act of extraordinary Faith. Let us never feel the absence of Divine Grace as Key 4-0-9[19] reminds us that:
211 Christ’s Presence on Earth has allowed the material dimension to be continually elevated in Thanksgiving, which is the meaning behind the Greek term Eucharistia, the Eucharist … 212 The higher Eucharist is where “praise” is given and we are elevated into the Divine Vibrations of Life whether in the body or in a greater Cosmic Harmonic of Experience. 227 We know this is […] a state of mind within, to share Eternal Thanksgiving and Praise.
Servant of God, Dorothy Day[20], affirms this inner state saying, “the first word my heart will utter when I face my God is ‘Thanks’”.
We pray O Beloved Yahweh Yireh that we come to know our mission in the sharing of Divine Love and Wisdom, key to the Prayers of Thanksgiving, so that we too may develop that state of mind within.
With Love,
[1] https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Gratitude-FINAL.pdf
[2]https://www.thehappinessdoctor.com
[3] https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/#hero-single
[4]https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Gratitude-FINAL.pdf
[5] https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/#hero-single
[6]DOI:10.5772/intechopen.106297
[7] https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/#hero-single
[8] Ibid
[9] https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/does-gratitude-rewire-your-brain/
[10] https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/#hero-single
[11] Fox, G., Kaplan, J., Damasio, H. & Damasio, A. (2015). Neural correlates of gratitude. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 149–154.
[12] Zahn, R., Moll, J., Paiva, M., Garrido, G., Krueger, F. & Huey, E. (2008). The neural basis of human social values: Evidence from functional MRI. Cerebral Cortex, 19(2), 276–283. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhn080
[13] Fox, G., Kaplan, J., Damasio, H. & Damasio, A. (2015). Neural correlates of gratitude. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 149–154.
[14] https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2016.1169332
[15] https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/does-gratitude-rewire-your-brain/
[16] Ibid; https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
[17] Hurtak, J.J. 1973/2020. The Ten Light Picture Superscripts: The Keys of Enoch® and Metatron: The Fifth Light Picture Superscript: Thou Shall be the Family. Academy for Future Science. p 167
[18] Hurtak, J.J. 1973/2025. The Ten Light Picture Superscripts: The Keys of Enoch® and Metatron: The Tenth Light Picture Superscript: Thou Shall be the Covenant. Academy for Future Science. p 131
[19] Hurtak, J.J. 1973/2024. The Ten Light Picture Superscripts: The Keys of Enoch® and Metatron: The Ninth Light Picture Superscript: The Shall be the Communion. Academy for Future Science.
[20] Day, D 1938. From Union Square to Rome Maryknoll : Orbis Books, p 173
