To view more of Sophia's art go to

www.sophia-elise.artistwebsites.com/ or

to purchase prints and cards of her artwork go to

www.fineartamerica.com/shop/sophia-elise.html


If you see an artwork on this website that you like but it's already sold - please contact Sophia as she does commissions.





Friday, July 18, 2008

Gratitude - one of the most important ingredients to happiness

Psychologists say it's virtually impossible to feel grateful and unhappy at the same time.

Gratitude is made up of two parts
1) by feeling a genuine appreciation for the life you have
2) by making a conscious decision to focus on what's right in your life rather than what you think is wrong or missing.

Gratitude makes you feel satisfied. Ingratitude leaves us always looking for something else.

It's not just enough to feel grateful though - you need to express it regularly. Research has shown this will make you happier, healthier and less prone to depression. William Arthur Ward said, "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." So take the time to appreciate you good fortune and let the people around you know how you feel.


"If you look to others for fulfillment,you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."- Lao Tzu

When you start to appreciate every small thing in life you realise just how lucky you are - so .....
get excited if it doesn't rain on you while you walk to the shops! If it does rain - rejoice in the fact you live in a country where rain and water is plentiful ... either way you're blessed and there's something to be grateful about ....

1 comment:

Kay said...

Welcome back! I hope you are feeling much better.

It is good to have your writing to read again.

This reminds me of childhood prayers - "Thankyou Lord for..." Maybe, whatever spiritual being we believe in, we would be happier if finished each day with a "Thankyou for..." and went to sleep counting our blessings.

Thankyou for this blog, it is good to be reminded to be grateful.