Category Archives: Gratitude

Scientific Evidence of the Power of Gratitude 

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Although we accept the theory of personal fate, we also believe that everyone has the power to make the most of his or her life within the limits of predetermination. 

As we outline in the Mystic’s Magic Formula, one of the best ways to optimize life’s rewards and mitigate life’s challenges is through the power of gratitude. 

As Dave Asprey of Bulletproof says, “…gratitude literally rewires your brain. Even a simple gratitude writing practice builds lasting neural sensitivity for more positive thinking. That means the more you practice gratitude, the more you default to positivity instead of negativity.” 

Fifty years ago, nobody would have believed you if you claimed the power of gratitude could be scientifically proven. But today, numerous studies show the incredible benefits of gratitude.  

The Greater Good Science Center and Robert Emmons of the University of California, Davis, in 2011 launched Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude, funded by the John Templeton Foundation.  

Below we list some of the scientific findings related to this remarkable project, supporting the power of gratitude.  

Gratitude and Quality of Sleep 

A study found that gratitude “…predicts greater subjective sleep quality and sleep duration, and less sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.” Gratitude Influences Sleep through the Mechanism of Pre-Sleep CognitionsWood, A. M., et al. (2009). Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66(1), 43–48.PDF

Gratitude and Well-Being 

A study “…presents a new model of gratitude incorporating both gratitude that arises following help from others and habitual appreciations of the positive aspects of life.” Wood, A. M., et al. (2010). Gratitude and Well-Being: A Review and Theoretical Integration. Clinical Psychology Review, doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005.PDF

Gratitude and Happiness 

A study “…evaluated the reliability of the Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test (GRAT), finding it to have internal consistency and temporal stability, then used GRAT to find the importance of gratitude to subjective well-being.” 

A study found that “…regularly practicing counting one’s blessings and visualizing best possible selves are shown to raise and maintain positive mood.” Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How to Increase and Sustain Positive Emotion: The Effects of Expressing Gratitude and Visualizing Best Possible Selves. Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(2), 73-82.PDF 

Four studies, “…examine the correlates of the disposition towards gratitude, finding that self and observer ratings of a grateful disposition are associated with well-being, prosocial behaviors, and spirituality.” McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J-A. (2002). The Grateful Disposition: A Conceptual and Empirical Topography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(1), 112-127.PDF 

Gratitude and Successful Relationships 

A study “…posits that gratitude is an evolutionarily developed emotion which strengthens our relationships with our partners.” Algoe, S. B. (in press). Find, Remind, and Bind: The Functions of Gratitude in Everyday Relationships. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. 

A study found “…higher levels of gratitude after receiving thoughtful benefits (e.g. gifts, favors, etc.) predicted higher relationship connection and satisfaction.” Algoe, S. B., Gable, S. L. & Maisel, N. C. (2010). It’s the Little Things: Everyday Gratitude as a Booster Shot for Romantic Relationships. Personal Relationships, 17: 217–233

Gratitude and Children’s and Adolescents’ Well-Being 

Early adolescents’ subjective well-being are studied when they are encouraged to have more grateful outlooks on life. Froh, J. J., Sefick, W. J., & Emmons, R. A. (2008). Counting Blessings in Early Adolescents: An Experimental Study of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being. Journal of School Psychology, 46(2), 213-233.PDF 

A study finds that “…children with lower positive affect levels are impacted more from gratitude interventions than those whose levels are higher.” Froh, J. J., Kashdan, T. B., Ozimkowski, K. M., & Miller, N. (2009). Who Benefits The Most from a Gratitude Intervention in Children and Adolescents? Examining Positive Affect as a Moderator. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 408–422. PDF 

One of the easiest ways to improve your life is by expressing more gratitude. As the studies show, you have a lot to gain and it costs you nothing besides a little effort involving positive thinking. 

Our FREE Spiritual Detox Script can help you get rid of toxic energy and help you make the most of your life. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/script/ 

Learn more about spiritual myths, meditation and how to use it to your advantage, and much more with our Direct Your Destiny e-Package: https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/directyourdestiny/ 

Copyright © 2021 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo  

 

7 Metaphysical Tips to Give Your Child an Edge

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You can​probably think of ways adults could have assisted you in your childhood so you would have had an edge in life. If you have kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, godchildren, or you mentor or teach kids, maybe you help them in ways you were not. Below are some metaphysical ways you can give kids an edge in this world.

Meditate daily.This will help you be calm and centered so you can react to your child in the best way possible. When​she isold enough to sit with you and focus, you can teachherto meditate too. Think of the head start​she will have in all areas of lifeif​shelearns how to tune out distractions and find her inner peace.

Clear your energy.Spiritual debris is everywhere and children are more vulnerable to it. Clearing yourself and your home will benefit your kids too. 

Don’t drink heavily or do drugs anywhere near your kids.Spiritual troublemakers come running to people who overindulge, and these lower energy forms can target the weaker energy of kids too. But even if you do it away from your kids, you’re still setting an example for them.

Consider a numerology or astrology reading for your child.A good comprehensive numerology or astrology reading can help you realize your child’s talents and skills so you can encourage them in the right direction for future success. It can also uncover potential problem areas so you know what to help them work on.

Notice past life signs.If​he is especially good at something,​he may have done it before in past lives. Encourage​him.An unexplained fear may also be a carry-over, and you canhelp​him deal with it with your awareness.

Pay attention to dreams.Encourage your children to think about what their dreams mean to them so they learn about how the subconscious mind speaks to us in dreams. Nightmares of being chased might indicate troublemaker spirits in the area.

Pay attention to their “imagination.”Sometimes imaginary friends are more than that. Children, usually up to around age 7, are better able to perceive ghosts or lost souls. Sometimesimaginary friends areharmless, but if you sensesomething unseen that is negative for your child, use spiritual clearing to send it to the Light.

Teach your child acceptance.By being an example, you will show him the best way to handle difficult situations that you cannot change.

Teach your child forgiveness.By being an example, you will show her the power of forgiveness, and how it’s for you, not the perpetrator.

Teach your child gratitude. Expressing gratitude for​the circumstances, things, and people in your lifewill show him how gratitude can act as a magic wand to help deal with conflict and bring more good things into your life.

Teach your child to honor and​trust her intuition.This can be with or without meditation. Children often just “know” things. Pay attention to this and help her develop it. 

Teach your children about karma. Help her realize good actions will beget more of the same in the future, and how destructive behavior comes back to you too.

Teach your child about life after death.Help him understand that death isn’t an ending, but a transformation, and that we’ll all see each other again.

Teach your child how to be of service to others.Help​himrealizethat even a small, seemingly insignificant yet loving gesture can make a big difference in someone’s life.

Don’t encourage love life fairytales.When​she is ready to date, help​herunderstand that everyone has many soul mates, each might be destined for a different purpose (not always marriage or together-forever-in-bliss), and relationships started at a very young age are not always destined to be lifelong. 

Turn off the video games and TV.This isn’t really a metaphysical tip, but still important. Help your teens learn basic life skills like keeping a budget, cooking healthy meals, daily exercise, productive scheduling, avoiding procrastination, how to deal with difficult people in a positive way, decision making, and taking responsibility​for their actions. 

Work through your own issuesso you don’t project them onto your child. Heal yourself so your child won’t have to heal because of you. 

Our FREE Spiritual Detox Script can help you get rid of toxic energy and help you make the most of your life. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/script/

Learn more about spiritual myths, meditation and how to use it to your advantage, and much more with our Direct Your Destiny e-Package: https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/directyourdestiny/ 

Copyright © 2021 Stephen Petullo, Scott Petullo 

WANT TO PUBLISH THIS ARTICLE? You have permission to publish this article as long as it is published in its entirety, no changes are made to the article, and our names and website links are included.  

44 Magic Affirmations for Success and Abundance

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Did you know that affirmations can help you create more success and abundance?

Some people say you can get rich with positive thinking. Is this true for anyone?

Based on our many years of empirical research, our findings show that success and abundance potential is measurable and different for everyone, and has a lot to do with personal timing, which mirrors your fate (another word for destiny).

Even for those whose destiny doesn’t include the potential for great wealth, the good news is that we’ve also found everyone has free will to make the most of his or her fate.

What you think really can influence your reality, within the boundaries of your fate.

Wouldn’t you rather train your mind with good thoughts that improve your life instead of doing the opposite? Worrying about money and career is understandable and common. In fact, 30% of Americans are constantly stressed out about money.

Fortunately, there’s something that can help improve your situation and it doesn’t cost anything: the power of positive thinking.

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” Henry Ford

Below we list 44 magic affirmations to help you create more success and abundance. Repeating one or more to yourself often will eventually cause your mind to accept it and play along. It’s a little known fact that your subconscious mind can’t tell the difference between reality and make-believe, so as you keep repeating your positive affirmations, your powerful unconscious mind will respond as if they are reality. You will still need to be proactive and take the right action at the right time to reach your goals, but positive thoughts will be like having the wind at your back.

Prosperity and abundance are flowing to me. I enjoy creating money.

I am improving my finances every day.

I am improving my earning potential.

I am lucky in many different ways.

Abundance is flowing to me.

I’m becoming more successful.

I enjoy creating wealth.

I’m excited about improving my finances.

I’m excited about improving my career.

I’m efficient and do what I need to do to be successful.

I’m comfortable with making more money.

I’m confident about my ability to be successful.

I’m so excited about my goals.

I’m attracting abundance.

What I have to offer is of value to the world.

I’m successful making more money.

I believe in myself and my abilities.

I’m succeeding.

I deserve to succeed.

I’m visualizing my success.

I’m confident and self-assured.

I’m choosing the best pathway for the best outcome.

I’m choosing wisely.

I’m creating the income I desire.

I deserve prosperity.

I’m creating success.

I’m winning against the odds.

I’m prosperous and productive.

I’m choosing the best path for happiness and success.

I deserve success.

I’m more and more successful.

I’m motivated to do what I need to do for success.

I’m good at creating wealth.

I’m seeing solutions to reach my goals.

I’m clear about my goals and how to reach them.

I’m acting carefully so victory will be mine.

Money is my friend.

I’m accepting unlimited blessings.

I’m so grateful for all the good in my life.

I’m so grateful for all the good that will be.

I take calculated and cautious risks to be more successful.

I’m so grateful I’m achieving my dreams.

I’m working through obstacles wisely and carefully.

Now that you understand how what you think and believe influence your reality, you can use these affirmations to create more success and abundance.

Similar affirmations and more are included in the Success and Abundance Soundless Subliminal™. Just press “play” and let this powerful MP3 do all the work! https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/subliminals/

Copyright © 2019 Stephen Petullo, Scott Petullo

7 Mysticism Tips to Use Immediately

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By definition, people practice mysticism far more than they realize.

The American Heritage dictionary defines mysticism as “consciousness of transcendent reality or of God through deep meditation or contemplation. Mystic is defined as relating to religious mysteries or occult rites and practices; one who practices or believes in mysticism.”

Spiritually sensitive individuals and, or those who are actively involved in self-realization and personal growth and search for the meaning of life are mystics. You don’t have to be a member of a secret brotherhood, live in a mountaintop monastery, or shun all material possessions and wear a long white beard to be a mystic.

We weren’t familiar with the true meaning of mysticism 30 years ago, but today we practice it every day in one way or another. You, too, can improve your daily life by practicing simple mysticism. We always write about how so much of your life is predestined, and we believe it is, yet below we list seven mystical tips to use now to constructively deal with fate and make the most of your days.

1. Mundane, everyday challenges are a part of everyone’s life, but you can ease the burden of those situations and tasks. When your mind races with worries, firmly tell it to stop it right now. Then, infuse a brilliant white Light into the scenario and people involved, and see yourself making it through the issue easily, with a smile. Spend a few minutes each night infusing positive energy into tomorrow’s goals and seeing yourself successfully dealing with all of them.

2. Call out to helpers, guides, and angels of the Light to assist you with future situations. Additionally, express repeatedly with gratitude statements like, ”All guides of the Light are welcome to assist.” By summoning forces of Light to assist you, you also repel dark energy. Some (typically Atheists) may laugh at you for saying prayers or asking for help, but it’s easy to ignore them once you experience the power of angels, archangels and other high-level helpers of the Light. All you have to do is ask for their help.

Always avoid asking for help from dark entities or demons because those energies won’t help you unconditionally; you’ll be selling your soul (literally) to lower level entities by doing so. Anyone who aligns themselves with dark forces is akin to partying like a rock star and living in the fast lane without a care of possible consequences; the person may appear glamorous, healthy, and prosperous for a short while, but eventually it will catch up with them. Becoming a slave to demonic forces isn’t worth the short-term benefits.

3. Make regular use of protection prayers and spiritual detox scripts to clear and protect yourself from lost souls and dark energy. We offer a free Spiritual Detox script on our site, the same one we use on a regular basis.

4. Try to avoid the trap of expectations. Dropping your expectations allows you to more easily accept what you can’t change, which happens to be a lot in life. It also gives you an edge to be able to more easily spot hidden opportunities, such as an unexpected path to success.

5. Forgive as much as you can and then forgive some more. Accept what has transpired in your life, and what is occurring now, so that you can move on. Take full responsibility for everything in your life and avoid blame, which brings you down. Resentment and resistance to what you can’t change only prevents you from reaching your full potential.

6. Make it a habit to express gratitude for every little thing in your life, including opportunities for growth (a euphemism for the tough stuff in life), along with faith that everything will be okay. We believe gratitude and faith are two of the most powerful tools a mystic can utilize.

7. Turn off the TV, limit sugar and alcohol intake, avoid drugs, get more sleep, and make meditation a regular part of your life, even if it’s only ten minutes each morning.

You’ll be amazed at how much more energy you’ll have every day to maximize your opportunities, mitigate your challenges, and make the most of your downtime if you exercise more discipline by following these simple tips.

Our Direct Your Destiny e-package helps you become a better mystic and make the most of your fate. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/directyourdestiny/

Our FREE Spiritual Detox Script can help you get rid of dark energy. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/script/

If you’re feeling depressed, angry, fearful, or having a tough time quitting bad habits and addictions, our Spiritual Detox™ MP3 can help. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/spiritual-detox/

Copyright © 2017 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo

18 Magic Affirmations to Shed Weight and Be Motivated to Exercise

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Wouldn’t it be nice to have an extra push to be motivated to eat healthily and exercise often?

You could try diet pills, but those have side effects. Hiring a trainer and personal chef would be nice, but may not be within your budget.

Many people know what to do to lose weight, but then gain it back, and then some, eventually. While they temporarily changed their behavior, they didn’t address what ultimately overruled it: their mind.

When you change your mind, or your thinking, your behavior will follow. More discipline and other lifestyle changes are some of the keys to good health.

Based on our findings over many years, we believe, like many things, body size can be karmic. In other words, your actions in past lives can play a part in how you appear today. For example, someone who was a dancer in several past lives might be born with long legs and a lean shape. Likewise, someone who was a drunken sailor in many lives and didn’t get much exercise is born with poor cardiovascular health. However, even if you don’t like your shape, you have free will to make the most of it, and your fate. Your thoughts can influence your reality, within the confines of your fate.

With the power of affirmations, you can program your mind with positive thoughts and improve your life.

Note: The subconscious mind can be very stubborn about holding onto weight due to subconscious fears. For example, the subconscious mind may force a person to remain obese because it’s safer; others are less likely to find her attractive, thus sexually abuse her. From the moment she begins to try and shed the weight, she must battle the tremendous power of her subconscious mind. It’s easy to underestimate the influence your subconscious mind has over your life.

We’ve found in our regression work that the hidden (or not) fears can be from this life and, or a past life. If you find it nearly impossible to shed the weight and keep it off, we recommend using past life regression (with an expert or quality MP3) to find the root cause of the problem, then trying a subliminal suggestion MP3 and, or affirmations to support your goal.

Below are 18 magical affirmations to shed the weight and keep it off for good and be motivated to exercise. Repeat one or more often to yourself and watch your mind accept them and help you improve your life.

1. Eating healthy foods is easy for me.

2. I’m finding healthy foods that taste good

3. I like to eat slowly and enjoy my food.

4. I’m learning to enjoy exercise.

5. I have the discipline to exercise often.

6. I know how to shed the excess weight and I’m doing it.

7. Every day I become more fit.

8. Food can be delicious and healthy.

9. I have the willpower to succeed.

10. I deserve to be fit and healthy.

11. I enjoy shedding the weight.

12. I am worth taking care of.

13. I’m sticking to my healthy diet.

14. I’m reaping the benefits of my healthy lifestyle.

15. I love eating food that’s good for me.

16. I make exercising fun.

17. I look forward to my exercise time.

18. Every day I become more fit and healthier.

Now that you’re aware how your thoughts influence your life and your health, you can use these affirmations to shed the weight and keep it off for good, and be motivated to exercise.

These affirmations and more are included in the Shed the Weight and Keep it Off for Good/ Motivated to Exercise Soundless Subliminal™ Just press “play” and let this powerful MP3 do all the work! https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/subliminals/

Copyright © 2017 Stephen Petullo, Scott Petullo

Mysticism — Recipe For Success

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While we embrace the concept of personal predetermination, we’ve always maintained everyone has the ability to make the most of their life within the bounds of their personal fate. Practical mysticism is one of the best ways to optimize life’s rewards and limit the challenges.

Our view is that mysticism doesn’t have to involve complex protocols and severe sacrifice. You can have mystical experiences every day through regular, deep contemplation, meditation and, or prayer. As little as ten minutes a day can get you started on the mystical path.

Prayer, to be effective, is more than simply asking whomever you pray to for what you want. That’s part of it, but additional steps are required to manifest your desires that are within the realm of your personal destiny.

The additional steps, aside from taking the right action at the right time to reach your goals, are spiritual, and you may already include them as part of your routine.

The following information is adapted from our Direct Your Destiny e-package and is a valuable addition to conventional praying and going after what you want.

Mystic’s Magic Formula

Applying the Mystic’s Magic Formula allows you to reach your objectives, if those desires are within the framework of your personal fate. If they aren’t, your efforts are probably still part of your predetermined path, though may be instead for a learning experience. Everything has a purpose, and the lessons learned from failed attempts at success are vital. The journey is what matters most, though making your aspirations a reality are of course important too.

Please note: this formula is nondenominational; anyone can use it for any area of life, regardless of religious beliefs.

1. Pause and consider your circumstances from a metaphysical perspective. Review your expectations and presumptions and let them go. When you drop your expectations, such as ceasing to attempt to control others, you more easily accept what comes your way in life, and it’s easier to see optimum paths to success.

2. Accept what has occurred, what is happening, and where you are in life. This is essential to move on. You can’t progress to your potential if you carry around the past like a huge weight on your back. Stop resenting and resisting what you can’t change, such as how other people act and what they do.

3. Make it a habit to express gratitude every day, as often as you can. Express it for where you are in life, everything you have, all the good that has occurred and that will be, and strengthen your faith by continuing to emotionalize the desired, end result. We believe regular, productive use of gratitude is one of the most potent spiritual tools available to you.

4. Ask for help from your guides of the Light, higher-self and, or (your) God, or whomever you pray too, as long as the entity isn’t of the dark side. You want to avoid, at all costs, asking for help from demonic entities, for example, because the price to pay is service by your soul to those dark lords after you die. Don’t sell your soul. Alternatively, beings of the Light, such as archangels, are willing to help you unconditionally.

Ask for help accepting what you can’t change and moving on, or improving the situation if it’s within your fate. Ask and you will receive what you need, but maybe not exactly what you want. Trust that the end result will be to your ultimate benefit.

5. Meditate to detach from fear, be in the moment, and to awaken your awareness. You can’t stop your subconscious mind from the constant stream of impressions, but you can detach from it through regular meditation.

6. Ask every day, what’s the next step? Remain receptive to clues, even from the most unlikely places, such as from words overheard from a passing stranger.

7. Take full responsibility for yourself and your circumstances and avoid blame.

8. Utilize spiritual tools available to you, such as numerology, astrology, past life regression, and others (but avoid black magic). If you don’t want to take the time necessary to learn such spiritual disciplines, consult with an expert instead.

9. Do what you need to do, when you need to do it. Avoid procrastination. Do ”the right thing” in all situations.

Implementing this mystical formula in your daily life will allow you to optimize your rewards, yield greater peace of mind, and lead a more fulfilling life.

Our Direct Your Destiny e-package helps you become a better mystic and make the most of your fate. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/directyourdestiny/

Our FREE Spiritual Detox Script can help you get rid of dark energy.

If you’re feeling depressed, angry, fearful, or having a tough time quitting bad habits and addictions, our Spiritual Detox™ MP3 can help. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/spiritual-detox/

Copyright © 2017 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo

31 Examples of Your Spiritual Progress

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Sometimes the most spiritually aware and evolved individuals question whether or not they are good people, which is a sign of humility. Alternatively, some of the most difficult troublemakers on the planet assume they are advanced souls.

Many humans strive to treat others as they want to be treated. Others are too focused on themselves or don’t comprehend the spiritual importance of it.

You probably accept basic spiritual tenets, such as karma and fate, if you regularly read our articles. Thus, you likely value spiritual awareness and doing the right thing, and may have made more spiritual progress than you realize.

Below are 31 examples of your spiritual progress of which you should be proud.

You are gentle and understanding with yourself and others because you know Earth can be an extremely challenging place of learning.

You are humble and try not to let praise go to your head.

You love yourself unconditionally first instead of projecting all your love onto a romantic partner, especially someone who doesn’t respect you and, or isn’t in love with you.

You avoid attempting to control people in order to meet your needs or desires.

You give your partner the freedom to be true to himself or herself.

You love a friend enough to gently tell him what he needs to hear, even if the truth stings.

You let the little things slide and focus on what really matters.

You don’t pursue friendships or relationships for the wrong reasons.

You put your child’s needs ahead of your needs or desires.

You refrain from judging something or someone before you know the facts.

You respectfully stand up for your rights.

You question everything rather than accepting anything blindly, even when the source is a doctor, religious leader, scientist, or other widely respected figure in society.

You trust your intuition instead of only believing in what you can see, hear, touch, or prove.

You keep intuitive insight about someone’s personal life to yourself when there’s no good reason to share it; with awareness comes responsibility.

You try to be civil to people who aren’t.

You’ve done something nice for someone because you knew they were having a bad day.

You do the right thing even when no one is looking.

You judge people based on the content of their character rather than their color, sexual orientation, sex life, gender, appearance, status, or material possessions.

You’ve helped or mentored someone who needed it, with no expectations of anything in return.

You consider and care how your actions affect other people, and you take responsibility for your actions.

You look for the truth and scrutinize your own actions before you blame someone else.

You’ve stood up for the truth and defended someone you knew was innocent.

You’re honest with yourself and others as much as possible.

You give credit where credit is due.

You say what you mean and mean what you say.

You respect yourself enough to guard against people using or corrupting you.

You try to see bad people as teachers rather than devils.

You try to focus on the lesson and bright side of difficult situations.

You accept what you can’t change and focus on what you can.

You strive to remain fair and reasonable rather than getting carried away with emotions.

You realize it’s normal to feel negative emotions, but make an effort to detach from them in order to avoid negative behavior, which can be the result of unchecked emotions

No one is perfect and most people don’t manage to always live up to every one of these ideals. After all, everyone is here to learn and grow. But as long as you make an effort, you will be making spiritual progress, creating good karma, and contributing to a better world.

Our Direct Your Destiny e-package gives you tools and insight to cut through the New Age nonsense, tap into your spiritual power, and make spiritual progress and the most of your life. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/directyourdestiny/
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Copyright © 2016 Stephen Petullo, Scott Petullo

Spiritual Power: The Three Stages of Gratitude

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Everyone knows gratitude as thankfulness, though we also regard it as a process through which to increase spiritual power, thus get more out of life and progress toward self-actualization.

Commonly, those on the spiritual path to self-awareness experience three stages of gratitude.

The first stage of gratitude involves acknowledging there’s more to gratitude than merely maintaining good manners. As a child you learned (we hope) to say thank you. Later, as a mature adult, in the second stage you begin to recognize the power of gratitude. The third stage is a consistently strong expression of gratitude, to the point of it becoming a bridge to a more potent way of living.

While you may live in the third stage occasionally or even a lot of the time, it’s rare for a person to constantly be in this advanced stage of the expression of gratitude.

You’re not alone if you find yourself stuck in the second stage most of the time. It takes a lot of practice to exist in the third stage.

Below we list seven ways to express more gratitude:

1. Forgive anyone and everyone who has ever hurt you. Stop holding grudges, which extinguishes the power of gratitude and hurts you. Recognize that you’re not forgiving for their sake, but for yours. You’re not letting them off the hook because if it’s their karma to endure payback, the law of karma, in our view, will take care of it for you. You don’t have to forget, but it will serve you to forgive.

2. Consider the philosophy that everyone serves you perfectly. In doing so, it’s much easier to let go, forgive, and be appreciative of the experience for what it taught you.

3. Let go of your expectations. True gratitude doesn’t involve fixating on what you think you deserve. It’s about accepting the result of your efforts and whatever appears in your life, rewarding or challenging. Letting go of your expectations helps to strengthen the power of gratitude exponentially.

4. Start with the past. Go back to your childhood and family memories. Be ever so thankful for your parents, siblings, other family members, teachers, neighbors, and everyone else in your life. Be grateful for all the experiences, good and bad. They’re what helped make you what you are today, and you can use this spiritual technique–the power of gratitude–to make your life even more rewarding.

5. Focus on the little things. Little things can help to spark the momentum of gratitude, like a favorite pair of jeans, the pleasure of seeming to stop time through the process of writing or working on a project, that new health tip, or a new friend. Or how about being grateful for a good night’s sleep or a beautiful day? There’s a lot to be grateful for!

6. Emotionalize your gratitude. Feel it, don’t just think it. The energy of emotions behind gratitude magnifies its power. 

7. Make your health a priority. It’s a lot easier to maintain the flow of gratitude when you get enough rest, eat a healthful diet, and exercise regularly. Meditation also helps to keep you in the present and appreciate life rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

The three stages of the power of gratitude, realizing there’s more to gratitude than saying thank you, understanding its inherent potency and starting to capitalize on it, and then ultimately maintaining unwavering gratitude, enhances your spiritual power. Cultivate the power of gratitude, and its ally, faith, and advance to a higher quality of living.

Our Direct Your Destiny e-package helps you strengthen your gratitude and make the most of your life with 5 incredible subconscious programming and affirmation-packed audio MP3s: Forgive and Let Go Subliminal MP3, Sense of Humor/Confidence/Relax Subliminal MP3, Improve Appearance and Become Sexier Subliminal MP3, Success and Abundance Subliminal MP3, Enhance Love Life and Friendships Subliminal MP3. https://spiritualgrowthnow.com/directyourdestiny/

Copyright © 2015 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo