In many ways, practicing mastery seems to be more like a spiritual journey of discovering what life is all about. I see it as a process of awakening to one’s own truths. For that reason, I am appreciative for exposure to the topic of mastery. I do not believe it is a coincidence, at this stage in my life, the subject continues to unfold. Over the course of three years, everything seems to be pointing me in the direction of mastering my life, by using the personal experiences as a means to understand why I am here, and what I am supposed to be doing with my life.
In early June of 2012, I begin using the hashtag #MasterLife on twitter. I attached quotes or a life lesson that had turned out to be significant for me on the journey. The hashtag stuck and grew, and to this day, it continues to influence the lives of others. That is why I felt this series was so momentous; I felt it would assist others who might be on a similar path, as my own. I am extremely thankful for those who shared it with others, and especially for the insights left on the previous parts of the series.
Although the #MasterLife Self-Mastery series is ending, the process to further understanding mastery and sharing my findings here, however, will not. As I stated in the beginning of the year, for me, this is the “Year of Mastery.”
In the final part, I want to discuss a topic that I have felt drawn towards since beginning my journey of being a writer. The cornerstone in which I am referring to is Gratitude.
I attribute gratitude as being responsible for changing my perceptions about my life, clearing me of my negative outlooks on life, and rebuilding my faith in the Higher Power.
Mastering the Art of Gratitude?
I feel that experiencing and expressing gratitude is such a vital part of the mastery process. It shapes the seeker of mastery to be a practitioner of humility. When individuals allow themselves to perceive the “writing on the wall” (so to speak) in their lives, they are internally aware that it has nothing to do with their actions and/or power. This also prevents them from seeking outside gratification.
In the post at the beginning of the year, a high school journalism classmates and a dear friend of mine, Tammy Whitten stopped in to weigh in on the discussion, informing that she was developing “The Gratitude Project” over on her website. In her comment though, she made a statement that I knew back then I wanted to address in the series. She stated, “Not sure if it’s possible for one to ever completely master this one, but every day for an entire year, I’m recording at least one thing that I’m grateful for.” Although I think her idea is brilliant, it is her statement of whether or not gratitude can be mastered that I desire to bring to the surface in this part of the series.
So let me get your thoughts on this. Can someone master gratitude?
While mastering gratitude may be up for question, I do believe there are practices a person can do daily to ensure gratitude continual ritual in one’s life. Below I’ve listed a few ways I have found to be instrumental for me. This will conclude the mastery series, but look for more post coming soon having to do with mastery, self-mastery, and of course, #MasterLife.
Ways to Continually Master Gratitude
- Master Life Lesson: Say, “Thank you” as many times in a day as possible, for as many reasons as one can find. (Tweet this.)
- Don’t only look for the “big things” in life to be grateful for, but also the little things.
- Start seeing all the good in the world, people, and yourself.
- Feed the mind good, positive, reaffirming material and content.
- As often as possible, sit in silence, focus on your breathing, and reflect over the happy moments in life.
- Think about how far you have come, instead of how far you have to go. (Tweet this.)
- Empty the mind of thoughts of negativity and judgments. When they appear, notice them, and let them pass freely.
- Cherish, support, and encourage others who are doing good things.
- Release the victim mentality. It is difficult to be grateful if you see yourself as a victim. (Tweet this.)
- Find more things and people to place your trust.
- Have a strong belief in something bigger than you are.
- Remain humble in the process of mastery. (Tweet this.)
These are just a few ways to practice gratitude while aspiring for mastery. There are certainly many other means, I am sure. That’s where you come in. Share a few more in the comments below. Also, let me know if you think gratitude is something that can be mastered.
Over to you,
What are your thoughts on mastering gratitude? Would you share more ways you go about expressing gratitude? Please share your thoughts, insights, or any personal experiences you might have in the section provided below. You never know if what you have to contribute will help someone else on their journey.
Thank you in advance.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Deone,
Wondeful post, indeed!
I loved the approaches you shared to express gratitude. One of the things my parents instilled in me was to always say “thank you” and hence I find myself expressing gratitude quite often.
As you say, being grateful for simple things in life helps us to remain humble and modest. And the more we remain humble and honest, the more we are learning to master the ego, which can raise its head and create havoc unless one is mindful.
Thank you.
Hiten recently posted this awesomeness..How to improve your business calls
Hi Hiten,
Thanks a lot, mate. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
I had a much longer list prepared, but skimmed it down a bit because I’m sure everyone has others. I wanted to hear from each of you.
I agree with you that mastering the ego is an essential to being grateful. The ego won’t allow us to see the many great things about life there is to be grateful for, and the best way for us to practice honesty is being upfront with ourselves first, right.
You’re welcome, buddy. Thank you for stopping in to weigh in on the conversation. I enjoy reading you.
Blessings.
Deone recently posted this awesomeness..The “#MasterLife” Self-Mastery Series – Part 3: The Enemies and Virtues of Mastery
Gratitude is one of my favorite topics and it is part of my life every day! Where I once had to make a conscious effort to be grateful, it now comes to me without intentional thought- is that the definition of mastery?
One of my favorite tools to cultivate a life of gratitude is making gratitude lists- the longer, the better! The more things I can think of to appreciate in life, the happier I feel with the life I have. It’s not too difficult to be happy for big things that happen, but the process of becoming aware of all the small blessings in life is truly a gift like no other.
One challenge I particularly enjoy is making an A-Z gratitude list by coming up with at least one thing I’m grateful for corresponding with each letter of the alphabet. It’s especially fun to do this exercise with a friend!
Another gratitude activity that has improved my life is to pay an honest compliment to someone that I don’t like, or someone whose behavior I find annoying. Expanding my perspective to consider the whole person, not just the behavior I don’t like, helps me be more accepting of myself and others.
Great topic, Deone! Thanks for sharing!
Chrysta
Chrysta Bairre recently posted this awesomeness..33 Ways To Be Kind To Yourself
Hi Chrysta,
It’s fantabulous to read you here, beloved.
I’d say, that’s a great definition… it should be our goal in life to become to make conscious efforts towards being grateful, and doing it so much that it becomes second nature for us. Superb point!
I also loved your idea of making a list of the things we are grateful for in our lives. Your A-Z gratitude list sounds like something I would like to add to my daily practice as well. At the moment, I log everything I’m grateful for in my grateful journal. I see the A-Z gratitude list being a tremendous addition to the journal. Thanks for that, my friend.
I also am head over heels about your second activity as well. I can surely put that one into practice.
I am so glad that you stopped by to weigh in on the topic! This was a great addition to the ongoing discussion. I am so glad you enjoyed the topic… it’s always a pleasure to read you.
Blessings.
Deone recently posted this awesomeness..Can a Day Without Power Offer a Life Lesson?
Hi Deone,
I agree with what Hiten and Chrysta have to say, and with you too when you state that ‘experiencing and expressing gratitude is a vital part of the mastery process.’ True. ‘It shapes the seeker of mastery to be a practitioner of humility.’ Yes, gratitude also helps you to deal with your ego, which is the wall that shrouds your Self, and keeps you distanced from it.
It is ironical and strange but true, that you can deal with the complex by being simple. I believe feeling gratitude with every breath takes care of everything; you do not need to write them down, as the list will be endless. It’s like being aware every moment makes you mindful, and that makes your life easy.
I concur with your statement – there are practices a person can do daily to ensure gratitude continual ritual in one’s life. Gratitude is a positive healing energy; when you use gratitude, you channelize that energy within your body and mind, and it helps to remove many blockages or negative constrictions. As a result, you feel happy, lighter, and better.
Can you mastery gratitude? Yes, you can. It is one of the exercises and steps towards self-mastery. As you mentioned, you can mastery gratitude by making it a part of your life and lifestyle, as important and regular as breathing. Have the feeling of gratitude with every breath you inhale and exhale. Gratitude towards all that is happening around you and with you. Everything is meaningful – lessons and opportunities for you. They’re the gifts to you, and you should say ‘Thank You’ every time. That’s a part of the basic netiquettes. Each breath is a present – take it and say thank you, to life or the higher power. You should be thankful that you’re alive. Gratitude is a practice that helps in mindfulness. Or, it is a subset of mindfulness. Gratitude is the brother of love, and a cousin of forgiveness – all forms of the same powerful positive energy, all in the family
. If you make gratitude a way of life, more than just random acts and thoughts, you mastery gratitude. And, that is why I believe conscious breathing is the master key to mastering yourself.
This is what I believe, and I accept that others might differ from my belief. As I too differ a bit from the quote you’ve used in the post picture – I believe you’ve to be grateful for every thing, good or bad; your bad past was a stepping stone too, you need to acknowledge and be grateful for that… those are the dots that help you connect to your Self.
A great post for reflection and learning. Thank you, I’m grateful to you, my true friend Deone, for giving the opportunity to understand life.
Harleena Singh recently posted this awesomeness..Are You Living An Ideal Lifestyle
Oh, Harleena, I so wish we were in the same city… I would love to have coffee and just discuss life and everything that comes with it, with you.
I agree with everything you’ve said here… even down to the quote I chose in the picture. You’re absolutely right! As I was making it, I was thinking the exact same thing. The bad things that happen are just as instrumental as the good things, as far as what we are to be grateful for in our lives. In fact, more so than the good things. I know for me personally, if it weren’t for the adverse conditions I had to face in the last few years, I wouldn’t have pursued what I’m doing right now. Yet, it was those things that I thought would break me, that empowered me to breakthrough.
I also thank you for answering the question concerning whether or not you though gratitude could be mastered.
In many ways, I try to be mindful in my writings, that not everyone is going to agree with the lessons life has taught me along the way. You may or may not have known that I was raised up with a Christian background. However, a lot of my views have grown and evolved from those I was taught growing up. I don’t think they were wrong, nor do I believe they are all right. I just think that we can learn from each other the many ways to truth. I’m totally grateful for the outlook I’ve been able to acquire at this stage of my life. I am not professing to have the answer, but I am open to being provided with as many answers as God will reveal to me.
I’m humbled to have connected with people like you, who show me that the more I kill off my ego, the more I will see the truth.
Thank you so much for being a light on my path. I do not take it lightly, I know that ours was a connection that was meant to be, long before I even took my first step in the direction I’m heading now.
Blessings, my dear friend.
Deone recently posted this awesomeness..The “#MasterLife” Self-Mastery Series – Part 2: Sharpened
These are some great ones, Deone! My favorite is appreciating the little things. This is one that I really try to live by every day, because it helps me to stay balanced and focused on what is important. And no doubt, definitely having a belief system in something that is much bigger than I am really helps me to master my gratitude all-around.
~Love this one!!
MELISASource recently posted this awesomeness..A Visual Reminder From Alicia Keys: Value Your Quiet Time [VIDEO]
Thank you, Makeba! I’m definitely glad to hear that! I know you are a woman of faith, so I am really moved by your appreciation for this particular post. And of course, you already know my motto… celebrate the smallest of victories. They always open the doors for more of them to come. Don’t they?
Thanks for stopping in and leaving your thoughts on this sweets! It’s always a joy to read you here. Blessings.
Deone recently posted this awesomeness..A Reflection Only to “Thank You”
Hi Deone,
I 100% believe in the mastery of gratitude. I think EVERYONE can master it if they really apply themselves. It’s not a natural thing to do at first for many people. But, once you live with gratitude at the forefront, it changes your life. Last week I had a major career disappointment… The day just snowballed from there and seemed to get worse as the hours ticked on… then, I looked off to the corner of my desk and saw my gratitude jar. Since January 1, I’ve been placing a note in there every work day. This automatically changed my perspective. I decided, what do I have to lose by trying to find something in the disappointment that I coudl be grateful for. Low and behold, I dug and found a whole bunch of things I had neglected to see beforehand. I had so much to be grateful for by this disappointment showing up when it did. If one looks hard enough, one can find the rainbow in any situation.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Suzie! Gratitude will certainly change our lives, as well as our perceptions about it.
I love your idea of having a gratitude jar. It certainly sounds as though it comes in handy on those days that seem to go downhill from a single negative experience. I have had a few those kind of days myself; we all do. I call them “WTF days.” I even did a post on such days, awhile back.
Disappointments are sure to happen to each of us. We can’t change that, can we. We can only choose how we are going to react to them.
I’m glad you didn’t allow the ones you were having to ruin your day. Thank you for sharing the example of your experiences and adding more depth to the post. I truly appreciate it.
Blessings to you, my friend.
Deone recently posted this awesomeness..Life’s Recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie
Deone,
You couldn’t have written it any better. Hats off man! You’re a truly inspiring and positive man!
I totally agree with you that mastery cannot be something like an ideal or perfect character but rather practicing gratitude daily will ensure that we remain on the path to mastery always. Well said.
Your points were SPOT ON, I especially loved the last one – Being humble. What’s the point in achieving mastery if you let your ego do the talking?
Lovely post! You’re awesome man! Wish I could meet you some time!
Aditya
Aditya recently posted this awesomeness..Do You Enjoy Working Hard in Life?
Hey Aditya,
Thanks for the HUGE compliments brother! =) I’m delighted to know that you found the message to be so enjoyable.
Humility is a huge part of a person’s mastery. While a person can certainly master an area of their lives without remaining humble, they stand a chance (a highly likely one at that) of risking any respect they would have gained, had they been able to keep their egos in check. I loved the question you posed here, as well. There really isn’t much benefit in any area of our lives being directed by our ego, are there. Great point.
You’re an awesome fella as well, my friend. Who knows? Maybe our paths will cross at some point. I would consider it a pleasure, as well. Never say never, buddy.
Deone recently posted this awesomeness..A Reflection Only to “Thank You”
Hi Deone,
Oh how this post was sooooo very inspiring and moving. I hope many many many readers in the online world get the experience of reading your work and thoughts. It matters! Gratitude is a powerful mind tool to change attitude. I found for myself that not just saying thank you to others was helpful but really explaining a bit of what it was I was so thankful for. Giving just a few minutes to elaborate on what it is I was thankful for really made a person light UP! Gratitude MATTERS!
Also thanks for your twitter mission on #masterlife . I think it is fantastic.
I’m so grateful we connected and value your knowledge.
Irish at Dedicated 2 Life
Irish Carter recently posted this awesomeness..Why “I Can’t” Isn’t Acceptable to Me and It Shouldn’t Be to You Either!
Hi Irish!
I really appreciate your encouraging words on the post. It is a HUGE compliment to have read what thought about the post, as well as my work in the past. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! You’ve made this guy one happy camper today.
I understand perfectly what you mean. It has been the same case for me. A couple of years ago, I was always thinking about “how” and “who” had done me wrong, instead of focusing on how much they had managed to teach me during the experience. A few things had to happen (that weren’t necessarily feel good moments) for me to start seeing how truly blessed I was, and how much wisdom I had gained from them. Each experience totally changed my tune and left me saying “Thank You” a lot more than before. You’re absolutely right! Gratitude does MATTER! It is a transformer in itself. Once we discover its power, our lives are bound to be changed by it.
I’m glad you are also appreciating the #MasterLife mission! Thanks for that, beloved.
I am equally grateful to have connected with you, as well. Your light is a bright one, my friend. May we continue to be iron sharpeners of one another. Blessings.