Real Life Changing: The 30-Day Gratitude Experiment

Today I’m going to share with you what the personal development gurus say is one of the most powerful way change your world to have better health, more wealth, and increase happiness.

It’s completely free and only takes 10 minutes per day. At the end, I’ll show you how to do it and join in the experiment with me.

What is it? What is it?

I’m going to give away the big secret at the beginning of the post. It’s in the post title too. I know that’s not the best way to keep readers but I’m only looking for people looking to be extraordinary to read the whole post.

The ones that find the answer to be a let down, like when you find out how to do a magic trick, won’t read all the way. That’s fine with me. Again, I’m looking for a special group of people.

Since 2006, I’ve read a handful of personal development books. It started when I realized my life wasn’t going the way I wanted it to go. I felt stuck, depressed, and upset. I turned to these books to find answers to how to make my life happier and more fulfilling.

In some books that I’ve read, there’s one thing the authors kept mentioning that we can do to drastically change our lives.

This thing can:

Bring wealth
Increase health
Unlock your potential
Deepen relationships
Increase your overall well being

The one thing they advise is the power of gratitude. That’s the secret to the magic trick. Thanks for coming.

Are you still with me? For those still here, let’s keep going.

What Does Oprah Think?

Let me share a quote. Forgive me it’s another Oprah reference. I swear this blog isn’t going to turn into an Oprah shrine. If she’d share some of her wealth I’d reconsider. However she sums up why gratitude is so important.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

If Oprah says it then we should all listen right? If she gives you a car will you listen? I’m willing to bet she not only believes it but has become a daily part of her life.

How I Used to Be

The old Benny up to 2007 was a miserable, ugly person. I hated the world. I hated my job with a passion. I constantly dragged myself down. I became a passenger on the journey of my life.

I kept thinking what I didn’t have in life. I wished I had my dream job. I wished I had more money. I wished I was happier. Too much focused on the negative and now realize that was a terrible way of thinking. That way of thinking kept digging myself deeper into the ground.

Older and Wiser

A 2 year sabbatical to Taipei and Sydney changed my life. I still don’t have all the answers nor the ideal life right now but I’m working on it every day.

For years I read about the importance of gratitude but never fully applied it. I thought “How can being thankful really change my life?” I had so many things I didn’t like about my life that it was hard to focus on being thankful. It was much easier to be miserable!! I had my doubts for sure.

Then last year I started to re-read about gratitude and the benefits of daily gratitude. Being wiser now, I thought this is something I should pay more attention to.

Here are some of the benefits that I’ve learned

-Research has proved that practicing gratitude reduces stress, fear, anxiety, high blood pressure, depression, and heart disease. Bottom line, gratitude can extend your life.

-Your relationships will improve because instead of focusing on the 20 percent of what that person doesn’t fulfill, you’re focusing on the 80 perfect that is wonderful and perfect about that person. I’ve read about failed marriages restored through gratitude. Parents and children forming a closer bond. Your relationships will deepen.

-Focusing on what you do have instead what you don’t will increase your wealth. You will focus your mind on abundance, discover new opportunities. You will see the potential all around you. You will attract people in your life to help you. Gratitude can make you wealthy.

Pretty cool so far right? Ok if I haven’t lost you, let’s keep going.

Giving Thanks Should Be More than One Day a Year

Have you heard that when you give to others, you will receive back? It’s the same idea here. When you give thanks, you will receive more of that back. The best part is that giving gratitude is free!

It’s not just about saying thank you. There needs to be true gratitude. The more you say it, the more you feel, the more it will change your life.

If you use gratitude a little, it’ll change your life a little. If you use it a lot every day, your life will change even more. It’s just like success. Your level of success is determined by how much hard work you put in.

Saying thanks isn’t just for the day we eat turkey and watch football on TV. It should be done every day.

This is Scientifically Proven

Over on Tim Ferris’ blog he talked about “gratitude training” and a referenced a group of scientists that did an experiment:

“The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day… the second group recorded their unpleasant experiences, [and] the last group made a daily list of things for which they were grateful.

The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. Additionally, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, was more likely to help others, exercised more regularly and made more progress toward personal goals. According to the findings, people who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved.

McCollough and Emmons also noted that gratitude encouraged a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another… McCullough suggests that anyone can increase their sense of well-being and create positive social effects just from counting their blessings.”

This is User Proven

Ironically I had an interview last week with my friend Adrienne Smith. She went through a tough time in life and I asked her what pulled her through it.

Because I had a limited belief that I could do anything I wanted, that was much harder for me. What I learned was to start thanking God everyday for what I did have. To just be grateful for my home, a reliable car to drive, family that loved and supported me, friends that stood by me, food to eat every day, things we take for granted. I then started thanking God for bringing the right people into my life, the right opportunities, for opening my eyes to the right road to take, things like that. I started with the small things and have been very religious about my gratitude every single day. It has made all the difference in the world. This alone has been the biggest lesson I have learned to date! The power of gratitude is huge.

She had NO IDEA I was writing this post. She is proof that it works. Are you convinced that it’s powerful? Do you want to be like Adrienne? Keep reading.

Time to Get Serious

Since there’s no denying the power of gratitude when used consistently, I need to get serious about doing it. I’m talking the talk but need to walk the walk too.

Thus far this year I’ve kept a gratitude journal on my iPhone but I stopped after a month (you may kick me). For the month of April, I would give thanks during the day for anything great that happened (kick me lighter). It’s helped but I want to unleash it’s power.

Now I’m ready to get serious and I want you to join me.

I want to do a 30 day gratitude experiment.

If you’ve ever wanted to change your life and change your thoughts, this is the best time to do it.

If you want to have more money, improve your well being, unlock your potential, and deepen relationships, then this is for you.

If you think it’s absurd, silly, pointless or believe in unicorns, then no need to keep reading. Thanks for your time.

For those who want to join me here’s what you will do for the gratitude experiment.

Instructions for the Gratitude Experiment

Start by getting a journal

Photo by Seanmcragth

First, buy a journal or spiral notebook. In the morning spend five minutes writing down what you are thankful for. You can focus on thing like a good night’s sleep, comfortable bed, roof over your head, two good legs for walking, being able to see the sunshine in the morning. Make it about anything you want. Those aren’t silly! Those are things we should be thankful for but take for granted.

Those are just some ideas if you get stuck. But you should have plenty of reasons to be thankful. When you write them down, remember to really feel how grateful you are for it.

Second…at night before bed, spend five more minutes writing what you’re grateful for. It could be something that happened during the day. It could be anything in your life. There are no wrong answers.

Extra credit. Throughout the day when something good happens to you, give thanks. Such as you had a great meal. You get a parking spot in a crowded mall. You saw a great movie. Just say it to yourself. You don’t need to say it out loud.

Again, appreciate the things that you usually take for granted.

Triple credit!! Throughout the day when you are aware, just take the time to give thanks for everything in life. Just takes a moment. Give thanks for your health, your life, for the fun you’re having, for everything that’s wonderful and good.

Double extra triple credit! Join my the GBL Facebook page to join others through the 30 days. If you just want to join cause you like me, that’s accepted too.

The best part about this is that gratitude is free. Yet the returns you get will be life changing.

Some Tips

The things you write down can be kept to yourself. So don’t edit yourself when writing in your journal. This is for your eyes only. If you choose to share it with your partner, then by all means do. Even better, have your partner join in.

It should be a daily routine and as important as taking a shower and brushing your teeth. If you do neither on a daily basis, then thank goodness I’m not face to face with you!

It’s going to take discipline because it’s not a daily habit. You’ll need to make this a daily habit. Keep your journal next to your bed. Keep it somewhere you know you will see it.

You may not think it works but it’s worth trying the gratitude experiment for 30 days or your money back guaranteed. Think of it like a little seed. You plant it in the ground. You water it everyday. Little by little it grows but you still can’t see the results yet. You know if you keep giving it water and sunshine that flower will bloom. However it takes daily work and time.

I don’t expect every single person reading this to want to do this. I’m doing it now so who wants to join me?

Starting date is Monday May 16th

I want to get a week and see how many will join in on this gratitude experiment.

If you’re interested in joining me on this 30 day gratitude experiment, become a fan of my Facebook page. I want to stay in touch with everyone for 30 days. I thought about how to stay in contact with those who are participating. Emails? Twitter? Ultimately I thought Facebook would be a way.

At the end of the 30 days I’ll share my experience and others.

Share Share Share!

Photo by Jessiee Culzon

I honestly don’t know if I will get one person or a hundred people. I’m taking a leap of faith and offering help. At least I know I’ll be doing the gratitude experiment. So there’s one. If I only have one more person, I’ll be happy to go on this journey with that one person. The more the better of course.

If you don’t want to commit 30 days, I totally understand. I appreciate your reading what I had to say. Just find ways to be more thankful every day.

However please share this on Twitter, hit the “Like” button on Facebook, send an email to a friend who may be looking for change in their thoughts and life. Spread the word!

And if you’ve read all 2214 words, I’ll talk to Oprah about getting you a car. You deserve it!!! You’re awesome no matter what others say.

Remember share with your Twitter friends about the gratitude experiment below.

main photo by leafbug