When I give out one of my gratitude cards, the receiver reads the spiritual statement inside which activates their parasympathetic nervous system. They like that and thank me for giving them the card.
Well friends, I have to admit that it never occurred to me that the practice of Gratitude had anything to do with receiving a complement from others. You say, "an effective gratitude practice requires both expressing gratitude and receiving gratitude." I just figured it was a conversation between me and God.
Well, this is an untested theory. However, I believe any words that touch us deeply and make us feel cared for, safe, and seen, would qualify as benevolent brain chemicals, regardless of the source of the words. Maybe we need a different term than WOW compliments ... something that gets them out of the realm of, "Oh that's a lovely blouse." ???
We are now well-acquainted with the term to 'hit the pause button.' That may be useful. One might say, 'their compliment gave me pause'. Or, when I read/saw that, I had to pause. When I realized what a gift that experience/relationship was, I had to pause.
What a WOW compliment for Lynne and beautiful image you created, Joyce. I love the offer you made, too. I bow to you in gratitude for the way you listen, observe, perceive, ponder and ACT. 💖
There are people I do t see often and every time we see each other it is one of those oxytocin hugs an we both love them. And they stay with us.
I think hugs, gratitude received, and Wow! compliments are all related, with the most powerful being hugs. ;-)
When I give out one of my gratitude cards, the receiver reads the spiritual statement inside which activates their parasympathetic nervous system. They like that and thank me for giving them the card.
So, I get to receive an expression of gratitude.
Well friends, I have to admit that it never occurred to me that the practice of Gratitude had anything to do with receiving a complement from others. You say, "an effective gratitude practice requires both expressing gratitude and receiving gratitude." I just figured it was a conversation between me and God.
Well, this is an untested theory. However, I believe any words that touch us deeply and make us feel cared for, safe, and seen, would qualify as benevolent brain chemicals, regardless of the source of the words. Maybe we need a different term than WOW compliments ... something that gets them out of the realm of, "Oh that's a lovely blouse." ???
We are now well-acquainted with the term to 'hit the pause button.' That may be useful. One might say, 'their compliment gave me pause'. Or, when I read/saw that, I had to pause. When I realized what a gift that experience/relationship was, I had to pause.
I like that idea and will have to pause to think about it more. Thanks!
What a WOW compliment for Lynne and beautiful image you created, Joyce. I love the offer you made, too. I bow to you in gratitude for the way you listen, observe, perceive, ponder and ACT. 💖
Wow, Becky ... I'm going to take that last line as my Wow! compliment. I want to live up to those words.
As it was intended, dear friend...and you DO live up to it with each and every post. Keep 'em coming. 💖