When you live with gratitude and appreciation, you live on a higher vibrational scale. Your energetic frequency is high. And, this can do wonders for your well being, your health and your ability to live in-joy. However, it’s not as good as it gets. You can discover how to overcome gratitude 😉 . To do this, one must count your blessings and live in a state of feeling really blessed in living the life you are guided to have. Here’s my belief:
Gratitude, typically, involves being thankful for something you now have that you didn’t once have. So, by definition, it is about overcoming something you once had in your life that you did not want. Vibrationally, this frequency is high and that’s good. But, the energy behind it has a hint of lack in it. Here’s an example: “I’m so grateful that I am able to take that vacation I once dreamed of.”It’s good, right? But, behind it is the energy of once not having the ability to do this.
Appreciation, as a word, is very much the same as Gratitude but doesn’t come with the lack feeling. “I appreciate the variety of foods I have to nurture my body.” You can exchange gratitude in that sentence. But, the energy behind the word ‘appreciation’ vibrates just a little higher. It doesn’t have that part of having to overcome something within it and therefore being appreciative is a higher emotion to have.
In the book, Ask and it is Given, Abraham describes the emotional guidance scale. It discusses how you can work at feeling a ‘little better’ by choosing an emotion that is just above the one you are feeling at the moment. At the top of the emotional scale are joy, appreciation, freedom, love. Living in this space is one that allows you to live in-joy at all moments. (And, Love, is certainly the highest vibration of all.)
It goes beyond gratitude and appreciation. When I was young, I was always told to count my blessings. But, I was told this in a way that came from a place of lack. Now, when I count my blessings. I count them from a bless of pure wonderment that I have the very thing that I am feeling blessed for in my life. The fresh delightful peach I just ate. The view from writing this post. I am truly blessed to be able to have the choices that I have in my life. I am truly blessed to be able to choose to live in-joy at any given moment. And this comes not from a place of lack. This comes not from a place of gratitude that I am doing this now versus that then. And not from a place of appreciation of all that I have in my life. It comes from a place of feeling really blessed to be living the life I have.
I scratched my gratitude journal that so many empowerment guru’s suggest. It IS a great place to start on this journey so if you are just beginning to move into a place of living in-joy. Use one daily if not hourly! But, to truly move into a place where you can count your blessings, use a blessing bowl at night! <—just hit the link to see what I mean.
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That is a good view indeed!
in both ways 😉
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Comment by Niene.nu — August 26, 2013 @ 10:48 am
Great post. I often talk about the need to be grateful for your present state. That is the only way we can project the energy to bring positive people around us.
Thanks for the great reminder.
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 12:05 pm
You are welcome, Mike! Gratitude truly is the cornerstone for what you describe 🙂
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Comment by Mike Martel — August 26, 2013 @ 1:47 pm
Right on!
Gratitude also feels like you have something or are experiencing something “by chance. Or something you don’t deserve. When in truth, you attract everything to you! In a way, gratitude feels like a declaration of separation from God, rather than an appreciation of blessings. Because when we are connected, we feel how Everything is ours to enjoy and appreciate. Not by luck or chance or even God’s grace, but because we have the power to attract and create our experience. But when we feel grateful, like you said, it can feel as if something blew into our experience by chance.
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
🙂 Yes, Nancy, Right On with your thoughts too!
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Comment by Nancy Tierney — August 27, 2013 @ 7:07 pm
Hi! This is a beautiful article! Thank you! In the past, I’ve sensed that “lack” feeling associated with being grateful and the joy that sings through me when I appreciate. Then, to look around and feel blessed and know that I am blessed is beyond. It’s living my life as it’s meant to be. Thanks so much!
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Thanks, Janet!!! I hope this serves you well 🙂
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Comment by Janet — August 28, 2013 @ 9:24 am
What a great idea Laura! Recently, I even take a moment dozens of times a day in which I feel “wow, I am so grateful of this moment” and really allow that joy to sink into my heart. It then brings a smile to my face!
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Love your smiling face, KellY!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
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Comment by Kelly — August 29, 2013 @ 7:21 am
Thanks so much for sharing this Laura!
Yes, I have to remind myself that appreciation is better than gratitude. I’ve had to make a big shift, as I’ve been brought up with phrases such as ‘Thank God X happened’ or ‘We were so lucky Y happened, otherwise…’ I have disliked those phrases, for the exact same reason you point out – they speak of lack. In fact, the next time I hear a close friend/family member say that, I’ll suggest this reframe!
I also love the Blessings Bowl idea – will start it tonight!
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Let me know how it goes Sarada ~ you canpost it on my facebook fan page if you would like. I’d love to see it 🙂
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Comment by Sarada — August 29, 2013 @ 11:09 am
Thanks Laura, what a great post! Challenging us all to live at the highest level of joy is simply superb. Yes indeed I am truly blessed.
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
🙂 So glad you are Lori!
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Comment by Lori Manns — August 29, 2013 @ 7:30 pm
Wow – I’ve never thought of it that way, but you are totally right! Such a fine distinction, but so powerful. Thank you, Laura – I’m going to go count my many blessings!
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 11:58 am
It is every so slight but indeed makes a difference! 🙂
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Comment by Emily — August 29, 2013 @ 10:29 pm
Thanks Laura! I have already received feedback about your guest post on this subject and my clients found it very valuable. I had recently integrated this idea into my Fertility in Bloom Program, this is total synchronicity!
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Laura Clark Reply:
September 9th, 2013 at 11:58 am
Yea!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Comment by Dorothy Pang, The Natural Fertility Expert — August 30, 2013 @ 5:05 pm