The Practice of Gratitude

My mother used to write at least a thank-you note each day of her adult life. She was asked once, what she did where there was no one to thank. She answered, “There’s always someone to thank.”

Mom had that “attitude of gratitude” that we hear about so much, but she had something more important. She had the practice of gratitude.

Attitude is fine, but it’s invisible. It lives inside your head where no one but you can see it. The real benefits of gratitude don’t kick in until you start practicing gratitude habits.

Gratitude is Good for You

Gratitude helps you stay on an even keel, even in stressful situations. Gratitude helps keep you grounded and humble. Expressing gratitude can help strengthen the bonds of social support.

Write Your Gratitude
Writing helps you concentrate on the things you’re grateful for. It helps you understand how many things you have to be grateful for.

Keep a gratitude journal. Note the things that you’re grateful for. Then, don’t just think about those things, savor the memory of them.

Write thank-you notes and emails. You don’t have to match my mother’s three-notes-every-day standard, but take the time to write. Handwritten notes are especially powerful.

Speak Your Gratitude

Thank people for the good things they do, both for you and for others. Praise them. If you pray, be sure to thank God.

Act Your Gratitude

Show people that you value them and you’re grateful for their presence in your life. Give them time and attention. Take time for conversations.

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Pull Out The Weeds And Let The Good Seed Grow

Now that the cold season is over in the Southern part of the world where I live I have been working in my garden, pulling out weeds and old plants; and putting new seed into the ground.

 I have been working in my garden; pulling out weeds and old plants; and putting new seed into the ground.

Observations of what is happening in the garden alerted me to two things that I felt are very important life lessons. In every garden or farm there is always competition going on between the good seed that you really want and the weeds. Somehow the weeds seem to have an upper hand over the good seed and they grow very quickly and many a times if left unchecked they almost always crowd out and choke the good seed. It seems the weeds are native to the patch of soil without any effort from me they just flourish whereas the good seed actually requires me to firstly clear the ground, hoe it, add manure, put them into the ground, water and tend them to maturity.

Allow me a little digression. Over the past three years I have had interesting experiences with one weed-cum-vegetable. In Shona Culture, like many other Bantu Cultures, the tender leaves of the blackjack plant are consumed as a delicacy in the rainy season. Being anaemic I am particularly fond of this weed-cum-vegetable because it is my opinion it is a natural iron supplement and when I moved to my current place of residence the blackjack plant was all over the yard and the garden. Being the man that I am I always allowed it an element of free reign certain sections of my garden so that I could enjoy it. The results were always catastrophic for the other vegetables that would be growing in the same section with the blackjack. Anyone with a little farming experience would tell you that weeds and "plants" compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight and if left unchecked the weeds have an upper hand in the competition.

I would liken weeds and the good plants to failure and success in that order. When you consider any area life from relationships, academia, business or careers we also have our weeds and good plants. Just like the weeds in my garden the weeds in these areas of life seem native to us and don't require much effort to flourish. Think of how easily we lie and cheat on our spouses. Think of how easily we break our promises to our children. Think of how we almost always neglect studying until the very last minute before the exam. Think of the many businesses that aborted before they even started.

Failure is so native in and to us and no wonder it is all over : failed marriages, failed businesses, failed and failing students, and recently Africa and other parts of the world have started producing failed states. Just like the weeds in my garden it does not require effort it rolls out on its own. The good plants of success on the other hand like the good plants in my garden require deliberate and conscious effort if we are to enjoy their fruits. The ground has to be cleared, hoed, manured, good seed planted and tended to maturity. And as you consciously grow the good seed of success you have to consciously uproot the weeds of failure because the two can not exist side by side. One of the reasons we fail in life is simply because we do nothing and the weeds just grow. As a teacher, and a lay leader in church I have met a lot of people whose sole problem was inactivity or what I would like to call an, " I am going to do nothing about my situation syndrome " or worse still an " I know what's wrong but I am not going to do anything about it attitude ". With this attitude the weeds will definitely flourish and failure becomes commonplace.

As I conclude let me provide justification for my earlier digression on the blackjack plant. Life also gives us our blackjack plants and these are usually weeds which can be enjoyed as vegetables but in the greater scheme of things are damaging to the rest of the good crop in your garden. Our blackjack plants differ and it is your duty to identify yours. At a personal level I generally love reading, and for that matter I read on almost any subject that comes my way. I remember in my first two years as teacher I reached a stage where I could miss work because I was engrossed in one form of reading or another. Just like the blackjack in my garden this delicacy called reading for the love of reading was crowding out the good plants in my teaching garden. For another it may be the blackjack of flirtatious conduct at the office which may end up crowding out a happy marriage or the blackjack of uncontrolled use of social media which my end up crowding out your relation.

For another it may be the blackjack of flirtatious conduct at the office which may end up crowding out a happy marriage or the blackjack of uncontrolled use of social media which my end up crowding out your relationships or academic work.

Written By Tendayi I Mawango for Arthur Mutambara

10 Affirmations To Change Your Life

You can do whatever you want to do with your life. There is greatness in each and every one of us on planet earth. All we need to do is to go for greatness. Do not be afraid to work hard. Never make any excuses to avoid work. Get liberated from your own fear. Once you get liberated from your own fear then others around you will also automatically get liberated.

Never waste time hating hard work. Never run away from hard work for it will catapult you to greatness. Never hide from hard work. When you know that hard work is coming, avail yourself and face it head on. 

Do not be afraid of the pain that comes with hard work. Always try something. Do not be afraid to fail. Work is only what you think it is.

As a follow on to our article on self affirmations here are some more affirmations to help you not to cower in the face of life.

1) (For business persons) My business is growing, expanding, and thriving.

2.) Creative energy surges through me and leads me to new and brilliant ideas.

3.) Happiness is a choice. I base my happiness on my own accomplishments and the blessings I've been given.

4.) My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite.

5.) (For those who are unemployed) I deserve to be employed and paid well for my time, efforts, and ideas. Each day, I am closer to finding the perfect job for me.

6.) I am courageous and I stand up for myself.

7.) My thoughts are filled with positivity and my life is plentiful with prosperity.

8.) Today, I abandon my old habits and take up new, more positive ones.

9.) Many people look up to me and recognize my worth; I am admired.

10.) I am blessed with an incredible family and wonderful friends.

What Changes The World Starts With You.

It is easy to change the lives of people. It takes one person at a time. Changing the world can happen anywhere anytime. It matters not your race, gender, orientation or social status. Our struggles in the world are similar. Solutions to the world's problems lie in men and women who are willing to take the risk and start making the right decisions. Generations can be changed because of your own personal decision.

Steve Jobs Changed The World In Music, Animation and Phones

How can each one of us change the world? The following are some of the ways that can help you and I to play our part in changing the world.

Start doing simple tasks that you often overlook. Completion of simple tasks will give you a small sense of pride and will encourage you to do another and another. Completion of the little tasks will make you aware that little tasks completed make up greatness. Never overlook the little tasks in your life. If you cannot do the little things correctly then you can never do the big things right too.
If you hope to be a world changer, you will need to find someone to help you along the way. It can be frustrating journey when you travel it on your own. Through difficult times you will need help and assistance. Nothing matters than the will to succeed. if you want to be a world changer you are never measured by your social status, race, colour or anything else. You are only measured by the size of your heart.

Sometimes you will try very hard and still fail to achieve. That is the way life is. Do not give up or give in. Sometimes you will look stupid after trying so hard and the naysayers will always point fingers at you but still, dust yourself up after each fall and go ahead. Do not stop. Some days you will fail to measure up but it does not matter. The pain of failure will only build you up to be a better person altogether.

You may sometimes need do foolish moves just to break the records. You may have to slide into the thick of things head first. Take the risks and decide to do something that no one has ever done before. Never back down from trouble.

If you want to change the world you should have hope. Hope makes you sing when you are stuck in the mud. Have a positive attitude towards all circumstances.

Take the Initiative and start playing your part in leaving this world a better place than we found it.

Self Affirmation: I Am The Greatest No One Is Greatest

What is your affirmation about yourself? Muhammad Ali affirmed himself to be the greatest man of them all and he achieved that. So as you read this what is your affirmation about yourself?
The word affirmation comes from the Latin affirmare, initially meaning "to make steady, strengthen."
Affirmations do indeed fortify us by helping us believe in the possibility of an action we desire to make visible. When we orally affirm our dreams and ambitions, we are immediately empowered with a deep sense of encouragement that our wishful words will become a certainty.

Muhammad Ali affirmed himself to be the greatest man of them all and he achieved that.

We always have this self negative talk about ourselves. We allow people to bully us into submission that we are not good enough. It is a fact that thoughts influence our actions. Once we have developed thoughts that we are not good enough then we become just that. Get yourself your own self affirmation and work towards that.

No words are empty words, as every syllable we speak engages energy towards or against us. If you constantly say "I can't," the energy of your words will repel the universal force against you. But if you say "I can!" the universe will endow you with the abilities to do just that. So speak away; relinquish your fears and purge your anger, predict your own future and live up to your potential with the 35 affirmations that will change your life:

1.) I am the architect of my life; I build its foundation and choose its contents.

2.) Today, I am brimming with energy and overflowing with joy.

3.) My body is healthy; my mind is brilliant; my soul is tranquil.

4.) I am superior to negative thoughts and low actions.

5.) I have been given endless talents which I begin to utilize today.

6.) I forgive those who have harmed me in my past and peacefully detach from them.

7.) A river of compassion washes away my anger and replaces it with love.

8.) I am guided in my every step by Spirit who leads me towards what I must know and do.

9.) (If you're married) My marriage is becoming stronger, deeper, and more stable each day.

10.) I possess the qualities needed to be extremely successful.

After They Bury You: Who Will Carry On With Your Vision?

The burial of one of my close friends left me reflecting. He was a fine young man who had a great vision. He succumbed to cancer and with him all his dreams and visions went into the grave. As I watched relatives and friends mourn and wail, I was deep in my heart full of joy that the young man Charles had shared with me his work in progress and I knew what needed to be done and where to start. 

When You Die, What Dies With You? Who Will Take Over Your Work In Progress?

One of the greatest thinkers of all time Karl Max died a stateless person and was buried by his family and friends. It is said that there were roughly between nine and eleven people at his funeral.

Friedrich Engels was Karl Max close friends and confidant. Engels' speech at the funeral included the passage:

"On the 14th of March, at a quarter to three in the afternoon, the greatest living thinker ceased to think. He had been left alone for scarcely two minutes, and when we came back we found him in his armchair, peacefully gone to sleep—but forever."

It is said Friedrich Engels and the other few friends who knew what Karl Max was working on immediately took over and finished off his book after he died. That in itself is an important lesson. Someone knew what Karl was working on and they continued with his vision without difficulty.

My friend Charles, died a bitter man because none among his relatives was keen to share his vision with him. When I expressed my desire to listen to him, he was overjoyed that at least someone would continue with his vision. I am glad that I listened to him. I knew I had to work and work very hard at the same time sharing my vision and my dreams with someone to take over when I eventually rest. I have carried on from where he left off.

After my friend's funeral I reflected on how much time I have left. I kept thinking about Charles whose life was so promising. I thought about all the things that he said he was going to do and of which he never got a chance to do. I knew I had to find a person to share my vision with.

Myles Munroe died in a plane crash but he had already shared his vision with his family and the transition of the vision was smooth. The family knew exactly what needed to be done.

In my The Lion In You series I gave an insight into how Cecil, the Lion's legacy continued when his sibling Jericho took over the pride after Cecil's death.

Yes Charles my dear friend is gone but I knew what he was working on and I am busy right now explaining to his relatives who are shocked to realise that the young man had great potential.

As days pass by, be aware that each one is a blessing to you and tomorrow is not guaranteed. What are you doing in preparing for your vision to carry on even in your rest? Are you sharing what you are doing with your close confidants? When you die who will finish off your book like Friedrich Engels and others did for Karl Max ? Who will carry on your vision like I did to Charles?