How to Express the Six Dimensions of Gratitude

How to Express the Six Dimensions of GratitudeFor example, when you are in a particular situation at
 work, at home, with a friend or family member, you
So much has been said about gratitude lately that Imight ask yourself the following:
almost didn’t write this article. Then, I stopped andWhat am I particularly grateful for about this situation?
listened to my internal dialogue.  Did I really hear an 
inner voice saying that my readers might 'get tired' of3)      Express gratitude to others.
the message?  As I let that voice go, it wasIdentify 10 people (if you have trouble with this, start
abundantly clear that the energy of Gratitude clearlywith identifying one or two people) who have had a
wants to be expressed.positive impact on your life.
 How could you express your appreciation to these
One of the greatest gifts of Gratitude is the receptivityimportant people?
and openness that it creates in our hearts. Have youFor example, you might write a personal letter thanking
ever noticed a greater degree of expansivenesseach person for his or her specific influence on you
when you have identified and made intimate contactand send it by snail mail.  Can you imagine the impact
with this quality?   Gratitude changes us.   From anthat would have on them?
Enneagram perspective, Gratitude is an expression of 
the Essential Nature of Type Seven, the Enthusiast,4)      Find the gifts in difficult circumstances or
and that energy within us. difficult relationships and experience gratitude for those
 gifts.
Have you noticed where you are and what you areFor example, see a person perceived as being the
doing when you experience Gratitude?  I find that itsource of difficulty as a ‘teacher’ of something
requires awareness and an internal stillness.  Truly, itthat you are learning.  Asking yourself, “What is
can only be experienced in the present moment.  Onthis person here to teach me?” is a powerful
a very human level, it challenges any temptationquestion.  Many of my clients have found this to be a
toward self-pity, victimization, self-grandiosity or otherpotent source of change in their lives.
form of narcissism, and uplifts us to our higher nature. 
Ultimately, Gratitude is an act of being a conscious5)   Receive gratitude from others.
partner in the play of the Universe. It grows ourPractice receiving gratitude and thanks from others.
perspective of what it means to be alive. IntentionalSometimes, this can feel more difficult than expressing
Gratitude is very simply, transformative.your gratitude.  Even if this is so, acknowledge it and
There is a “continuum” of gratitude consisting ofexperiment with accepting positive regard and
6 dimensions.  Each is identified below, along with aappreciation from others.  (I know.  For some of you,
particular example or practice.  this breaks all your old rules.)
  
1)      Recognize specific aspects of your life for6)      Be a person of gratitude.
which you are grateful.When you practice recognizing the gifts of life,
Identify some of the specific aspects of life for whichexpressing thanks and receiving the gratitude of
you are grateful.others, you may notice that you’ll experience a
For example, set aside two-three times/week toqualitative difference in your life.  You start to live
reflect on and write about what you are grateful forfrom this quality.  You become a force for this healing
and why you are grateful for that particularquality.
experience.  Allow yourself to feel the gratitude, so 
that you are not just thinking about it, but also noticingThis continuum of recognizing—to acting upon—to
how it affects your heart.being/living from—naturally will begin to re-orient your
 life toward more expansiveness. 
2)      Identify a ‘present moment’ 
awareness for which you are grateful; about yourself,I would love to hear from you regarding your
about others, about your opportunities or about yourexperiences with this continuum.
life.