In, Out, and Up (Not Just Another Post About Gratitude)
I have a confession:
I’m not on social media a lot
I don't consume a lot of content
If you’ve ever sent me a DM you know that it can be unread for a week
I call these boundaries. I think boundaries are sexy.
99% of the time, I'd rather:
Be introspective
Make content from what I’m learning in real life
Focus on the 5 relationships in my life that mean the most to me
I say all this because I’m fairly certain that you’ve been bombarded with content on gratitude this past week (assuming you’re American or follow American influencers who’ve been experiencing Thanksgiving).
At the risk of just being another person talking about gratitude, I hope this is a new perspective that you haven't heard yet and that you get something truly valuable out of it.
It starts with an introduction to something I’ve just learned about: inattentional blindness.
Inattentional Blindness
Inattentional blindness is the psychological phenomenon where individuals fail to notice an object or event in their field, even when it is fully visible.
It happens when a person's attention is focused on another task or object, causing them to be "blind" to other stimuli.
We typically use it as a tool for productivity – it aids in our ability to focus on the most important tasks and get shit done – but it also highlights the limitations of human attention and perception, showing that our awareness is selective and can easily miss significant details when our attention is directed elsewhere.
Harvard Meets Hogwarts
While most of us strive for big accomplishments, neuroscientific studies suggest that it’s the smallest of positive experiences that activate the brain regions associated with happiness and contentment.
Inattentional blindness makes it exceptionally easy to miss out on “the little things” that are rewards within themselves:
Journaling
A long walk
A chat with a friend
To combat inattentional blindness, we need to go a step further -- be intentional and specific about our gratitude.
Who or what made those experiences possible?
What is true because you got to experience them?
This is where “Harvard” (the neuroscience of it all) meets “Hogwarts” (the manifestation magic of it all) and you become a magnet for what you want in life, both big and small.
In, Out, and Up
When going the extra-mile to turn gratitude into a magnet for the life you desire -- there’s a trifecta you need to know.
1. In (Me)
Inattentional blindness makes it easy to turn off your brain and just “do your time” to get by in life.
But you can be intentional with your thoughts and actions – you’re not a cyborg.
You’re a human being that has choices. Your choices have ripple effects. You don’t have to let your environment control your choices.
That’s something to be grateful to yourself about.
Let’s see how this works with one of our examples – journaling.
What makes this possible?
I have able hands
I made the time to sit with yourself
I have taken the preemptive actions to gather for yourself something to write with and paper
What is true about “me” because this is happening:
I provide for myself
I take care of myself
I desire to know myself, and I'm getting to know myself through the habit of writing
Gorgeous, right?
2. Out (Us)
Inattentional blindness can make us self-centered, thinking we’re the only ones contributing the the happiness and comforts of our life.
But isn’t it true that almost everything around you was made by or maintained by others?
Get outside of yourself and acknowledge that you simply wouldn’t be here, experiencing these things, without the contributions of others.
Let’s see how this works with one of our examples – a long walk.
What makes this possible?
Those who clean the trailway
Those who paved the sidewalk
Those watching your kids or respecting your space
What is true about “us” because this is happening?
We’re all connected
We care about each other
We each serve a bigger purpose
Doesn’t that feel good?
3. Up (Spirit)
When I’m having a hard time my friends will kindly remind me, “Where’s Spirit in all this? Have you invited Spirit into this situation?”
Be intentional in your thanks to the divine. Be specific and focused in your thanks-giving.
When was the last time you saw the sky as Spirit?
Do you see Spirit in your history?
Don’t let inattentional blindness cause you to miss what Spirit is doing in your life right now (and has done to get you here).
Let’s see how this works with one of our examples – a chat with a friend.
What makes this possible?
Your ability to speak
The Spirit that lives within your friend
Spirit brought you and your friend together in this life
What is true about “Spirit” because this is happening?
Spirit loves me
Spirit sends me support and inspiration
Spirit performs miracles through our voices
This gives me immense courage and purpose.
Keep it Simple, Smartie
As always, the solution to your life's biggest dramas and desires are simple – pay attention, reveal the truth, absorb the lesson, and act accordingly.
Hit reply and send me 3 things you’re grateful for. While I've confessed that I'm terrible at responding to DMs, I'm actually pretty good at emails :)
Bonus: tell me what is true about “me” or “us” or “Spirit” because those things are happening for you.
Be intentional and specific.
I can’t wait to witness and celebrate with you.
Jenna Lou