When we evoke this energy of gratitude at first we associate with the memory or thought of something – but actually when you let the memory or thought fall away, the energy of gratitude remains – because it’s not actually connected to any one thing.
At a personal level the feeling we observe is the release of dopamine, activating our pleasure or reward centre in the brain. It’s the pleasure sensation that the brain receives when dopamine levels are elevated that motivates us to proactively take action. So simply put, we do something that makes us feel good, we are motivated to repeat this action, so that there is more feel good.
The tricky thing is that when we place our dependence on things outside of ourselves to trigger that reward centre – relying entirely on the outer world to feel good…we forget so much about ourselves and leave ourself open to crazy highs and lows.
But neuroscience is now showing that actually just the act of looking for something to be grateful for…is enough to trigger the neurotransmitters in our reward centre…giving us a little boost of dopamine. And the amazing science of neuroplasticity shows that when we repeat the activation of these neurons…new pathways are formed…effectively changing our brain chemistry. So the more we evoke the energy of gratitude, or look for gratitude – the more we support this change in chemistry – and the more gratitude we observe…and this gratitude has absolutely nothing to do with anything in our outer world.
Reality is I’m no neuroscientist and maybe my rational mind hasn’t fully wrapped it’s head around the scientific part of this all yet…but I know how I feel and I know that when I take 30 seconds to tune in to the energy of gratitude…I feel abundant and it’s as if my entire world shifts with the blink of an eye….and the more often I tune in…the more abundant I feel and the more aware I am of how the universe is conspiring WITH ME every single step of the way.
…sound like woo woo…give it a try and see how you feel…go on I dare you 😉
Today I’m especially grateful for words…and music…and the combination of the two together – amazing lyrics and sacred sounds….brings an instant awareness to the sacred tremor of the Heart.
I’m loving on this beautiful artist right now. Infinite love and gratitude <3