Fiveminutexperiment's Blog

World Appreciation Day

February 14, 2010

What would the world be like if more of us chose appreciation, love and joy over fear, doubt and anger?

Common sense tells us that the amount of fear, hatred and anxiety many of us are living with during these tumultuous times cannot be good. In fact, a growing number of medical practitioners, scientists and spiritual leaders are pointing out that negative emotions are positively destructive – both personally and planetarily. Damn near 50% of Americans and Canadians alone are now taking at least one prescription drug to counter-act stress or depression, while fear of everything from H1N1 viruse to war have many others lulled into a passive, “what can I do?” stupor.

I believe there is something we can do – each of us, individually – and it’s requirements are so simple as to seem far-fetched. Far-fetched or not, my invitation is harmless and requires only five minutes of your time on February 14th, 2010.

Science has been demonstrating and metaphysicians have been concluding for some time now that everything is energy – including our thoughts. If this is true, then our thoughts clearly have the power to effect us and the energies around us. Many of us have read or watched movies like “The Secret”, or “What the Bleep,” where doctors, scientists, motivational teachers and millionaires address the power of our thoughts (called the Law of Attraction) to effect change.

If you are unfamiliar with these concepts, I will explain in a nutshell: Thought creates. Emotionally-charged thought creates powerfully. The Law of Attraction states that Like attracts Like, and that what we think about – particularly when it is charged with feeling – is ultimately what we create for our lives. Thus if I devote my thoughts to fear and worry, what will show up in my life are more things to be frightened of or worried about. But when I choose to appreciate the positive things in my life, I (and many, many others) find that more things to appreciate show up our my lives.

The energy of appreciation is powerful and is akin to unconditional love. Appreciation inspires joy, and joy is the antidote to fear and hate. When we live with joy and appreciation, we live in peace – with ourselves and with those around us. And when we live in peace, we thrive!

Taking these insights personally, many of us are now beginning to experience how emotionally-charged, positive thinking is improving our lives. Many of us are beginning to finally live our dreams.

Now, it is time to take this power a step further.

As individuals, we may not believe we have the power to effect change on a global or even a regional scale, but we do - each and every one of us – have the power to choose our thoughts for positive, personal change. And by choosing positive thoughts in order to feel better, we make a difference in our own lives and the lives of those around us. By collectively choosing positive thoughts, perhaps our reach can be global.

I have been asking myself what would happen if we were to collectively harness this powerful Law of Attraction for positive change? What change might we effect in our communities, our nation and our world? I am hoping that each of you would like to find out with me.

I want to invite everyone who reads this to give a mere five minutes of their time on February 14th, 2010 to appreciate. I am asking each of you, for but five minutes on Valentine’s Day, 2010, to make a choice to feel appreciation for anything and everything in your life that you are grateful for.

There are many, many ways you can do this. Perhaps you will choose to wake and devote five minutes to appreciating a new day. Perhaps you would like to share with family and friends over a meal, or during a meditation, while playing with a pet or before drifting off to sleep. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is the intent and the feelings of appreciation and gratitude for whatever in your life is positive.

I know that some of us are moving through a period of deep struggle or change. Perhaps you are one who can hardly see what on earth there is in your life right now to be thankful for. If you are in such a dilemma, I want to first send you my loving encouragement – I, and many others know that this can change for you, and I send you my heartfelt prayers that your troubles will soon be eased. But, even as you struggle, I want to ask you to find something on February 14th, 2010 that is positive in your life, and then ‘milk’ that something for just five minutes. Maybe you enjoy the sunshine, or love it when the neighbor’s dog wants a scratch behind the ear. Perhaps you adore a certain meal or have a colleague who makes you laugh. Whatever it is, give those five minutes to yourself and to the world by reveling in the good feelings you experience when you think about it. If you want to supercharge this positive flow of feelings, place your hand or hands over your heart and bring your attention to your heart as you allow yourself to feel appreciation and gratitude.

Studies have shown that the brain cannot tell the difference between current experience and past (or future) experiences that are thought of with intent and strong feelings. So if you are busy dwelling on the negative aspects of your life – past, current or potential future (i.e. fear) – your brain sends signals to your body that this negativity is happening NOW. This produces stress, and unrelenting stress breaks down the physical body.

So even if you don’t believe that your five minutes could possibly be of benefit to the world, know that they will be of benefit to you. What have you got to lose but five minutes - and some lousy thoughts?

Again I invite you: please take five minutes – any five will do – out of your day this coming February 14th, 2010 to offer thoughts and feelings of appreciation and gratitude for anything at all that makes you feel good.

Tell your friends!

Pass this on!

Let this message spread like wildfire, like a healing salve, like a virus of good cheer across our entire planet. We don’t yet know what our collective thought-power’s limits are, so let’s just see what they might be together – as one appreciative, planetary family.

With abundant love and appreciation for each of you,

xoxo

Dawn