Passion Struck with John R. Miles - How to Unlock the Incredible Regenerative Power of Gratitude w/John R. Miles EP 220

Episode Date: November 25, 2022

In today's Momentum Friday episode of Passion Struck, I share with you how to unlock the regenerative power of gratitude. By understanding the power of gratitude, we can tap into the strength to heal ourselves and bring about real change in our lives. Listen and learn why the regenerative power of gratitude is the key to a satisfying and meaningful life. What I Discuss About the Regenerative Power of Gratitude Gratitude has long been known to be a powerful force that can improve our lives.  Although gratitude can be challenging to practice, its benefits can enhance the degree to which we are truly blessed. I explore how regeneration is tied to gratitude and how it helps unlock an intentional life where our actions and choices align with our ability to overcome difficult times and leads to making us happier overall.   Full show notes and resources can be found here: https://passionstruck.com/incredible-power-of-gratitude/  Brought to you by American Giant and BiOptimizers. --► For information about advertisers and promo codes, go to: https://passionstruck.com/deals/  --► Prefer to watch this interview: https://youtu.be/92IxoviEsgw  Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! --► Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles Want to find your purpose in life? I provide my six simple steps to achieving it - passionstruck.com/5-simple-steps-to-find-your-passion-in-life/ Did you hear my interview with Robin Sharma, one of the top personal mastery and leadership coaches in the world and a multiple-time number-one New York Times best-selling author? Catch up with episode 209: Robin Sharma on Why Changing the World Starts by Changing Ourselves ===== FOLLOW ON THE SOCIALS ===== * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion_struck_podcast * Gear: https://www.zazzle.com/store/passion_sruck_podcast Learn more about John: https://johnrmiles.com/ 

Coming up next on the Passion Struck Podcast, always remember that you have something to be grateful for in your past, present, or future that will significantly contribute to the success of your journey to becoming a person of gratitude. Welcome to Passion Struck. Hi, I'm your host, John Armeils, and on the show, we decipher the secrets, tips, and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you. Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you can become the

best version of yourself. If you're new to the show, I offer advice and answer listener questions on Fridays. We have long-form interviews the rest of the week with guest ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes. Now, let's go out there and become PassionStruck. Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Momentum Friday, an episode 220 of PassionStruck. And thank you to each and every one of you who comes back weekly to listen and learn. and to live better, be better, and impact the world. If you're new to the show, thank you so much for being here.

And if you're unaware of our YouTube channel, please go check it out at John Armiles where we have over 470 videos, where you will find exclusive content that you can only find there along with the interviews that you see here today. I wanted to acknowledge our fan of the week, Scott Delusio, who said, incredible podcast. As a guest on this podcast, I had the opportunity to see firsthand

how John digs into the issues that we chatted about. It was an incredible experience, and I encourage everybody to subscribe to this podcast and learn from the incredible guests that John has on the show. Scott, thank you so much for that review. And I will encourage you to please go and check out the episode that I did with him, which was episode 213. We so appreciate these ratings and reviews

and they go such a long way and helping to improve the popularity of the show are reach and our ratings on both Apple and Spotify. Now, let's talk about today's episode. Thanksgiving Day is observed in the United States every year on the fourth Thursday in November. Yesterday marked another of such days, and similar days are observed in different countries worldwide. Beyond the aroma of the roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, and the many delicacies shared on this day between family and loved ones,

it is a day for deep reflection on the many blessings of the year and one to express deep gratitude. Therefore, you might have thought I picked out of place topics for Thanksgiving week if you listen to my interviews from earlier this week. On Tuesday, I talked with NYU Stern School of Business Professor and serial entrepreneur Scott Galloway about why America is a Drift. And yesterday, I spoke to Dr. Sherry Walling about the emotions that come from loss in the grieving process. Both of those might seem like odd topics, especially for this week, but both episodes also had underlying themes

that I wanted to tie into why we celebrate Thanksgiving. One is about gratitude for what we have and often take for granted. And the other is about hope for a better future. As much as Thanksgiving is a day dedicated to giving appreciation. Not everyone is going to feel like they have something to be grateful for. The year might have been a really challenging one for you,

and you might even been going through a predicament that makes you sad and melancholy. Hearing the good news shared by friends and other family members might even make it worse for you, turning a day that is meant to be one of comfort, into, instead, an unpleasant one for you. But if you dive deeper, I believe we all have something. We're grateful for, and if you practice gratitude, come what may, you will be able to enjoy all its benefits. Life is full of ups and downs. There are challenges to overcome, and some of these can make us weary. But oftentimes, this is only because we focus so much on our troubles, and what we don't

have that we lose sight of the everyday blessings in our lives. Gratitude does not imply that you pretend or deny the existence of your hardship or suffering. We all want good things, and it's normal to feel hurt when certain things trouble you. But gratitude is acknowledging all the good stuff that you have, no matter how little it may seem. As Roman philosopher Marcus Helius Cicero said, a thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.

Ideally, Thanksgiving Day shouldn't be a one day and a year then, but one that we should celebrate every day. For each day brings new hope for the better, and we should never take that for granted. This hope for the future is the focus of today's episode, and opening your hearts to what you can do, enabling you to practice it more often. I will begin by sharing the story of Cynthia Omo who underwent three separate surgeries within the space of a year and learned to stay grateful for all of it. Thank you for choosing PassionStruck

and choosing me to be your hosting guide on your journey to creating an intentional life now. Let that journey begin. [♪ Music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background, music playing in background that. At the time, it didn't seem like it was anything serious, but was just the pain that came occasionally, and that she handled with normal over-the-counter painkillers. But after the wedding, her pain grew worse and more constant, and she decided to go see a doctor. After a proper checkup was done on her, it was discovered that she suffered from a condition known as osteoarthritis. This degenerative disease causes the chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints. was done on her, it was discovered that she suffered from a condition known as osteoarthritis. This degenerative disease causes the chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints.

She was put on additional medications, consisting of primarily strong painkillers. Cynthia continued to manage this condition until July 2020, when she got pregnant and was advised to stop the pain medication. Because of the impact that it could have on the developing baby in her womb, continuing the powerful drugs posed considerable risk to the baby, and she had no choice but to stop them. She had managed the pain through pregnancy and thankfully delivered the baby via Caesarean.

Cynthia had hoped that the hip pain would now subside, especially since the weight gain that had contributed to it had been taken off, but instead it only got worse. Cynthia was about to begin to fully treat the condition when she started to feel severe pain in her mole or tooth, and had to endure surgery to extract the impacted tooth, which led to her experiencing even more discomfort. But beyond the physical pains, she was also going through the emotional pain of being a new mother who was not fully available to be there for her baby emotionally.

Her hip condition degenerated to a vascular necrosis, causing bone tissue death and collapse. At this point, Cynthia was faced with having to do complete hip replacement. The pain was consistently intense, but she managed to stay grateful for the support of her family and friends throughout that period. Cynthia successfully got hip replacement surgery, but after the procedure, the pain became even more intense, and it caused her to have a hard time sleeping for weeks on end. But she now realized that her pain was progressing towards recovery and not just from the torment of the problem itself.

Today, she shares her story with so much joy and uses it to encourage others to find reasons to hope for better days and be grateful no matter what they are going through. As humans, our evolutionary development has wired our brains to pay more attention to the negative because we need to quickly sense the many dangers in our fight for survival. But it's essential that we consciously train our brain to see the silver linings and the dark clouds and appreciate the beautiful life that we've been given. As William Arthur Ward said, Graditude can transform common days into thanks-givens, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. Living each day with an attitude of gratitude offers so many benefits to our lives, including the following.

It helps us live healthier and happier lives. The interesting thing about the human mind is that it can't hold too emotion simultaneously. So you can't be feeling grateful at the same time that you're feeling sad. Thus, when you're constantly grateful, the associated emotion of happiness is what you will feel ultimately leading to feeling more joy in life. Several studies have discovered that those who are consciously grateful for the things that they have tend to live happier lives. Likewise, a 2020 study provided that the regular practice of gratitude can help reduce the

symptoms of depression and anxiety. Second, it strengthens our relationships. There's a popular saying, it's hard to be hateful when you're grateful. When you are grateful, you can appreciate the good in your life and that of others. Naturally, no one wants to be around someone who is constantly complaining about things. We like optimism and the positive emotions that gratitude elicits. So gratitude makes you someone who others want to spend time with, bringing joy, hope, and positivity into your relationships, thereby

making them stronger. Third, gratitude, boosts our immune systems. Have you noticed that when you're sad, your stomach churns, you may have a headache, and you're much more susceptible to illness? This is because our thoughts have a direct influence on our physical bodies and our overall health. So when you're constantly grateful, your mind will influence your immune system, to be in better form to fight off illness. According to a 2004 research review and a 2017 study, it has been scientifically proven. Fourth, it helps us receive more.

Oprah Winfrey said, Be thankful for what you have. You'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. Reditude puts you in a better position to receive the things that you hope for while making the most of what you currently have. This is because you naturally attract more of what you spend your time focusing on. So if you focus on your problems, you might get more negativity.

While if instead you focus on the blessings in your life, you will be more inclined toward attracting more of the positive things that you celebrate and desire. As Eckhart told said, acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance. So how do you become a person of gratitude? Understanding how powerful a force of gratitude is and how beneficial it could be to your life. What can you do to become more grateful? Maintaining a positive perspective is the key to becoming a person of gratitude through every phase of life. What can you do to become more grateful? Maintaining a positive perspective is the key to

becoming a person of gratitude through every phase of life. If you look up the phrase, how can I become a more grateful person? You will find many answers from various different blogs, podcasts, and YouTube videos. Some of the most common answers that they all give include starting a gratitude journal, getting a gratitude rock, a jar, a box, plant, tree, et cetera. Reflecting and meditating on the good things that we have in life, using a gratitude app to remind you to be grateful and so forth. And yes, these are all essential things that you could do.

If you want to constantly practice gratitude, but they all require action points that follow and I'll connect back to having the perspective that will enable you to stay grateful throughout all the phases of your life. In a previous episode I did on changing your perspectives, I discussed how our views shape our lives, as well as better our realities.

If life were all sweet and rosy, and the world was free of illness, poverty, wars, death, divisiveness, and negativity, we wouldn't need to encourage ourselves or anyone else to be grateful. Happiness and joy would be our default state, and being grateful will be the only natural thing to do. But unfortunately, this is not the case, which is why we need to maintain positive perspective every day. Even though things don't often go as we'd like them to, we need to keep hope alive that each new day brings an opportunity

for healing, love, kindness, and peace. We have to trust that beyond our circumstances, there is a higher power who can strengthen and fill us with hope for better days. When we look at the nature around us, skies, birds, oceans, mountains, beaches, forests, and every form of nature, we should view them through the lens of wonder and appreciation and be reminded of this higher power behind their creation, as well as ours. As Melody Bady said, gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. So ensure that you maintain the perspective that you will always have something to be grateful for, either in your past, present, or future.

In doing so, all the benefits of gratitude will become your constant reality. The title of this podcast is the regenerative power of gratitude, which might have you wondering what does the word regenerative have to do with gratitude. The term regeneration means restoring or renewing something, especially after it's been damaged or lost. Regeneration is living intentionally and placing that intention at the center of every action and decision. It is a word that connotes healing, newness, as well as wholeness. As I mentioned at the beginning of the episode, regeneration brings us hope for the future and gratitude for the past and the

present. Regeneration results in our mind's illumination, our hearts opening and our intention to be better and live better. Consider this when you express gratitude. Think of everything in your life for which you are grateful. This could be the driver who allows you to proceed when you realize that you were in the wrong lane and needed to turn, or the glory of a beautiful sunset, the taste and experience of yesterday's Thanksgiving day or qualities you admire in yourself always remember that you have something to be grateful for in your past, present, or future that will significantly contribute to the success of your journey to becoming a person of gratitude.

I hope you enjoyed the show. I wanted to thank everyone who wrote in this week, and especially everyone who tuned in to today's episode and listened. A link to the transcript will be in the show notes. Videos, as I said in the opening, are on YouTube at John Armiles. Evertiser deals and discount codes are in one convenient place at PassionStruct.com slash deals. You can find me on Instagram, as well as Twitter at John Armiles on the Mossoon LinkedIn. And if you would like to introduce this show to someone, we have episode starder packs, which are collections of our fans favorite episodes, that we organize into giving you topics to give any new listener a great way to get

acquainted to everything we do here on the show. Find them, you can either go to Spotify or the PassionStark website at passionstark.com slash starder packs. You're about to hear a preview of the passionstark podcast interview that I did with Harvard professor Joshua Green, who is an expert on morality and decision making. And we discuss his latest studies on the psychology of effective given. We are naturally inclined to pay attention

to and focus on the things that are closest to us geographically and culturally and socially. And so there's kind of this mismatch between where our feelings naturally go and where we really have the most opportunity to do good. Remember, we rise by lifting others. So share this show with those you love. And if you found this episode useful, please share it with somebody else who could use my advice on gratitude. In the meantime, do your best to apply what you hear on the show so that you can live what you listen. And until next time, live life passion struck.

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