Matthew Ferry
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Monday, March 27
    • MatthewFerry.com
    • Daily Enlightenment Podcast
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest RSS
    Matthew Ferry
    • Quiet Mind
    • Enlightenment
    • Hidden Motives to Survive
    • Mindset
      • The Drunk Monkey
      • Gratitude
    • Podcasts & Interviews
    • Blog
    Matthew Ferry
    Home / Blog / Why is Gratitude Hard to Achieve? (And What To Do About It)
    Gratitude

    Why is Gratitude Hard to Achieve? (And What To Do About It)

    Matthew FerryBy Matthew FerryJuly 31, 2013Updated:March 21, 2017No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Everyone says gratitude is the key to happiness and after coaching more than 8000 people to achieve happiness and success, I believe they are right. But how do you actually achieve gratitude? Have you ever noticed that your mind, which I call The Drunk Monkey isn’t normally grateful? In fact, have you noticed that being grateful isn’t as easy as people make it sound? In this article, we will explore why it is hard to be grateful. And what to do about it.

    Why is Gratitude Hard to Achieve?

    Gratitude is difficult to achieve because The Drunk Monkey isn’t particularly interested in what you are happy about. As you pay attention to The Drunk Monkey in your head, you will notice that is concerned with safety, getting ahead and routine matters. The mind is just biology. It is just energy moving through fields of neurons in your brain. Its job is to assist this giant colony of cells, which you call your body, to stay alive and propagate.

    Today, as you start paying attention to The Drunk Monkey in your head, it will be easy to see The Drunk Monkey does not spend time appreciating and enjoying. It’s to busy keeping you safe, organizing the future, analyzing the past, making assumptions about what will happen next and planning to do something about it. Since gratitude is not about anticipating potential problems and avoiding it, gratitude is not a normal process for The Drunk Monkey.

    How to Achieve Gratitude

    To achieve gratitude you must recognize your habitual mental states and go beyond them. You must see the mind for what it is, and ignore its attempts to distract you with unimportant things. One trick to loosen the grip of the mind is to make a list of things you are grateful for each day. Take just a few moments now, and make a list of 10 things. Who are you grateful for? What parts of your body? What opportunities? What simple pleasures?

    When we intentionally shift our attention away from The Drunk Monkey’s need to protect and keep us safe from things that aren’t happening, we are more present, calm and able to enjoy what we have now.

    Author

    Matthew Ferry Matthew Ferry
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Matthew Ferry
    • Website

    Matthew Ferry, is a Spiritual Teacher, Songwriter and Best-Selling Author. For the last 26 years, Matthew Ferry has coached thousands of top performers to achieve Enlightened Prosperity™. His books, videos, audios, songs, meditations and seminars all utilize his street tested methodology called The Rapid Enlightenment Process™. Among his many projects, Ferry manages a blog and spearheads The Ignite Mastermind. Matthew Ferry is also the author of Quiet Mind Epic Life, an Amazon Self Help and Spirituality best-seller in the US, Canada, Australia and Japan. Matthew and his family live in Southern California.

    Related Posts

    The Holidays Are Here. How Do We Find A Little Happiness Right Now?

    December 5, 2020

    Writing Your Prophecy Letter

    November 23, 2018

    Two Simple Steps to Shape Your Destiny Today

    May 3, 2017

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

    I agree to these terms.

    About Matthew Ferry

    Matthew Ferry
    Author: Quiet Mind Epic Life

    Matthew Ferry’s promise is simple: Quiet your mind so you can create an epic life, that is filled with Enlightened Prosperity. His down to earth approach empowers you to rise above the unwanted chatter and negativity of the mind. Matthew says, “When your mind is quiet, you feel profound peace and your life becomes extraordinary. No ashram required.”

    What’s New
    • The Difference Between Defensive vs. Offensive Goals; One Is Definitely Better Than The Other
    • Grumpy Goals vs Geeky Goals
    • The Holidays Are Here. How Do We Find A Little Happiness Right Now?
    • How To Reduce Work Hours And Increase Revenue. Meet Ignite Mastermind Member Debbie Spaulder.
    • At The Crossroads Between Family and Career – How To Enjoy Both. Meet Ignite Mastermind Member Adrian Cafuentes
    Search for Anything
    Browse MY ARTICLES
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn
    • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
    • Please Read Our Disclaimer
    • Contact Us
    Products and programs offered by Matthew Ferry are intended for your personal use only.
    Teaching this material, or distributing it in any form without permission violates our copyright. Please respect our rights.

    Copyright © 2023 Matthew Ferry International LLC dba Elevate The Vibe • All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.