Celebrating World Gratitude Day with a Positive Gratitude Ritual

On September 21, 2012September 21, 2012 By Zeenat Merchant Syal-Counseling Psychologist|Spiritual CounselorIn Mind, Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Mind-Mental Health34 Comments

Special Note: Over the past 3.5 years since I have been writing on Positive Provocations, I’ve written about Gratitude many times in great detail. I love how gratitude has transformed my life. Below is an article/post I wrote 2 years back, which fits perfectly in the celebration of World Gratitude Day which is on 21st September 2012(today!).

“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” ~Johannes A. Gaertner~

Being in a state of gratitude can completely transform one’s disposition. The more we pause to consider the things we have to be grateful for, the more we begin to focus on those things. And the things we focus on, we tend to draw toward ourselves. Therefore, the act of focusing on our blessings tends to bring more blessings into our lives. Continue reading “Celebrating World Gratitude Day with a Positive Gratitude Ritual” →

How to ask Positive Questions for deeper and more meaningful connections

On September 12, 2012 By Zeenat Merchant Syal-Counseling Psychologist|Spiritual CounselorIn Mind, Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Mind-Mental Health23 Comments

“A good friend is to life- a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” ~Lois Wyse

We all strive to build deeper and more meaningful connections with the people in our lives. When we care, we want to know more of what other people are feeling and thinking, wanting and planning. To do this gently and positively, we need to use positive questions that “open” people up instead of “closing” them off. Continue reading “How to ask Positive Questions for deeper and more meaningful connections” →

Nurture YourSELF Positively with Solitude

On September 2, 2012 By Zeenat Merchant Syal-Counseling Psychologist|Spiritual CounselorIn Mind, Heart& Soul-Motivation&Inspiration, Mind-Mental Health31 Comments

The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.~Thomas A. Edison

I have a confession to make. Its rather an admittance…. I’m the type of person who loves alone time. Don’t get me wrong – deeply meaningful relationships with other human beings are a necessary and important part of my everyday life. However, I adore, crave, and carve out vast amounts of time alone.

For me, it turns out, solitude is a positive state, necessary to remain sane and healthy. Not everyone needs hours of time alone, but everyone needs his or her own personal balance between engagement with the world and engagement with self.