Unleash the power of gratitude in your life
Unleash Gratitude
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven
The Power of Structure
At Unleash Gratitude we refer to the services that we offer as 'Structures'. The following section provides some insight into why structures are so valuable and the general principles used in designing the Ug Structures. Below this you can find more specific information about each of the Ug Structures including the elements that make each of them so effective.
We define a Structure as a system that supports you in achieving a goal.
For example, if your goal is to run a marathon then some great structures that would support you in achieving your goal might include: a plan that sets out how often and far you need to run each week, a coach that holds you to your plan, provides advice and supports you when you need encouragement, a partner or group to do long runs with because it is harder to break your commitment to others than to yourself, a diet plan to ensure your nutritional needs are met and your body is supported etc..
Some structures are education based.
Often when we set a new goal we don't know everything we need to know in order to achieve it. We need new knowledge. If we haven't run a marathon before we likely have no idea how to support our body while we are preparing. We need to learn how and what to eat, what to do to prevent and overcome injury and how to positively stress our body without negatively stressing it through over training. An education based structure that would support us in learning this might be a book or a training clinic.
Other structures are designed to form new habits.
Our brains are beautifully efficient in that they use habits as a way to perform actions that we do repetitively without requiring much thought. Walking is a wonderful example. When we first learned how to walk it took a lot of thought but it didn't take our brain long to figure out the sequence of actions required to master walking. Now we perform these actions automatically with little or no thought. That is the power of habits.
In order for our brain to form new habits we must repeat the actions many times. Each time we repeat the actions we strengthen a neural pathway in our brain. We are not going to delve into the amazing complexities of the brain here but will focus rather on some of the day to day implications of its operation.
Studies have shown that it takes about 30 days to form a new habit and in some cases much longer. This means that we must repeat the actions that constitute the desired habit every day for 30 days without fail. If this sounds easy then consider the fact that the formation of most new habits requires us to break existing habits that are entrenched in our brain. Since our brain is wired to be efficient, it prefers to follow the existing habits. This is the down side of that beautiful efficiency.
A structure designed to support the formation of new habits will trigger us out of the automatic state induced by the existing habit and then guide us with minimal thought through the repetitive actions required to form a new habit. There are various ways we can trigger our brain to break out of an automatic habit. Change is a great one.
Imagine what would happen if we replaced your front door with one that looked identical but we lowered the door handle by only an inch or two. You would arrive home not expecting anything to be out of the ordinary. You would likely walk up to the door with your brain occupied thinking about your day or whatever is important to you at that time. Then, when you reached out your hand you would suddenly realize that something was wrong. In that moment, your brain switches out of automatic mode and starts trying to figure out what is going on. This is the state of awareness that you want to be in to break an existing habit and form a new habit.
The Ug structures are specifically designed with both education and habit formation in mind.
They use the elements of repetition, emotional involvement, triggers and intellectual learning to support you in developing your Gratitude Muscle.
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REPETITION Aristotle wrote, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit". The Ug structures integrate the repetition of targeted messages and actions to ensure long-term rewiring of the brain. Gratitude becomes an automatic reaction. A habit. |
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EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT All of us have events in our lives that we remember very clearly. Our wedding, the birth of a child, winning a prize, the death of a loved one. These were emotional events and the more intense the emotion the more clearly and easily we can remember them. Even though they only happened once the memory of them is quick to recall when stimulated by an experience or thought that we have linked to that memory. Some couples have "their song" which when they hear it reminds them of the passion of new love they experienced early in their relationship. For others it could be something that they smell, taste, see or feel that reminds them of an event. Emotions also act as a powerful motivator for change. In the classic book "Think and Grow Rich", Napoleon Hill says "The subconscious mind is more susceptible to influence by impulses of thought mixed with "feeling" or emotion, than by those originating solely in the reasoning portion of the mind. In fact, there is much evidence to support the theory that ONLY emotionalized thoughts have any ACTION influence upon the subconscious mind." The use of the power of emotion is an intricate part of each of the Ug Structures. This makes the learning process fun, inspiring and creates a strong motivation for change. It triggers the brain out of its automatic mode of operation and draws you in to a new way of being. |
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PHYSICAL TRIGGERS Gratitude is about being aware of what is going on right now. It seems strange to say but most of us spend very little time being aware of what is going on at any moment in time. We have a tendency to dwell in our thoughts rather than in an awareness of our surroundings. We come home from work and our brain is still pondering some of the issues and challenges of the day while our partner is asking us questions and our children are tugging at us to come play with them. Often it is not until something triggers us out of this train of thought that we get present to what is actually going on around us. Our partner holds our face in their hands, looks us in the eye and says something that deeply catches our emotion. We stop we see the beauty of the person in front of us and the thoughts and distractions melt away. Being awake and present in the moment is a deeply rewarding state of mind. It is also essential for the creation of new habits. You cannot create a new habit when you are in the automatic state of mind. Being present allows you to consciously choose your thoughts and actions, which enables you to train your mind along a new habitual path. The Ug Structures are designed to install triggers in your sub-conscious mind that activate under pre-determined conditions to wake up the conscious part of your brain, switching it into awareness mode. |
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INTELLECTUAL LEARNING "What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul." - Joseph Addison. There is no growth without learning and learning from others is one of the fastest ways for us to gain the knowledge we are seeking. If you want to learn how to drive, the quickest way to achieve this goal is to find someone who knows how and ask them to teach you. It would likely take a long time and get kind of messy and expensive if you decided to discover all the rules of the road by trial and error. The Ug Structures include education to provide you with the simplest and fastest route to your goal. |
Each of the Ug Structures has been designed to complement the others and ensure a customizable and holistic way for you to grow.
The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.
Experience is the child of thought, and thought is the child of action.
Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.
Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
I have spread my dreams beneath your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Ug Cards - More than a thank you, almost a hUg
What they are
Ug Cards or Ugs are a simple and fun way to acknowledge people for an experience that deserves more than a regular 'Thank You'.
They come in a number of fun designs that are guaranteed to have both you, and the person you are giving one to, smiling. They are the same size as a business card so they are easy to carry around in your wallet, purse or pocket.
The cards are redeemable at our website for a free gift and US and Canadian residents* are also eligible to enter our monthly contest to win a US $300 gift certificate to Amazon or Best Buy.
*Unfortunately we are currently unable to accept contest entries from residents of Quebec, and Puerto Rico.
Why use Ug Cards?
The simplicity of these cards can often mean that the depth of their impact is overlooked.
Imagine it is three o'clock in the morning. Your one-week-old new born is screaming from belly aches that have been a nightly occurrence for the past couple of days and both you and your wife are completely exhausted.
You struggle to the car and head to the nearest drug store for some Gripe Water to relieve everyone's suffering. You get to the store tired and irritable and your frustration rises quickly because you have spent more than a couple of minutes searching for the Gripe Water.
A sprightly shop assistant glides up to you and pleasantly asks you what you are looking for. "Gripe Water" you grumble. She ignores your obviously bad mood and quickly guides you to the appropriate location.
But she doesn't stop there. She smiles at you brightly, which lightens your mood slightly, and then she proceeds to explain that there are two types of Gripe Water, one with alcohol and one without. You stare at her dumbfounded and she quickly picks up the non-alcoholic one and says "This is the one you want".
You are so relieved to have found the promise of much needed sleep and so grateful for this person who had no reason to be so great with you. You look her in the eyes and see the sparkle of genuine care and you say "Thank You".
Then you reach in to your pocket for your wallet and notice the Ug Cards you have tucked in there. You pull one out and give it to her. It says on it "You just brightened my day. Here's an Ug, more than a thank you almost a hUg". She smiles a little quizzically at the unexpectedness of the gesture. You smile back and tell her that this is a way to let her know how much difference she made to you.
You leave the store in a much brighter mood than you entered and feeling great about having been able to express your gratitude to the person who caused this shift in your mood.
So, what role did the Ug Card play?
- It let the shop assistant know what a difference she made and left her feeling great about having done that. The unexpectedness of the Ug Card added to the experience making it considerably more memorable and increasing the likelihood of her continuing to provide similar experiences for other people. You feel great for having acknowledged her in a way that gave her a sense of the difference she had made?
- Just noticing the Ug Card in your wallet triggered your brain to wake up from whatever it was dwelling on and actually be aware of the wonderful service you were being provided. Rather than realizing this in the car on the way home you were able to experience the moment when it happened. You had the opportunity to be present to the gratitude you were experiencing, acknowledge it and connect with the shop assistant in a very meaningful way. Acknowledging and being grateful for the experiences you want in your life is also a sure fire way to attract more of them?
- This awesome service you just received was no accident - you actually attracted it. As an Ug Card carrying member of the Ug Community your brain is in radar mode searching out great experiences. Whether you are conscious of it or not you are actually looking for people to give your Ug Cards to. This has you focusing on what you want - great experiences - and by the Laws of the Universe, you get what you focus on.
By the way, you may have guessed that this story is true - less the Ug Card. It wasn't until I was in the car heading home that I realized how much better I felt as a result of my experience. I also felt a little regret that I hadn't been able to let her know what a difference she had made. This was the experience that planted the seed that has now grown into Ug Cards.
How they work
- Each month as a Member you receive an email with a link to download 10 Ug Cards in a pdf file?
- You print the file either on paper or on perforated business card sheets?
- You cut out or separate the cards and put them in your wallet, pocket or purse so you have them with you as you go about your day?
- When you receive an experience that makes your day you give that person an Ug Card?
- The person you gave the Ug Card to can then redeem the card at our website at www.igotanug.com by typing in the unique code on the card?
- This generous person, who just made your day, then receives an acknowledgement message, a free gift and for most Canadian and US residents* they also receive an opportunity to enter our monthly contest to win a US $300 gift certificate to Amazon or Best Buy?
*Unfortunately we are currently unable to accept contest entries from residents of Quebec, and Puerto Rico.
Please note that Ug Cards are all about acknowledgement. The redemption website is not a site to promote Unleash Gratitude. The gift is not designed to market to them or encourage them to purchase anything. We only collect their email address to confirm their contest entry and to notify them if they win a prize. We do not use it for any other purpose and we never share it with any other party.
Click here if you would like to join the Ug Community and experience the gift of acknowledging others with Ug Cards.
Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.
To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.
Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.
Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.
Collect as precious pearls the words of the wise and virtuous.
If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day.
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life.
If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.
Our ideas, like orange-plants, spread out in proportion to the size of the box which imprisons the roots.
The Ug Library - Stretch your mind
"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." - Oliver Wendell Holmes.
The beautiful thing about life is that the more we discover about it and about ourselves the more we realize how much more there is to learn.
The Ug Library is about expanding what you know and providing you with new perspectives on how life is. It's like trying on a new pair of glasses with colored lenses to see if you like the way the world looks when you have them on.
It's a place to come to when you know what you want but you don't know how to get it. It's a place to come to when something just isn't working the way you think it should. It's a place to come to when you are looking for that next leap in life. It's a place to come to when you are looking for a fresh idea.
We are constantly searching out resources of great value to add to our Library from great teachers, authors and thinkers. There is a wide range of resources available for you to read, listen to or watch covering the topics of Gratitude, the Law of Attraction, principles of success, the power of the mind and much more.
Here are just a few examples of what you will find:
- Napoleon Hill - Book - Think and Grow Rich
- Wallace D. Wattles - Book - The Science of Getting Rich
- Marcia Martin - Video - The 5 Keys to Manifesting Using the Law of Attraction
- T. Troward - Book - The Hidden Power and Other Papers Upon Mental Science
- James Allen - Book - As a Man Thinketh
Our commitment to you and to the Ug Faculty who contribute resources to the Library is that every resource in the Library be of high value and high quality. We closely vet every resource to ensure that it is in itself complete (even if it is part of a larger resource not available in the library), that it provides practical value to the Community and that it is on a topic that is relevant to the Community.
?We don't want you to have to filter through piles of rocks just to find a few diamonds. Our commitment is that they all be diamonds. We also don't want you doubting our motives for putting a resource in the Library. We maintain a strict policy of not receiving any financial remuneration from any of the Ug Faculty or contributors to the Ug Library for the opportunity to connect with you.
Click here if you would like to browse the Library. Only members are able to download the resources.
Click here if you would like to join the Ug Community and stretch your mind with the Ug Library.
The searching-out and thorough investigation of truth ought to be the primary study of man.
The only journey is the journey within.
Daily Trainer - Strengthen your Gratitude Muscle
This structure brings out your creativity and sense of play while you work on building a habit of Gratitude. It expands your realm of things to be grateful for and programs your brain to be stimulated into a state of Gratitude by all manner of things.
Each weekday you receive a brief email that gets you thinking outside your regular box of Gratitude and then challenges you to solidify that way of thinking through taking a small action.
This structure is designed to be a stimulus for you to be in action. Rather than having to remember to take action each day to practice Gratitude, the daily email that you receive will act as an alarm clock reminding you to take action.
For this daily exercise, there is no need to think about what to be grateful for, each lesson provides one thing to focus on and then provides you with a selection of actions you can take. It is like a Personal Trainer that tells you which muscle you are going to work and then offers you a selection of different ways you can exercise that muscle.
For example, one day the Daily Trainer lesson may be about your toothbrush. The lesson will be about why you should be grateful for your toothbrush and will offer you a number of suggested actions you can take to honor your toothbrush.
You may choose the action of worshipping your toothbrush that day. So you build a little shrine for it on your bathroom shelf. You put it in a nice cup on top of a little box that raises it above all the other things on your shelf. You place a nice vase with flowers beside it. And you say some kind words that honor it.
There are two objectives to this exercise. One is to have you really in touch with how wonderful it is to have a toothbrush so you achieve a state of Gratitude. The other is for you to be so over the top and expressive in your Gratitude that it creates an event so memorable that it is locked into your mind.
From that point on, just seeing your toothbrush will trigger the memory of your worship session. You will likely smile and laugh a little at the memory of the experience and then you will notice that your state of mind has shifted to Gratitude without really thinking about it. Suddenly you will realize how many other things there are in your bathroom and indeed your life to be grateful for that you haven't really noticed before. Your brain has now been programmed for a little more Gratitude and your realm of Gratefulness has expanded.
Click here to join the Ug Community and build your Gratitude Muscle with our Daily Trainer.
Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.
Ug The World - because we Rock!
It's Party Time!
We live on the best planet in the solar system, maybe even The Milky Way and we share it with the best roommates out there too - each other. Let's celebrate that!
Ug the World is the place to celebrate all the amazing stuff happening around the world. It's about the people that are the REAL news makers. Those people that just didn't know they couldn't do what they have done and so they did it anyway. Those people whose passion is only surpassed by their commitment to fulfilling on it. Those people that live to contribute and are willing to challenge the thinking and norms of society.
Like all of the Unleash Gratitude Structures Ug the World is multi-faceted. There is no better way to attract more amazing stuff to this planet than to celebrate and be grateful for all that is happening now. And where does that more amazing stuff come from? Well, people just like you of course.
Ug the World is also about expanding our realm of what is possible. It is about demonstrating that anyone with a vision can do amazing things. It is about inspiring us to dream big. It is about us believing that our dream is possible. It is about motivating us to share our dream. And, it is about calling us to take action on our dream.
Ug the World is one of the free services offered by the Ug Community.
We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.
Share Stories - Share, Read, Grow
Let's get real.
Let's get personal.
And let's learn from it.
Share stories is just that. Tales from the trenches of real life. No Hollywood glamour. No Hallmark polish. Just the raw goods. And that's the best part.
We all know the power of stories and when they are real they take on a character that amplifies that power. Some of the most inspiring movies ever made were true stories. Because they are real we find we can relate them to our own life. They create in us the possibility that we too can overcome a challenge or achieve a distant goal.
When we share in the personal stories of others we come to the realization that our experiences are not as dissimilar to the experiences of others as we sometimes perceive. Sure, the people and circumstances may differ but the core elements are often the same.
This ability to relate the experiences of others to our own life opens us up to learning from their experiences. It is often easier to look at the lives of others than at our own life. What we can clearly see in someone else's life, is often hidden from our view in our own. When they share, we begin to see how their experience relates to what is going on in our life, and we are then open to share in the lessons that they have learned.
On the other side of the table when we share our experiences with others we reinforce the lessons in our own mind. Often in the process of sharing, the lessons expand and we discover a greater depth of understanding of the experience. Not only are we then making a huge contribution to everyone who shares in our experience through our story but we are also instilling and deepening the lessons and experience for ourselves. This amplifies the results and ensures that the impact of our insights are lasting.
Share Stories is available to everyone. Anyone can submit a story via the simple form on the Share Stories page and everyone is able to access all of the stories submitted.
In learning to know other things, and other minds, we become more intimately acquainted with ourselves, and are to ourselves better worth knowing.
GratitudeNews - A recipe for Grateful Living
GratitudeNews is the eNewsletter of the Ug Community. It brings together a wonderful mixture of articles, stories, tips and structures all focused on forwarding you on your Gratitude journey.
We know that most people these days get a lot of email and don't have a lot of time to read it. We designed GratitudeNews with this in mind. We keep it short so it won't take you longer than three minutes to read. We keep it inspirational so that it's fun to read. And, we keep it practical so that it's valuable to read.
GratitudeNews is offered for free to everyone as a source of inspiration and education on the topics of Gratitude, the Law of Attraction and the Ug Community.
Click here to view a sample.
Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present -- love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure -- the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.