"Key Prophetic Word: Your Atmosphere is Going to Change This Week!" Chuck D. Pierce

A good word for us from Chuck Pierce:

"Key Prophetic Word: Your Atmosphere is Going to Change This Week!"

Chuck D. Pierce, Corinth, TX

Key Prophetic Word of the Lord given February 18, 2018:

Victory is on the Horizon!

"I AM awakening a new day in you! The horizon line for your life is shifting. You will now see in a way you've not seen before. You will move in a way you've not moved before. You will begin to break into a place you've not broken into before. A new day is shifting for you! 

"There's a victory on this horizon that you've not seen. You've been looking for victory, but have not seen your victory clearly. Victory is on this horizon! Look further, look beyond, and you'll see your victory. For in the midst of confused noise, I always have victory. 

"Don't listen to the confusion that's being authored around you. Listen, for victory is at hand. Listen, for the Victor has risen in this new day. This is your time to see beyond!

Open Up the Gate!

"You've been in a race and you've needed to take a pit stop. But now when you re-enter you'll be accelerating at a pace you've not accelerated at before. You thought you'd be going one way, but I have different road signs for you. You'll begin to interpret what will propel you farther down the path that I have for you. Don't kick against the pricks. Don't keep going in the way you thought you would go, for your way is changing. 

"There are ways in you that you've not seen correctly, and there are gifts in you that have not been opened. Along this path, every road sign will show you a gift that you must open. Once you open that gift, you will begin to go further into the place of your destiny. Open up! Open up the gate!

I'm Unlocking the Heavens!

"You have not interpreted the darkness correctly. In the midst of the darkness is where you'll shine. In the midst of shining you'll begin to see ways you've never seen before. Interpret the darkness this season in a new way. I can write on walls and I can move mountains to communicate with you. Watch My hand this season. My hand is opening up a whole new way and vision for My people.

"I'm unlocking the heavens! I'm unlocking the heavens, and from that I'll unlock the earth. The root of blessing that has never been washed, will be washed. Get ready, for the rain is coming to wash off the root of blessing that has gotten decayed. Get ready...you'll sprout forth in new ways!

I'm Sending My Rain!

"I am sending My rain to wash away corruption, religion and poverty. This is your turnaround season. I am coming and causing My rain to pour out. There are regions in this nation that have been dry and desolate, and I am causing My rain to begin to fall. Wherever the rain comes, watch and see as I wash away old religious structures and begin to cause the structure of the Kingdom to arise in a new way. 

"This is a time when I cause Kingdom structures to begin to arise in a new way where churches were shut down because of hardness of heart. My rain is beginning to fall, and seeds that were planted that could not arise will now break forth. The winter season is over, spring has come, and rains of refreshing are beginning to fall. 

"You have been in a burn ban and in a drought, but I am changing that starting today. I am not sending a storm, but a soft breeze and a gentle rain. As this wind comes and this rain occurs, My question to you is this: 'Will you let go and receive the new watering I am bringing you?' 

"This watering is not only for your soul, but also for your land. I am coming to you in a way that you have never seen and do not know. When I get there, you will look and say, 'Oh! It is Jehovah Shammah! He is here! He is here! He is here!'" (This word about rain also specifically addressed West Virginia.)

Word for This Week!

"My heart is beating differently for you this hour. It's not beating the same way it's been beating...it's got a different movement. The beat of My heart is going to move you differently. It's like a thunder that's coming that will move you and break you loose. You are the lightning and thunder in the midst of the quiet around you.

"This will be a week when I cause that lightning to go off. This will be a signal to lift the atmosphere around you and break through. Let the thunder begin! Let the lightning strike!

"Step into My timing, for My timing is your breakthrough. Step into My timing and you'll break through right, left and frontwards, and I will be your rearguard. There's grace in My pace. Don't try to slow down, don't try to go ahead. Stay in My pace. There's fire in your fingertips! 

"I have anointed you to send forth My resurrection power to release My fire and consume the rubble. Get ready, as you shoot fire from your fingertips this week, rubble will be consumed and souls will be set free.

"This week I'm blowing all depression, all anxiety and all distractions out of you. Let the lightning strike and blow through an area you've not broken into.Your atmosphere is going to change this week. 

"The glory realm that's been locked up in you is going to break open in a new way. I am popping the cap on what the enemy has tried to close off in your life. It's a new day, it's a new way, and you're breaking through!" (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

(Prophetic words spoken by Chuck D. Pierce, Barbara Wentroble, Keith Pierce, Raven Vincent, and Rebekah Faubion on February 18, 2018.)

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Email: chuckp@glory-of-zion.org
Website: www.glory-of-zion.org

Zicasso

      Our family had a wonderful time in Costa Rica!  Our trip was planned by Sylvia Jurado of Horizontes Nature Tours which was recommended by Zicasso.  I read a review of Zicasso on TripAdvisor so contacted them.  Before that I had not heard of the company.  It actually works as a clearing house for the top tour companies in many/most countries.  The tour companies represented have to maintain at least a 4.1 average (out of 5) to be considered.
     I submitted the country, things we like to do, and other information to Zicasso and then they sent the information to two (or they said, sometimes three) tour companies in Costa Rica who contacted me.  After discusssion with them, theses companies submitted itineraries for our consideration.  We chose Horizontes based on the places they suggested because we had already decided Monteverde was one place we wanted to go.  Both itineraries were excellent and different so it was difficult to choose.
     Everything about our trip went smoothly and was excellent.  The hotels were great!  The activities were fun!  And the transfers were private--just for our family--and always on time.
    I highly recommend Zicasso for travel planning--and Horizontes, in particular if you are traveling to Costa Rica.  We were very pleased!

Amazing Animals,

We are in Costa Rica right now having just arrived at the beautiful Kiora Suites Hotel near the Arenal volcano after 3 days in Tortuguero. We were particularly amazed at the iguanas in Tortuguera! This huge guy was wandering around the grounds at the Mawamba Lodge where we stayed. We were told he changes color to this yellow. brown when attracting mates. Including his tail he was nearly 6 feet long!  The one in the bottom photo is so well camouflaged that it took me awhile to see it. 

Clearing Brush

     Country Guy rented this great little machine last week.  He and our grandson, Daniel, have been having lots of fun clearing brush once they discovered it.  They rented it for a week (ending today) and managed to clear over a mile of fence row in 4 days.  They had estimated it would take them at least a month by hand.  After working a full day in multiflora rose and thorny locust with chain saws they were pretty discouraged! But then a little research turned up this little jewel.  As you can see lots can be cleared in just a few minutes.
     Country Guy is using his last day's rental to work on brush around our pond and orchard.  Hopefully, he doesn't get too carried away.  We do love living in the woods!

The True Cause and Cure for Cancer - MUST WATCH!

 Here is another excellent video that is very hopeful & helpful for those who have cancer, or those who fear they may get cancer.  Be sure to watch it till the end.

Low Fat Diet--A Recipe For Health Problems

     For those of you who still believe a low fat diet is best for your health, you might want to read this article from Investor's Business Daily.

Fasting As A Lifestyle

   I seem to have been inundated with the idea of fasting from all directions this past month so I decided to believe it is God speaking and do something about it.  A couple of weeks ago, Country Guy & I did a 3 day water fast and then have followed that with daily intermittent fasting and have decided to indefinitely do one 24-36 hour fast/week.  

     We started fasting with a spiritual intention, but we also know it is good for our health.  I have never seen a lot of direct results as far as my relationship with God is concerned from fasting but I know it is a great discipline and since the Bible says "when you fast" not "if" that God expects us to do periodic fasts.       

     I have read articles on intermittent fasting as a way to control weight and improve health by several authors the past few years, starting with Dr. Mercola.  The premise is that if you only eat in a 7 or 8 hour window  (example 11:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.) your body has more time to digest food.  You also don't usually take in as many calories so another benefit is weight loss without dieting.  I HATE to diet!

      Therefore, it seemed good to do intermittent fasting six days/week for health and fast one day for spiritual nourishment.  I also am attempting to allow myself to only eat during one hour for lunch and one hour for dinner during the 8 hour window--no snacking.  I am sure this will cut down on calories consumed because I seem to have a tendency to look for a handful of something to eat when I have a few minutes, when I'm bored, or for any other reason I want.

Here is an excellent video on the value of fasting for health reasons, specifically diabetes.

"A Year to Break Captivity and Come into a New Identity! Plus, a Prayer Focus Begins!" Chuck D. Pierce

This excellent encouraging and helpful word by Chuck Pierce was posted on the Elijah List today.

"A Year to Break Captivity and Come into a New Identity! Plus, a Prayer Focus Begins!"

Chuck D. Pierce, Corinth, TX

Dear Focused Ones:

We are living in one of the most incredible and historic junctures in the history of mankind. I say that with complete confidence and, I believe, accuracy. The Lord has determined the place and the time that we live (Acts 17:24-28). In Him, we live and move and have our being. Faith works in time and place. You are in a certain time and a certain place so you can grab ahold of Him and gain purpose in your life. He knew you before the foundation of the earth. He sees your destiny through the Blood of His Son. He doesn't see you through your faults, shortcomings or mistakes.  He sees you as you were meant to be. How you respond to Him, by faith, is how you become, and then overcome in a changing world. 

Doors, Gates, Angels, Wealth and War

We are living in the Hebraic year 5778 (5000 + 700 + 70 + 8). You can find a better understanding of the season we are living in by looking at the Hebraic understanding of the number 70. Seventy means that your bloodline has completed a generational life cycle. This number is also linked with breaking out of captivity. This means you have endured being who you are, but now you will finish that season strong and enter into how you will represent Him and who you will become. The captivity in your bloodline that has held you from expressing the fullness of who He made you to be, is broken.

In this year of eight (8), 5778 or 2018, we must remember and contextualize everything within the understanding that we are entering a "New Beginning". All eights (8's) are linked with some "new" beginning. I love Isaiah 43:18-19 which says: "Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by! I am doing something NEW! It's springing up – can't you see it? I am making a road in the desert, rivers in the wasteland." (CJB)

"I am praying that you reflect the best God intended you to be this year."

This is the year of the GATE. In this season we are in, angels are very active to make sure we go through the gate. A gate is a place of authority and identity. A gate is a place of business transaction and wealth transference. A gate is a place of divine counsel. This is also the year of the DOOR! He came to us to become THE DOOR for us! At this time of year, I look at all the doors we (and I say we) went through. The year 2018 (5778) is summarized by five words: DOORS, GATES, ANGELS, WEALTH and WAR! 

This will be a year of Firsts, New Beginnings, and Kingdom Demonstration. No matter how established you are, there will be new beginnings in your life, ministry, and spheres of authority. We, the Body of Christ, must manifest who we are and Who we represent! God has a "First Order" that will be required of His people this year.  The Spirit of God is drawing out a first order that you have never seen for yourself or the mission that you are called to complete. 

Your NEW Identity

A new thing can be happening, but in the midst of a beginning, we can fail to perceive the change. Eights (8's) are linked with the power of the first. FIRST is linked with prototype, something that has not been before, or something that has never emerged into the BEST quality of presentation. The real war ahead is over your new identity. The word NEW is an interesting word. There is a MOMENT of ENDING preceding a New Beginning. (Photo via picserver)

Therefore, several questions arise:

• What do we mean by IDENTITY and WHO WILL YOU BE IN THE DAYS AHEAD?

• Will you recognize the moment of change that begins your new season?

• How are you reacting when an END comes and a NEW BEGINNING starts?

• Are you willing to go beyond and into a new dimension called FUTURE?

Your true identity begins when your spirit man comes alive and you are adopted into God's family. At that point, you receive the very life and nature of God, Himself. His DNA, by His Spirit, invades your core being. You now are what He predetermined you to be. However, your spirit must invade your soul so you are transformed to reflect what you were meant to be. I am praying for an unlocking of the full destiny of who you are. 

Prayer Focus: First 8 Days

I am praying that you reflect the best God intended you to be this year. This Prayer Focus (with the first eight days below) will help you develop the fullness of your identity. 

Day 1: Read Psalm 139. Mediate on verses 3-6. In The Passion, theses verses are translated as: "You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and You know all the words I'm about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You've gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness You follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With Your hand of love upon my life, You impart a blessing to me. This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength."

You were knit together by Him. Lay your hands on yourself and thank God for how He knit you together. 

Day 2: Read John 1:9-12. Memorize and meditate on verse 12. In The Mirror Bible, verse 12 is translated as, "Everyone who realizes their association in Him, convinced that He is their original life and that His name defines them, God gives the assurance that they are indeed His offspring, begotten of Him; He sanctions the legitimacy of their sonship." 

"We are living in one of the most incredible and historic junctures in the history of mankind."

Day 3: Read Ephesian 3:16-21. Memorize and meditate on verses 19-20. In The Mirror Bible, these verses are translated as: "I desire for you to become intimately acquainted with the love of Christ on the deepest possible level; far beyond the reach of a mere academic, intellectual grasp. Within the scope of this equation God finds the ultimate expression of Himself in you. We celebrate Him who supercharges us powerfully from within. Our biggest request or most amazing dream cannot match the extravagant proportion of His thoughts towards us."

Day 4: Read Proverbs 3. Meditate on verses 5-10. Ask the Lord this year to bring forth the "first order" of why He created you. 

Day 5: Read 1 Corinthians 2. Meditate on verses 6-10. God has provided us with a revelation through the Spirit. Ask the Lord to uncovered the things that need to be uncovered. Decree that the mysteries you have missed in other seasons will start being unlocked in this season. 

Day 6: Read Isaiah 41. Meditate on verses 14-16. This is the chapter in which Isaiah prophesied how Cyrus would be used to change the identity of Jacob to Israel. In this chapter, the Lord keeps reminding us to "fear not" the change ahead. He then tells Jacob to move from being a worm to a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth. He then instructs him to tear down the mountains that have prevented him from advancing in the past. Now you do the same!

Day 7: Read Zechariah 3-4. Meditate on Zech. 3:3-4, and Zech. 4:6-7. Remove any old garment that you are wearing. A garment is linked with your past identity. Declare that the Lord is breaking the power of any iniquity tied to your past. Satan accuses us on the iniquity we wear. Put on your new garment, and shout GRACE to the mountain from your past that stopped you from advancing. (Photo via Tawny Nelson)

Day 8: Read Romans 12. Mediate on verses 1-3. This is a season for you to break every schematic that satan has used to conform you to an image other than what God has created you to be transformed into. To do this, your mind must be renewed. That means a restoration of freshness must penetrate your thought processes. This will formulate and help dictate your future. Ask the Lord to break all restraints that hold your gift captive, and to unlock the fullness of who you should be. 

Note: Please begin this Prayer Focus whenever you receive it. You can look for the next sequence shortly. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Email: chuckp@glory-of-zion.org
Website: www.glory-of-zion.org

It Is Flu Season

If you are concerned about getting the flu you might want to read this article on Dr. Mercola's website.  It provides more evidence of the importance of Vitamin D.  It seems increasing Vitamin D levels in your body is more effective than the flu shot.

The article also has helpful advice if you already have the flu, or worse yet, complications related to the flu.

"It's Time to Get New Strategies for Repayment" Doug Addison,

"It's Time to Get New Strategies for Repayment"
Doug Addison, Los Angeles, CA

We are in a time of repayment right now and a time where things are changing so quickly that it can be easy to lose sight of what God is calling us to this year. I originally released parts of this prophetic word in my book, Prophetic Forecast, Volume 1 (2016), but I want to resurface it, as it is a prophetic word for now!

This is a time in which God is doing something totally new. We are coming out of a wilderness time and this year we will see new things spring up. It will require us to forget some of our former ways of thinking and doing things. This will be the most difficult part of entering into this new season."Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past" (Isaiah 43:18 NIV). We are coming out of a wilderness time and this year we will see new thingsspring up.

Strategic New Season Started in 2015

In 2001, we saw a shift come with the tragedy of September 11, and the escalation of terrorism. Seven years later in 2008, we saw a major financial downturn in the housing market crash causing people to lose their investments and homes. Seven years later in 2015, we entered a new seven-year cycle and the Lord is going to provide a turnaround, though many people are not seeing this yet.

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten..." (Joel 2:25 NIV)

Don't Be Alarmed

In order to cross over into the new season that is at hand you will need to get through some slightly choppy times. Embracing the "pain of change" will help right now. Things that are happening are only setbacks if you choose to view them that way. God will use what may seem like opposition. It is actually the wind of change that is here to bring strategic repositioning that will set you up for advancement.

The places and seasons that many have been in have been limiting you. You will need to get into a place of greater ability to stretch your spiritual wings. This will allow you to catch the new creative wave coming over the next year. You will look back later and be glad that you took the risks and paid the price.

Strategies of Repayment

When there are great injustices in your life, it sets you up for greater blessings from God. We have seen this happen over the past 2 years. During this spiritual season that is ripe for repayment, the enemy is trying to get us distracted.

Isaac got a strategy from God that caused him to reap a hundredfold during a famine (Genesis 26:12). It was opposite of what his father Abraham did, because he got his own strategy. He dug his own wells and not his fathers, and was blessed and found room for his own heritage.

Right now, it is important that we do not focus on the strategies of our forefathers—spiritual or natural. God is calling us to something completely new. Learning to hear the voice of God is really important in this new season.

The next 4 years are going to be times of reaping for all the pain and loss you have experienced. But it is never automatic. You will need to make a claim with the Lord. Ask God to give you a strategy to recover it all. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Blessings,

Doug Addison
InLight Connection
Email: respond@dougaddison.com
Website: www.DougAddison.com

Henry van Dyke Quote

Four things a man must learn to do
If he would make his record true:
To think without confusion clearly,
To love his fellow men sincerely,
To act from honest motives purely,
To trust in God and heaven securely.
             Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)

Jenreviews.com

      Since my attention was drawn to the vitamin D article on jenreviews.com I decided to explore the jenreviews website.  It contains so much good information on so many things I am interested in!  I could spend days reading all the articles!
      I am planning to post information on fasting in general, and intermittent fasting, in particular in the next few days.  I found a much more in-depth article on the site than I was planning to post, so will probably include it with a link when I get around to posting.
      I also read "100 Best Things to Do in Greece" while on the site--there are lots of other places mentioned, too, but we happened to be going to Greece this summer.  It was fun to see that many of the places we plan to visit were listed.
      Anyway, if you have an afternoon free to spend some time reading, I highly recommend jenreviews.com.

Vitamin D

        I am a firm believer that most of us do not get enough vitamins and minerals in our daily intake of food.  One of the main reasons, of course, is the hectic lifestyles we lead, grabbing a bite to eat--usually from a fast food place--while we are running here and there.  We don't make good food choices.  So I am also a firm believer in supplements.  One of the most important, I believe, is vitamin D.  If you are not already taking a vitamin D supplement, I highly recommend you look into the effects of a vitamin D deficiency and then consider adding a D3 supplement for your health.
       I received an email recently from Jenreviews.com asking me to read an article they had written about vitamin D.  I was very impressed by the in-depth information provided so I am providing a link here.  Read it and see what you think.

Chicken Marsala

     I made a wonderful new recipe for Chicken Marsala this week!  I found the basic recipe on Epicurious, but changed a couple of things. You can go to the link if you want to see the original, but here is the recipe as I made it.  I serve it over spaghetti.

                                                            Chicken Marsala

1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (14 fl oz)

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

10 oz mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced

1/4 teaspoons ground sage

 Salt & pepper to taste

  1 cup all-purpose flour

8-10 chicken tenders or 4 chicken breasts

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dry Marsala wine

1 1/3 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

  Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 200°F.

Bring broth to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan over high heat, then boil, uncovered, until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 20 minutes.

  Cook onion in 3 tablespoons butter in a heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until onion begins to turn golden, about 1 minute. Add mushrooms, and sage,  and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated and mushrooms begin to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

  Put flour in a wide shallow bowl. Gently pound chicken to 1/4 inch thick between 2 sheets of plastic wrap using the flat side of a meat pounder or a rolling pin.

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper, then dredge in flour, 1 piece at a time, shaking off excess. 

  Heat 1 tablespoon each of oil and butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté half of chicken, turning over once, until golden and just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a large heatproof platter, arranging in 1 layer, then put platter in oven to keep warm. Wipe out skillet with paper towels and cook remaining chicken in same manner, then transfer to oven, arranging in 1 layer.

  Add 1 cup wine to skillet and boil over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, about 30 seconds. Add reduced broth, cream, and mushrooms, then simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.  Add chicken to sauce to coat and then remove to serve. Add lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons wine and a dash of sage and salt & pepper, if needed, to the sauce and then serve with chicken.

A great health tip from Dr. Mercola: Practice an Attitude of Gratitude

I read an excellent article by Dr. Mercola on gratitude today.  Read the entire article here.

I am including " A Dozen Practical Strategies to Build and Strengthen Gratitude" listed in the article because I believe these are excellent suggestions to help us change our attitude into an attitude of gratitude.

Keep a gratitude journal

Each day, or on set days each week, write down everything you're grateful for, and make an effort to really feel the positivity. While you can certainly buy a nice diary specifically for this purpose, you could simply make a notation in your daily calendar.  Alternatively, download a Gratitude Journal app from iTunes.

Here are a few tips found in "The Little Book of Gratitude," by Robert Emmons which were included in the article, to consider as you journal: Focus on the benevolence of other people. Doing so will increase your sense of being supported by life and decrease unnecessary anxiety. Also, focus on what you have received rather than what's been withheld. "The 'surplus' mode will increase our feelings of worth; the 'deficit' mode will lead us to think how incomplete our life is," Emmons says.

Lastly, avoid comparing yourself to people you perceive to have more advantages. 

Doing so will only erode your sense of security. As Emmons notes, "Wanting more is related to increased anxiety and unhappiness. A healthier comparison is to contemplate what life would be like without a pleasure that you now enjoy … Gratitude buffers you from emotions that drive anxiety. You cannot be grateful and envious, or grateful while harboring regrets.”

Write thank-you notes

"When thanking someone who has done something for you, whether large or small, be specific, comment on the effort it has taken, and the cost, and keep the focus on that person," Emmons suggests. "For example, 'Thank you for bringing me my tea in bed. I really appreciate you getting up early each day. You're so thoughtful.' The key to effectiveness is to achieve some separation between the kind act and your expression.”

This year, make it a point to write thank-you notes or letters in response to each gift or kind act — or simply as a show of gratitude for someone being in your life. To get you started, consider practicing mindful thank yous for seven days straight.

Say grace at each meal

Adopting the ritual of saying grace at each meal is a great way to flex your gratitude muscle on a daily basis, and will also foster a deeper connection to your food. While this can be a perfect opportunity to honor a spiritual connection with the divine, you don't have to turn it into a religious speech if you don't want to. You could simply say, "I am grateful for this food, and appreciate all the time and hard work that went into its production, transportation and preparation.”

Let go of negativity by changing your perception

Disappointment — especially if you're frequently struggling with things "not going your way" — can be a major source of stress, which is known to have far-reaching effects on your health and longevity. In fact, centenarians overwhelmingly cite stress as the most important thing to avoid if you want to live a long and healthy life.

Since stress is virtually unavoidable, the key is to develop and strengthen your ability to manage your stress so that it doesn't wear you down over time. Rather than dwelling on negative events, most centenarians figured out how to let things go, and you can do that too. It takes practice though. It's a skill that must be honed daily, or however often you're triggered.

A foundational principle to let go of negativity is the realization that the way you feel has little to do with the event itself, and everything to do with your perception of it. Wisdom of the ancients dictate that events are neither good nor bad in and of themselves. It is your belief about the event that upsets you, not the fact that it happened.

As noted by Ryan Holiday, author of "The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living, The Stoics are saying, 'This happened to me,' is not the same as, 'This happened to me and that's bad.' They're saying if you stop at the first part, you will be much more resilient and much more able to make some good out of anything that happens.”

Listen to your own advice

Another potent technique that can increase your positive-to-negative emotion ratio is to ask yourself, "What would I recommend if this happened to someone else?" and then follow your own advice.

Dan Ariely, a professor at Duke University and author of "Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions," explains that the reason this technique — which he calls "taking the outside perspective" — works so well is because when we make recommendations to others, we don't take our own current state of mind and emotions into account.

We're distanced emotionally from an event that happens to someone else, and that distance allows us to make saner, more reasonable decisions.

Be mindful of your nonverbal actions

Smiling and hugging are both ways of expressing gratitude, encouragement, excitement, empathy and support. These physical actions also help strengthen your inner experience of positive emotions.

Give praise

Research27 shows that using "other-praising" phrases are far more effective than "self-beneficial" phrases. For example, praising a partner saying, "thank you for going out of your way to do this," is more powerful than a compliment framed in terms of how you benefited, such as "it makes me happy when you do that."

The former resulted in the partner feeling happier and more loving toward the person giving the praise. Also, be mindful of your delivery — say it like you mean it. Establishing eye contact is another tactic that helps you show your sincerity. 

Prayer and/or mindfulness meditation

Expressing thanks during prayer or meditation is another way to cultivate gratitude. Practicing "mindfulness" means that you're actively paying attention to the moment you're in right now. A mantra is sometimes used to help maintain focus, but you can also focus on something that you're grateful for, such as a pleasant smell, a cool breeze or a lovely memory.

Create a nightly gratitude ritual

One suggestion is to create a gratitude jar, into which the entire family can add notes of gratitude on a daily basis. Any jar or container will do. Simply write a quick note on a small slip of paper and put it into the jar. Some make an annual (or biannual or even monthly) event out of going through the whole jar, reading each slip out loud.

If you have young children, a lovely ritual suggested by Dr. Alison Chen in a Huffington Post article is to create a bedtime routine that involves stating what you're grateful for out loud.

Spend money on activities instead of things

According to recent research, spending money on experiences not only generates more gratitude than material consumption, it also motivates greater generosity. As noted by co-author Amit Kumar, postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Chicago, "People feel fortunate, and because it's a diffuse, untargeted type of gratitude, they're motivated to give back to people in general.”

Embrace the idea of having "enough"

According to many who have embraced a more minimalist lifestyle, the key to happiness is learning to appreciate and be grateful for having "enough." The average credit card debt for Americans who carry a balance is $16,000. People with a negative net worth or a net worth of zero carry an average of $10,300 in credit card debt.  Meanwhile, financial hardship and work stress are two significant contributors to depression and anxiety.

The answer is to buy less and appreciate more. Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses, practice being grateful for the things you already have, and release yourself from the iron-grip of advertising, which tells you there's lack in your life.

Many who have adopted the minimalist lifestyle claim they've been able to reduce the amount of time they have to work to pay their bills, freeing up time for volunteer work, creative pursuits and taking care of their personal health, thereby dramatically raising their happiness and life satisfaction.

The key here is deciding what "enough" is. Consumption itself is not the problem; unchecked and unnecessary shopping is.

It's like being on a hamster wheel — you keep shopping, thinking happiness and life satisfaction will come with it. Yet it never does. Many times, accumulation of material goods is a symptom that you may be trying to fill a void in your life, yet that void can never be filled by material things.

More often than not, the void is silently asking for more love, personal connection, or experiences that bring purpose and passionate engagement. So, make an effort to identify your real, authentic emotional and spiritual needs, and then focus on fulfilling them in ways that does not involve shopping.