Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” Henry Ward Beecher. According to Wikepedia, “Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one has received or will receive.” “If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you’, that would suffice.” Meister Eckhart.
Gratitude in action
Gratitude means being thankful for all the simple pleasures and acknowledging everything that you receive. It also means to be aware of how much you have been given. More importantly, it means to live your life as though everything is a miracle. “The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.” Henri Nouwen
When you are in a state of gratitude, you focus on abundance and not on what your life lacks. This creates a cadence that allows you to receive tenfold. Because, what you focus on expand. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” Melody Beattie
The Benefits of Gratitude
Research has shown that giving thanks makes you happier and more resilient; it strengthens relationships, reduces stress and improves health. It also increases alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F. Kennedy
Ways to Practice Gratitude
1. Keep a gratitude journal: This is a concept that was made famous by Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book “Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude.” This involves writing down every day a list of 3-10 things for which you are grateful. This can be done first thing in the morning or before going to bed at night. “Gratitude makes sense of your past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie
2. Write a gratitude letter to someone who has exerted a positive influence in your life, but you have not properly thanked. It is suggested that you meet that person and read the letter to them face to face. “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” Aesop
3. We express thanks every day. However, do we really mean it? This is something we should practice. The next time you are truly thankful, look the person you are thankful to in the eyes and simply say “thank you” sincerely. “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” Henri Frederic Amiel.
Thoughts about Gratitude
“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” Brian Tracy.
You must begin to bring the discipline of gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for positive experience to be thankful. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtue, but the parent of all the others.” Marcus Tullius Cicero. You must remember: “Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.” Doris Day. For more about gratitude go Here!
Comments
Simply put--I Sooooo hear you, Nichola...a great reminder for us all...:)