We’ve all noticed the phenomena of gratitude in action with those around us. We likely know someone who has everything, yet talk like they have nothing. Just like we likely know someone who has very little, but they seem to be happy. The difference between those two is how they view and express gratitude.
What is gratitude really?
It’s easy to think of gratitude as acknowledging what we have received or something that gratifies us. That gratitude is about recognizing the people who are behind the gesture, gift, or action, and the effort they put into it.
However, there are other aspects of gratitude that we can embrace! We can be grateful to our creator, other people, animals, and the world at large. Let’s recognize the goodness in our lives and thank those who add to it. This recognition, both energetically and spiritually, supports the goodness around you and invites it to continuously come your way. Studies show how being more grateful can also lead to positive affects of our wellbeing, even for our physical health.
Often when we consider what we are grateful for, a sweeping experience will come to mind. We may feel grateful for our health, family, job, or even the courage to take on a challenge. These are important, but they only scratch the surface of gratitude.
Deeper, we find the simple activities or pleasures that touch your heart and soul. An awesome movie you saw, laughter with a friend, the joy of sitting in the sunshine, or spending time with your furry friend. These are moments we are filled with gratitude, even if we aren’t conscious of it. In those moments, we are present for joy and grateful for everything that surrounds us. When we let everything else fall away to embrace that moment, we help grow our daily gratitude practice beyond the obvious - multiplying its benefits in our lives.
And let’s not forget to be grateful for ourselves. Last year’s article was all about
‘Be Grateful in a New Way!’ – an exploration of expressing gratitude for yourself. That article is about being kind to yourself and being grateful - changing your inner-self talk to being appreciative of your accomplishments.
It’s easy to be too busy, letting expectations change, and allowing feelings of gratitude to diminish. Don’t let possessions and health be expectations, but appreciate them for the personal ‘blessings’ they are. Instead of constant comparing to others, which can lead to feelings of disappointment, anger, and resentment when your ‘blessings’ don’t match theirs – practice gratitude.
Be grateful, and push that energy outwards – creating more joy and good things in your own life instead of focusing on someone else’s. Its helps us move out of wanting and fighting for control – and into allowing our higher power to exist in our life. It helps us honor the people who care for us. It helps us focus on the positive aspects of our life, bringing increased feelings of peace and contentment.
Gratitude can have a snowball effect! The more you allow it and invite it in – the easier it becomes to express. Those positive effects are boundless, and your never know how it will impact others and your future. It may take time to become automatic, but the benefits grow when you practice it daily. And that means gratitude is a choice.
I hope that you choose gratitude each and every day.
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