“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” -Denis Waitley
“It is through gratitude for the present moment that the spiritual dimension of life opens up.” -Eckhart Tolle
I am sure anyone reading this has heard the phrase “attitude of gratitude,” and how much this idea can impact our lives. Yet, how many actually practice this attitude on a daily or regular basis?
It is far more common to hear people talk about grievances or things that they are not grateful for, and things they are upset or angry about. In fact, I would say it has become so commonplace to complain that it is just considered a part of everyday life; it is just what people do naturally and it is perfectly normal.
Well, normal maybe, but perfect—never.
Now take this realization and observe how happy the chronic complainers are versus those who seem to show more appreciation and gratitude. Take it even one step closer to home and look at yourself. When you are complaining about something or someone how happy do you feel? Do you feel a sense of peace and well being? More than likely you did not feel well at all.
When you are in a place of feeling grateful about something someone did and you expressed it, how did that make you feel? Chances are, especially if it was heartfelt, you felt good about yourself and happy with life in that moment.
Try to remember that good feeling and how much joy it brings to be in a place of gratitude. The high it can bring is better than any drug, beverage or food could ever give you. When you are feeling like you need a shot or taste of joy just think of things to be grateful for in your life instead. Just waking up in the morning and having another day to embrace is a gift for each and every one of us. Be grateful.
The idea of finding things to be grateful for can at times seem like a daunting task, especially when things are not be going well in our life. However, the irony is this: the way to start turning things around is actually—in the midst of all that is going wrong—to try to find all that is going right and be grateful.
One way that has proven to be very effective is to start a gratitude journal. Each night or morning or both, write down at least five things to be grateful for that day. It could be a simple as having air to breath, clean water, food to eat, clothing and shelter. We can so easily forget all of the things we do have to be grateful for because we take so many things in life for granted, especially in the developed countries.
Try it for a week, starting this weekend, and see just how wonderful life really is and can be.
I am grateful to all those who read my blogs each day. Thank you.
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