The Power Of Gratitude

GRAT-I-TUDE (The quality of being thankful)

IN DAILY LIFE WE MUST SEE THAT IT IS NOT HAPPINESS THAT MAKES US GRATEFUL, BUT GRATEFULNESS THAT MAKES US HAPPY.

When life seems full of troubles, it seems difficult to maintain an attitude of gratitude.

And in times when everything seems going smoothly, we often take precious moments for granted and we simply forget to be thankful.

Gratitude is an approach of being at peace with yourself and with all what you have. it makes us happier and optimistic.

Gratitude is a way of looking at the world and all good things in it with a feeling of appreciation, regardless of whether or not your current situation is to your liking.

We were taught an extremely powerful lesson in childhood of saying “Thank you”.

Think about the people who appreciate you and let you know it.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM?

Does their appreciation positively impact your relationship with them?

OF COURSE, IT DOES?

Gratitude puts situation into perspective when we see the good as well as the bad, it becomes difficult to complain.

Gratitude helps us realize what we have and can lessen our tendency to want more all the time.

When we are consciously aware of our blessings and are also grateful for them, we focus more clearly on what we want and attract more of those things into our life.

Also, being grateful for our situation even if we don’t like everything about it allows us to learn that behind every problem lies an opportunity.

PRACTICE RIGHT NOW:

1. 1. Find a quite spot. Focus on your breath.
   2. Feel your chest expand as you inhale and when you exhale the chest space reduces.
   3. Maintain a Gratitude Journal, for example car to travel.
   4. Appreciate smaller blessings; food in your refrigerator.
   5. Everyday make a list (in writing) of 5 things you are grateful for.
   6. Best way to reap the benefits of gratitude is to notice new things you are grateful for everyday.
   7. Be specific.
   8. Notice good things, look for them, and appreciate them.
   9. Savor, absorb, pay attention to these good things.
   10. Being thankful should never be reserved for momentous occasions, but we can be thankful for simple things like having dinner with the family, having nice bed to sleep, having clean drinking water etc.

FEELING GRATITUDE AND NOT EXPRESSING IT IS LIKE WRAPPING A PRESENT AND NOT GIVING IT –William Arthur Ward

11. Appreciate 3 people every day.
12. Be genuine when you praise and give compliment.
13. Do smile and say thank you when you receive a compliment.

14. APPRECIATE YOURSELF

BENEFITS:

1. People who regularly practice gratitude feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness and even have a stronger immune system.
2. It requires little time and no money.
3. When we consciously practice being grateful for the people around us, situation and resources we begin to attract better things in life.

LACK OF GRATITUDE MEANS WE ARE NOT PAYTING ATTENTION AND TAKING EXISTENCE FOR GRANTED.

Gratitude is a choice. It’s an attitude. Make gratitude the attitude (a habit).

The story of “King Midas and the Golden touch” focuses on the importance of gratitude and appreciation of things that you have got till they are gone.

King Midas believed that he can never have too much gold.  Midas doesn’t realize what’s truly important to him until he lost it.

Once he has rid himself of the golden touch, he appreciates not just his wonderful daughter, but also the simple treasures of life, like water bread and butter.

GRATITUDE thus can be of great benefit to us – whether we experience it ourselves or receive it from others. We are all better off if we are kind to each other and appreciate what we have.

SO, KEEP PRACTICING and watch your life get better and better and every day you will find more and more things to be grateful for.