Gratitude is a universal language that transcends culture, religion, and spiritual practices. Regardless of our differences, learning to live grateful can uplift, inspire, and foster positivity in all our lives.
Religions teach that Gratitude is a powerful practice that can lead to greater humility, compassion, and joy. By cultivating a grateful heart, individuals can deepen their connection to a higher power and the world around them.
Philosophers have generally viewed Gratitude as a fundamental aspect of living a fulfilling and virtuous life. They argue that practicing Gratitude can lead to greater happiness and stronger relationships.
Psychology has extensively researched Gratitude and its effects on mental and emotional well-being. Some key findings are that it increases happiness, improves mental and physical well-being, strengthens relationships, and promotes resilience.
I haven’t always practiced grateful living. For the first forty years of my life, my gratitude practices were limited to things I learned in kindergarten: saying "thank you" when someone gives you something and showing appreciation for your food by saying grace before a meal.
In kindergarten, before lunch, we would bow our heads and repeat in unison: "God is great. God is Good. Let us thank him for our food. By his hands, we all are fed. Thank you, God, for our daily bread. Amen.”
At home, Mama would say grace that began with the words, "Gracious Father, we thank you for this food that we're about to receive…." When we ate meals at church, the person blessing the food always said, "Thank you for this food that it may nourish our bodies and souls…..”
But that was decades ago, and kindergarten grace lost its luster. Saying grace at mealtime became more of a formality than a joyful time to be truly thankful for the abundance of the universe. While I still say grace and "thank you," I've learned that Gratitude is so much more.
I like what Melody Beattie has to say about Gratitude: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what you have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
I’m grateful to have discovered the universal power of Gratitude and its life-changing gifts. It all began twenty-eight years ago with a daily practice of listing the things I was grateful for and allowing that list to change me from the inside out, one day and one small change at a time. I loved it so much that it is now a ritual!
How old were you when you first heard "Thank you?" What's your "grateful living" practice(s)? I'd love to hear your stories.
Need help putting wings on your dreams? Contact me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com.
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