The Attitude of Gratitude

[Ailish]

I thought this author’s article on gratitude expressed so well what I try to incorporate into my own life and I wanted to share it here. I also believe it ties in nicely to reincarnation and the idea of creating with the power of positive thought. I can definitely see patterns throughout my lifetimes of how ingratitude led to certain situations. I personally believe that creating with conscious intent in this life brings about positive change NOW and in our next life. Gratitude is one of the first steps.

The fourteenth century Native American Iroquois Constitution opens with a prayer of gratitude. It offers thanks "to the earth where men dwell; to streams of water, springs and lakes; to the maize and fruits and medicinal herbs; to the sun and moon, wind and thunder... and to the great creator, the source of life".

Gratitude is one of the first principles of spiritual well-being. Blessings abound in the life of each of us, and a keener appreciation of the same unlocks the secrets of the universe. In opening our hearts wide to render thanks we automatically create the space in our consciousness for greater grace to flow in. A thankful heart is an open heart and is thus, open to receiving. Meister Eckhart, the German mystic observed, "If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice."

It is a simple and powerful tool to help a seeker move from the consciousness of lack to the consciousness of abundance. When we express gratitude a sense of peace and fulfilment floods our being. New research shows that people who maintain a gratitude journal sleep better, have more good moods and a stronger sense of connection to others.

Our thoughts are the blueprint of reality. According to Friar Elbertus: "To think rightly is to create. All things come through desire, and every sincere prayer is answered. We become like that on which our hearts are fixed." In adopting the attitude of gratitude we focus on the plenty that already exists in our lives. This creates a powerful positive vibration, which, in turn, attracts spiritual abundance.

We need to cultivate a healthy appreciation for all those quiet joys that enrich and enliven our lives. Melody Beattie writes: "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. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

- TUNISHA MEHROTRA

I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Ailish

 

[tiltjlp]

Wonderful topic Ailish, and in a lot of ways it falls back to the fact that Reality is what you perceive it to be. I used that as my motto for years, but I don't know if I came up with it or read it some where. I think sometimes people see gratitude as a sign of weakness, when it's more a sign of openness.


Since I don't drive, I have to rely on friends and a community based Para transit service, which will take almost me anywhere in my county for a mere $2 per one way trip. I make sure my friends, who help me with my grocery shopping, and a lot more, know how much I appreciate them. I do the same for the people who take my reservations for the Para transit service, and the drivers.


It's one thing to give lip service to someone, but a true attitude of appreciation softens your whole being and spirit. Being sincere will actually make you look to be even more grateful, and not just for acts of kindness. If we pay a little more attention to our lives, we'll all find countless reasons and ways to show our gratitude. On the flip side, when others show gratitude toward us, we need not to discount it, by saying "it was nothing".


Gratitude, like uncommon common courtesy, are very important, and a precious gift to be shared freely. A key element in this is not to take people or acts of kindness for granted. If you believe you are special, doesn't it follow that everyone else you know is just as special too. Only if and when we can see how special others are, can we fully see how special we ourselves are. Rather than being a vicious cycle, it's a glorious cycle.


The more opportunities we seek out to show appreciation, the more wonderful our lives can become. It’s only when we are actively seeking out the positives in our lives every moment that we’ll finally understand what spirituality is about. With the proper attitude all we can do is look on the bright side, because there is no dark side.


John

 

[tiltjlp]

Does anyone else have opinions or ideas how the proper attitude, such as not only gratitude, both spoken and silent, but also an appreciation of life, can impact our next lives? I wonder how many ways the wrong set of attitudes might effect reincarnation, and even our time spent between lives.


John

 

[deborah]

I wonder what others think of gratitude regarding things that are difficult or chaotic in their lives. The opposite of comfort and joy. I mean without opposing forces how can we know the world? After all,It is the Nature of our Reality. William Buhlham states in his newsletter ---

Today many are talking about the effectiveness of embracing the now as the key to awareness and self-realization. The concept is simple yet profound. The present moment is the only valid point of personal power and transformation. The past is gone and the future is an unrealized dream. In a very real sense focusing our complete, undivided attention upon this present moment is an immediate portal to higher consciousness and self-awareness.

I think this applies to how we deal with difficulties as well. He questions the mind's attention and awareness and later asks if your mind is uncontrollable and repeatedly focused upon past events and future plans.


Spirituality is often searched after as something to be attained outside of ourselves or something that is holy and or sacred. When in actuality it is a constant, living life force that grows and becomes more and more ever present in the moment. If we have gratitude for our difficulties and embrace the change - the challenge -- the ever present opposing forces in our world -- will that awareness then affect our future lives?


I believe so.


He goes on to say that if ego rules your world --

The end result is a life filled with drama, failed relationships, family conflicts, financial issues, health problems and an endless list of personal challenges that keep your attention focused on the facade of matter. The ego mind stays active and firmly in control by perpetuating your personal dramas.

I hope this adds to the conversation - it is a valuable subject Aili. Thank you for bringing it up. I thought I would add a twist and am interested in your thoughts regarding his premise. To me spirituality is a daily walk -- gratitude is a must in order to embrace a way of sacred living and create consciously in our future life times.

 

[Ailish]

He questions the mind's attention and awareness and later asks if your mind is uncontrollable and repeatedly focused upon past events and future plans.

I think that’s a simple premise. If your thoughts are too full of what happened last week, or last year…or what’s going to happen six months from now, you aren’t able to put the proper energy and thought into NOW – and NOW is what will ultimately change the future.


My Grandma used to tell me “What’s past is over, learn from your mistakes, live for today, and the future will take care of itself.”

If we have gratitude for our difficulties and embrace the change - the challenge -- the ever present opposing forces in our world -- will that awareness then affect our future lives? I believe so.

I believe so, too. Having gratitude is a way of living – it is a reminder that all situations teach you, and often it’s the toughest ones that teach you the most. It's about learning how to approach situations -- and changing your attitude. There’s a reason you can learn from everything: everyone has wisdom, intelligence, and basic goodness. Therefore, if you choose to open your heart and mind, you’ll find yourself opening to the wisdom and compassion that’s been there all along. It’s the willingness to open your eyes, your heart, and your mind, to allow situations in your life to become your teacher.


With awareness, you are able to find out for yourself what causes misery and what causes happiness. Then it’s up to you to choose to embrace it – and make the necessary changes.


I agree completely with Buhlman’s statement about ego ruling your world, and how that just works to destroy everything you’ve worked towards. It continuously creates chaos and drama. The path of not being caught in ego is a process of surrendering to situations in order to communicate rather than win – especially when dealing with people in our lives. That doesn’t mean you allow someone to walk all over you – but you must find a way through compassionate action and compassionate speech to allow the doors to open between you. You must operate on the level of basic goodness – and when you do that, you will see their goodness and meet it head on.


That, too, is a lesson, and perhaps we aren’t always feeling grateful to the teachers, but if we realize we are learning, it becomes easier to feel gratitude towards difficult people and situations. When you start living that way – it’s like a huge weight has been lifted from your shoulders.


Spirituality is definitely a daily walk -- a lifetime journey.

 

[vicky]

Well said everyone. I think people reflect back to us all that we put out there. So, if one owns up and takes responsibility for that, most of the rest of it falls into place.


Vicky

 

[adityarajkapoor]

The truth abt Grat.


Gratitude...hmmm..i never had any when i was small i guess...i probably..no i did take everything for granted. There is a dining table so there must be dessert on it. I never realised how it came there and that I should be thankfull for it to the right people. Over the years..when i started to be responsible for the dessert on the table i realised what a harrowing time i must have given my elders...without gratitude. Ofcourse realisation didnt come in one day and I did evolve at a healthy speed. Now....when i get up...after saying morning to my Guru (picture!) and humans and all..I always go the open window and greet the sky and thank for this wonderful day and thank all those who made it possible. Believe me. I have my morning tea only after that> and it never tastes better. and sometimes i can almost feel the sky - clouds...bending down to say...'u know ur welcome..we dont have any1 to talk 2 anyways'...haha..its so simple to be stupid guys..but so diff to to realise it...Happy day mama

 

[Lauren]

Thank you, I am grateful for this topic!!

I wonder what others think of gratitude regarding things that are difficult or chaotic in their lives. The opposite of comfort and joy. I mean without opposing forces how can we know the world?

I think that when things are chaotic in our lives it is the most important time to reflect on the things that we are grateful for as well as centering our being in the Now with compassion. Opposing forces will always be; it is a matter of being aware enough so that we are not consumed by them, but instead observe them from that place of gratitude and compassion.
Regarding allowing ego to rule your world... perhapps the initial step is to toss the ever popular Freudian concept of what ego is and it's role within the psyche. When we take time to get to know Ego as one of many parts of ourselves we can then understand it's purpose of self protection. We can acknowledge it, feel it, and allow it to pass so that we can again exist in a place of centered gratitude and compassion. The acknowledgment part is what's tough. How and when exactly do we know when Ego is in charge of our thoughts and feelings? He is sneaky!! (and why the masculine affiliation??)

If we have gratitude for our difficulties and embrace the change - the challenge -- the ever present opposing forces in our world -- will that awareness then affect our future lives?

It is my belief that awareness itself affects change, is change, is reality... is Now, and Now is all that is. Think about the wavicle in Quantum Physics. There is no question in my mind that it affects future lives.
I also just wanted to say that Dr.Emoto was the man who got me thinking about gratitude and its implications.

 

[Aaron]

This is a great thread, and I am grateful for it as well. I have found myself being very grateful for my life in the past few months and have found myself saying "thank you" a lot in prayers and meditation.


I believe that the ego can cause a lot of problems......as it was doing that to me and I wasn't even aware of it! The beginning of my year was so hard, there was just a lot of things happening at once to me. But thanks to my doctor (who found some physical health issues) and my family and friends, I have had the support I needed to get through the hard times and back on track. And those "problems" do not seem so big anymore.


I had found that I took too many things for granted, was easily frustrated, distracted, and didn't deal with day to day problems in a healthy way. I hated being like this, and I was quite aware that I wasn't getting any better, so I took the steps necessary to get my help. That is a hard thing to do! It's not easy to make a lot of changes, and to let go of things that have been bothering you for a long time. It's not an easy road to take when it's not familiar to you, and you have turned to people you normally don't to for support. But I have been blessed with special people in my life....people who have been my light before, and now, and who I have been a light for, and it all pays off in the end.


To accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. The serenity prayer, it's not just for AA (as I have been blessed with that not being my issue in life)......it's for all of us. It's a wonderful way of looking at the here and now, and to get us focused on our futures, this life and the next. To focus on what's truly important to all of us.


I hope others will feel how I feel now.....it's a great place to be.


Aaron

 

[Ailish]

Hey Aaron,


Glad to hear things are working out so well for you. It's nice to be appreciative of not only those in your life - but also grateful for each and every one of our blessings. Gratitude is positive - and can only attract more of the same energy.


Deborah took me to see a film with her class called "China Blue" - about the girls who work in factories in China to make our favorite brands of blue jeans. These girls literally get 3-4 hours of sleep, get fined for leaving to get a drink (even though it was energy tea intended to keep them up longer so they could fill more orders....) - no breaks - no pay if you're new - they get fined for falling asleep - they have to pay for water and only have their 3-4 "free" (aka sleeping) hours to do their own chores and bathing. Apparently - this was considered one of the "good" places to work....:butbut:


I am usually really good about counting my blessings - but this film made me re-evaluate a few more things in my life. A change of perspective is a good thing.......


Aili

 

[stardis]

The art of gratitude is something that many people are thinking more about these days. I have cultivated a habit of thinking about the truly unfortunate people in the world whenever I find myself thinking that I have a hard life. I like to say that at least we aren't in Darfur or some other place that is also suffering immensely. I am certain that I have had a pretty easy life through no virtue inherent in me. I don't know why providence has smiled upon me but I am grateful.


I took my mother to the store once and watched while she, a crippled and ill woman, helped an elderly man in a wheelchair get something from a high shelf. They were both grateful. My mother was grateful that she could help the man and he was grateful for her kindness -- I was grateful for the opportunity to experience the kindness and the love that these two strangers showed each other! It was a wonderful affirmation of how the Creator wants us to live. I wish you could have been there, but you probably have stories you could tell also.


I am determined to love others and be grateful for any little goodness that comes my way - no matter how small it may seem.


Anyone have any experiences like this?

 

[deborah]

I am determined to love others and be grateful for any little goodness that comes my way - no matter how small it may seem.

Me too stardis. Me too.

 

[deborah]

I love the holiday season, and am grateful for many things. However, I also try to remember where we get our "things" and how they are made.

Deborah took me to see a film with her class called "China Blue" - about the girls who work in factories in China to make our favorite brands of blue jeans.
These girls literally get 3-4 hours of sleep, get fined for leaving to get a drink (even though it was energy tea intended to keep them up longer so they could fill more orders....) - no breaks - no pay if you're new - they get fined for falling asleep - they have to pay for water and only have their 3-4 "free" (aka sleeping) hours to do their own chores and bathing.


Apparently - this was considered one of the "good" places to work….Ailish

So I make gifts, buy from mom and pop shops and stay away from mass marketing. In honor of those who work so hard for so little so we can get a "deal."

 

[hydrolad]

Being handicapped, I am very grateful for those who help me, from small acts of kindness like holding doors open and getting grocery items down from the shelves.


To a State Trooper, at a Rest Area, who started to change a flat tire on my Van and was soon joined by a Trucker and a couple from out of state, who were soon fighting (friendly) over who would finish putting the tire on.


I found it difficult at first to accept help, but now, I am very grateful for any help and am very vocal in my thanks, I was always grateful, but had trouble verbalizing my thanks.


I'm just so grateful every Morning I wake up, am breathing, and six feet above grade (ground level).

 

[BriarRose]

Three years ago, on Christmas Day, we found out that my husband had lost the job he had for 33 years. Who does that happen to? It's like something Scrooge would do, , or a storyline in a bad Victorian novel. Somehow, I still love Christmas, celebrate it passionately, and am grateful to be alive to enjoy it with family and friends. There is a "twinge" of memory, but it never puts a "stake of holly" through my heart. Just a splinter! :laugh: