Gratitude

[Tadhg Kelly]

Steve mentioned in his latest blog post the idea that being grateful for what you do have leads you toward what you want. So how do you show your gratitude for what you have?

[judge45]

Go hug someone you like or love.

Stand outside in the rain or sun and feel how great nature is.

Go for a walk in the forest, nature is truly incredible and inspiring.

Get some of your money, any money, even a coin and marvel how cool it is that something so simple can be exchanged for something else, something you value.

Go to any hospital and walk amoung the sick and dying.

Gratitude can be found everywhere, in the smallest of things, you just have to look around.

Look in the mirror and marvel how cool it is to be alive, 150,000 people died today, but you get to have life today.

Pretty cool when you think about it.

HTH

Jeff

[AndyMartin]

Well, something was obviously in the air earlier this week because I posted this on my blog then decided to go check out Steve's blog. Then of course The Secret on Oprah.

Originally Posted by Manifest Revolution

Try to take a moment of conscious joy every day. This is the true practice of gratitude. Gratitude is not thankfulness for what was wanted; and it is especially not the attribution of contrived meaning to what was not wanted. It is simply feeling joy for what is. When we assign thankfulness to things or circumstances, we make our joy dependent on outcome. But all things are impermanent; what brings pleasure in one moment will bring pain in the next, whether by its disappearance, or by change in circumstance, such as the dissipation of excitement. Nothing can take away from joy in what is. "Is" always is, only its contents change. Its joy cannot be lost, only ignored. So take a moment when you can and close your eyes, take a deep breath and realize that everything exists for your joy.


You just haven't learned how to use it yet.

[PMcDonald]

Start each day with being thankful for waking up. Be grateful you are alive! Then spend a few minutes in quiet comtemplation, thinking about all the little things you have in life to be grateful for - for example: hot water, heat, a roof over your head, clothes that keep you warm, etc.

Don't get caught up in thinking you can't be grateful because you might not be totally happy with your present situation, but really dig deep to acknowledge all the little things you have that many others don't.

Also, a great way to get positive energy flowing and to be grateful is to write a thank you note to someone. It could be for something someone did for you recently, or just to say thanks for being a freind. etc. Just put the positive energy out there!

I thank my wife for everything....for making dinner, for putting toothpaste on my toothbrush when we go to brush our teeth, for being a wonderful mom, for being a loving and supportive wife - be grateful for everything and anything!!!!

Once you get into the habit of doing it, it is easy and really puts you in a wonderful mood

[Rocket Surgery]

Maybe this is just semantics, but I really don't think the Universe requires us to do anything physically to demonstrate our gratitude.

Our friends, family, employers, employees, waitresses, parking valets, gardeners, etc.... BY ALL MEANS, they require -- AND DESERVE (mostly) -- "a modest token," usually in the form of a thoughtful gift or cash gratuity... or if you're really trendy, a VISA REWARDS CARD!

But the LoA teaches us that it's FEELINGS that get the best response from the Universe, so I just try to generate that feeling of gratitude by visualizing the things in my life I am truly grateful for until I FEEL that gratitude "energy." Then I release it out into the ether with a great big "THANK YOU for... (insert blessing here)!"

PMcDonald is correct about us having so much to be thankful for, even when it sometimes seems we have so little. But when one thinks of how little others around the world have compared to the poorest in "western society," it's not so hard to find things to be grateful for: indoor plumbing and safe, potable water, electricity that's available to us 24/7, an incredibly beautiful planet to live on and marvel at each day, free public education, the freedom to not only worship, praise, debate, and conceive of God in unlimited ways, but also the freedom to NOT believe in God altogether without fear of harm or persecution... heck, I can literally go on forever, but I'll just say I'm grateful for LIFE ITSELF and the unlimited opportunities each and every day to try something new or experience something known but from a new perspective; to meet new people and see what sort of fascinating person may be lurking within that seemingly drab earth suit they are currently sporting.

I love to have FUN, and human life is just about the funnest thing going in the Universe... far as we know to date, anyway.

I'm grateful for this forum, and for each and every one of my fellow POE's who post here regularly and have created a community of like-minded souls who for the most part are sharing the same path.

So, to simplify... Do a mental inventory of everything in your life you feel sincerely grateful for; meditate on these things until you generate or "re-generate" the FEELING of gratitude; then wrap that emotion up in a bright red bow and send it out lovingly to the Universe. If you want more of a particular thing, meditate on your gratitude for whatever amount you currently enjoy of that thing and send that out. If you've never had ANY of something that you now desire, VISUALIZE what it will be like when you DO HAVE IT, feel the gratitude in advance.... (haven't you ever said or written, "Thanks in advance!") and send it on out without delay!

1. THINK/VISUALIZE the thing you are grateful for.
2. FEEL the gratitude well up inside you.
3. COMMUNICATE your sincere gratitude to the Universe.

That's my take on it anway...

~ RS

[Erock]

Realize this notion once and for all: The universe always gives you exactly what you need. That is the true essence of gratitude.

Let me give you an example. From society's viewpoint, I was a really successful high school senior. I had stellar grades, I was a great tennis player, and I was fairly good with girls. Everytime someone was better than me at one of these three things, I would just rationalize that I was better at the other two.

Then one of my good friends started getting really good at tennis, and really good with girls. He was already quite academic and had a better GPA and SAT scores than me. I can't tell you the number of times, in all three of these categories, he outdid me just by a little bit, and would get a lot of recognition for it. I went through a period of intense jealously, as he was better than me at all three of these very important aspects of my life, and I was used to being number 1 (at least in my mind).

But a couple months ago I had an epiphany. The universe made this guy better than me for a reason, and that reason was to force me to push harder than I'd ever done before, and to help me realize that there will always be people who are better than me.

Now I literally smile and laugh to myself whenever I see this guy (because he is one of my best friends) doing something better than me. He inspires me to do better and to be humble. How could I want it any other way?

Erock

[Abundance]

I came across this great website a few days ago which have many inspirational poems/videos (wisdom flashes). I

The following is one of my favorite's for gratitude.http://www.consciousone.com/wisdomflash/wfview.cfm?PID=297[/URL]



Sharyn

[Abundance]

Hmmm, the link I just posted doesn't appear to be working. I don't know if it is because I have to log into the site to access these wisdom flashes & it is preventing direct links.


If you want to look at this one titled "Seven Wonders" look under wisdom flashes ( there are a whole range of other great titles) on Your Spirituality Information Leader ConsciousOne.com.

Sharyn

[BelleEnchanted]

I find it easiest to express gratitude through mental appreciation or celebration. I used to write down things in a gratitude journal, but it made more sense to me to be always on the lookout for things to appreciate, so I tend to now just feel appreciation for things as they come into whatever space I'm in.

There's also a certain juiciness about using the word "celebration" that I like, and it seems to me when you're celebrating something, you're definitely in the zone of gratitude.

And sometimes, weird as this may sound, when I'm feeling really happy and connected, and so very grateful for that, I will dance from one room to another. I've been doing that a lot lately.

Belle

[John Hill]

I wrote an article on my site called "gratitude versus entitlement" it gives some insights into the gratitude attitude vs the entitlement attitude. The link is below.

John

[PMcDonald]

To elaborate a little more...

Being grateful, truly grateful, for what you have means being grateful for every little thing as I had mentioned earlier.

For example, if you find a penny on the ground - pick it up and be genuinely grateful for the universe just brought you money. By sending out those feelings of sincere gratitude you are sending out that signal that you are ready to receive more things to be grateful for. The key is to be grateful for 1 penny, 1 dollar, or 1 million dollars. If you get a coupon for 30 cents off a meal, of 2 burgers for 99 cents it doesn't matter just be grateful for it.

I used to think that it was trite to think this way, but now that I have put this into practice it has done wonders for me! It keeps the positive vibration going all day long!

[Liara Covert]

I share the views expressed in different postings. I also feel I'm alive to inspire, to love, and to discover the sources of motivation inside me. I'm grateful for increasing self-awarness, creative potential and developing relationships. I appreciate opportunities to learn and connect with others, and for my realisation that I create my perceptions of the world and unknowns. I'm grateful for courage to reach beyond myself, to explore feelings, and to recognize my own views are illusions that lead to life-changing self discoveries.