“If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart

Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that we receive. It means learning to live our life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much we’ve been given.

Gratitude shifts our focus from what our life lacks to the abundance that is already present. To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means we are aware of our blessings.

Incorporating gratitude into a daily agenda can change our life. It forces us to look at the life we are living and acknowledge the positive aspects in life; whether it is friends, material goods or even opportunities to view something from a different point of view. It can assist us in putting things in perspective.

When we have a negative thought such as ‘I hate my job’, gratitude can spin that thought into ‘I am happy that I have a job’.

Once we become oriented towards looking for things to be grateful for, we will find that we begin to appreciate simple pleasures and things that we previously took for granted. Gratitude should not be just a reaction to getting what we want, but an all-the-time gratitude, the kind where we notice the little things and where we constantly look for the good even in unpleasant situations.

Gratitude validates our sense of giving and receiving. One cannot receive without giving as well. When we practice an attitude of gratitude, we look at the things that are rich and positive instead of poor and fearful. This strengthens our body, mind and heart.

Expressing gratitude can be a difficult thing for some people. Often, gratitude is mixed with lots of other feelings like jealousy, envy, embarrassment, or insecurity. It is important to realize that expressing gratitude does not mean you are weaker or inferior in any way.

Gratitude simply expresses our appreciation and shows the respect that we have for others. Our one kindness has a ripple effect. Everyone on this earth loves to be acknowledged for who they are and what they do.

So few of us perform this simple deed; but if we only knew the profound affect that it has, we could be forever transformed.

Look around you today and acknowledge everything for which you are grateful.

Written By: Rukhsana Saifee

Asst.Professor, HSS

Chartered Institute of Technology

ABUROAD (Raj.)