Gratitude

Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The result of cultivating the act of gratitude into our lives cannot be overemphasized. It makes sense of our past experiences and bring calmness to our present circumstances which in turn opens bright opportunities for the future because each time we feel grateful, our bodies respond by influencing positivity into our thoughts. Unfortunately our environment sometimes makes it difficult to achieve this sense of consistent gratitude.

It amazes me how people form the habit of conceptualizing and analyzing other peoples lives. Our realities are vastly different most of the time. It is highly illogical to want to interpret one person’s life based on the life of another or based on a particular standard or expectation. This is where destiny comes in.

If life’s starting point if measured for instance by a scale of one to ten, where ‘one’ is expected to be the beginning and ‘ten’ the pinnacle, following that order. We realize that a person might start at three jump to eight and then finish at ten; or even start at ten go back to two and conclude with five. While of course we might find some whose reality will move consecutively from one to ten.

We see such examples daily. A young couple for instance well endowed with college degrees and adequate resources to begin their journey together are not blessed with the fruit of the womb until ten years after, while another couple, who do not necessarily have all the resources for a comfortable life, are still struggling to make ends meet, are blessed with twins as soon as they are married. In most cases, at some point these two couples would be able to boast of haven achieved almost the same things, only, they achieved them at different times in their lives.

Just as there is no comparison between the sun and the moon because they shine when its their time. There should be no comparison between our unique situations and realities.

This comparison causes people to become so overwhelmed with worry about what has not been achieved, rather than focusing on being grateful for what has been achieved. I have come across several people who are burdened by this. Unfortunately, they are made to feel this way by close friends and even relatives who have nothing better to do than interpret and play god in the lives of others causing anxiety, frustration, and pain.

Recognizing what we have and appreciating it, no matter how little, breeds peace of mind. When the mind is content and at peace, positive things begin to happen, thereby opening the door to abundance. So, never let a day go by without appreciating and being grateful for the good in it, because there is always something to be grateful for. For example, be grateful for the beautiful things in nature that you love, an accomplishment, be grateful for a friend, a happy memory, an ability you have, something you are looking forward to, a life lesson, a gift you received, something you are passionate about, life and opportunity, a compliment you received, a book you read that inspired you, an advice you were given, a childhood memory, a family member, a nice experience, just to mention a few. There is something in everyday to be grateful for.

In summary, rather than conceptualize, encourage gratitude. Gratitude helps us see what is there instead of what is not. It is the healthiest of all human emotions. It brings peace of mind and contentment. And of course, if paves the way for more. All good things come from gratitude, so take a moment and focus on all the beautiful things that you have and be grateful. Not forgetting that the life that we live is also a dream of millions. So be happy, content, and grateful in every moment.