Expressing gratitude and thanks in words and through your actions are powerful spiritual vitamins. Research shows that the benefits of appreciation and thankfulness are many. Having an attitude of gratitude is good for your physical, emotional and mental health.
Thankfulness feels good and is good for you. Those who make a habit of feeling grateful experience the same health benefits as happy people. They have lower levels of stress hormones and less risk of viral infections. They exercise more, sleep better, live longer, have higher incomes and more satisfying relationships.
Gratitude is a state of appreciation and thankfulness. We acknowledge receiving and having positive things in life. Perhaps we earned or worked for those things. Perhaps they were a gift or an unexpected surprise. Feeling grateful is often associated with being happy about life's good things- those we love, having food, a home, good health, money, narrowly escaping an accident or mishap, having a good job, or getting something we want.
Thankfulness is not limited to life's pleasantries. It is a choice you can make even when facing what you perceive as dark situations. Feeling and expressing gratitude at these times opens your heart to receive a blessing when you thought no blessing could be found. It brings you into a state of acceptance and trust and allows you to see possibilities instead of only closed doors.
Scripture challenges us with these words, "In everything give thanks...(1 Thessalonians 5:18). I learned the power of this practice first hand while going through a difficult divorce.
Here is a simple truth. You can generate feelings of gratitude at will. As you practice, it gets easier and easier to turn on this feeling.
Gratitude as a practice and a way of life doesn't mean you have to feel happy about everything. It doesn't mean you wish nothing was different or do nothing to improve circumstances for yourself and others. It certainly doesn't mean you close your eyes to suffering and harmful situations or purposely create them.
Being thankful does mean you accept yourself and where you are in the moment. It means you open yourself to the present experiences of life even when they are painful or difficult.
When you align with Source energy in this way you move out of the energy of resistance, or fight, and move into the energy of flow where you are more likely to receive inspiration and guidance. You can better see the help and support that is there for you.
How often have you heard people say that their cancer was their greatest blessing? Or that in retrospect, so-and-so leaving them was the best thing that ever happened to them? Sometimes we humans need a little push to move forward. Sometimes it hurts. But when we look back, it is often with gratefulness and a realization that things did work out for the best.
Perhaps you are in the habit of focusing on what you lack, still want, and everything that makes you feel miserable. Welcome to the human race. Our brains naturally focus on the negative. The media and our culture capitalize on that tendency and condition us to want better and more. You have been taught to never be satisfied. Not being satisfied equals not being happy. The trick is to feel grateful, happy, and satisfied for what you do have and for who you are, even as you move forward to achieving more of what you want.
Think about it - why would God, the universe, Source, conspire to bring more blessings into your life when you aren't expressing gratitude for what has been provided for you already?
According to research, there are several benefits of gratitude, showing appreciation, and giving thanks:
Note that feeling gratitude has benefits, but these effects are amplified when you show appreciation through the spoken or written word.
Put the power of gratitude to work for you. Let an attitude of gratitude create more joy and inner peace in your heart and mind. Establish a daily habit of expressing words of gratitude to the Divine, life, and others.
Giving thanks and expressing gratitude in words and action is not a cure-all for all your ills, nor is it a ticket to getting what you want. It is a healing balm to your heart and to those on its receiving end. It is a willingness to step into the flow of life with its ups and downs and to be a light of unconditional love in all circumstances. Spoken or felt with sincerity thankfulness, it will raise your vibration and open you to new awareness and possibilities. Expressing gratitude may well be one of the most important things you can do for your health and happiness. It is a cornerstone of spiritual wellness.
Your turn - With all the negativity in the world, it's nice to take a few moments to remember and share the good things of life. The Law of Resonance teaches that the energy we put out is the energy we attract and add to the collective consciousness. I invite you to share what you are grateful for - a list, an event, a healing, a person you love.
Share what you are thankful for and read gratitude stories here.
Expressing Gratitude page updated 12/2020
For Educational Purposes Only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Please consult with your health provider before using natural remedies and/or complementary therapies if you are pregnant, nursing, or you are being treated for a medical condition. Be aware that certain herbs and supplements interact with medications.
Nov 26, 22 10:30 AM
Nov 04, 22 10:53 AM
Aug 11, 22 04:29 PM
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read. Post a comment in the box below.