Develop An Attitude Of Gratitude

By Dick O'Brien M.A.S.c

I can't help but notice how our society seems to have turned away from the practice of gratitude. We have become a people of unsatifiables. The common themes are " more is better" - "be the first one on your block"

"Act now, supplies are limited".

We are stressed by a scarcity mentality and a consumer driven economy. Many have bought into the idea that money, possessions and things are the real source of happiness. Only later do they discover that even these do not satisfy our deeper human needs.

Make time to be grateful for what you have. You may even take time to be grateful for what you do not have. Gratitude changes our whole view of the day. It unlocks the pleasures of life. It allows us to see with a different pair of eyes.

It turns what we have into enough. It refocuses our thoughts from the pursuit of security to the experience of serenity. It turns a house into a home, a meal into a feast, a sunrise into a celebration and smile on a child into a moment of renewal.

Gratitude is an excellent way of managing your own morale. Sometimes we confuse continuous personal growth with the constant need for success, excitement, entertainment or reward.

As life sends us some unexpected turns, we become vulnerable to disappointment and discouragement. A deep and daily sense of personal gratitude acts as an anchor in the most difficult of times.

Don't wait for a tragedy to occur before you realize how precious life is. Don't wait for a personal loss before you realize how much you loved and valued a person.

The following are some ways of bringing more gratitude into your life:

Start your Day with Gratitude.

Develop a ritual as soon as you get up in the morning. Spend the first ten minutes of your day in gratitude. Focus on the gift of your health, the love of your family and friends, the roof over your head and the places you will go that day.

I believe this gives a chemical and emotional boost to your day. It changes your thinking, right up front. It serves as a type of immunity to stress and worry. Starting your day with gratitude has a way of changing your perspective on life.

Take a Moment for Gratitude Before you Eat.

I read an article in the news lately that claimed that it took 50 people to bring the food to your table. I can believe this. I think we take the cultivation, preparation and delivery of food and water for granted in North America. I also feel that we eat too fast and forget that eating is a time for reflection as well as refueling.

Be Grateful for the Key People in your Life.

Most people sit on the shoulders of at least five other persons (20 for me). The concept of self made man or woman is the delusion of the self-absorbed. Parents, friends, teachers, ancestors and others are significant components of the quality of your life. Think of the people who guided you, confronted you, encouraged you and believed in you. These are the gifts that keep on giving.

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