Gratitude lessons, I find, really are some of the hardest lessons to grasp. It just seems like it is inborn into our nature to be ungrateful and unappreciative of what we have. It seems far easier to complain about what we don’t have than it is to give thanks for what we do. I confess that I am as guilty of this as anybody. Staying positive, upbeat and grateful is hard work, becoming negative and resentful of what we don’t have, on the other hand, is effortless. A quick look around society today seems to back this up. Having said this, that does not provide an excuse or a reason for us not to dig deep and make the effort in cultivating gratitude. Gratitude is a master key that unlocks so many doors that the effort just simply must be made.
Cultivating Gratitude
Cultivating gratitude is similar to going to the gym, no pain no gain! When you want to do it the least, that’s when you need it the most. This is why I’m writing this article today, as much to remind myself of this as anything, it’s so easy to forget! Cultivating gratitude in theory is as simple as looking for what is right in a situation and choosing to focus on that rather than what is not present. It’s a basic Law Of Attraction principle that states that what ever you focus on grows. If you focus on the positive of a situation, regardless of how small that is, it will grow into more positive. The same is true in the reverse, if you choose to fixate on the negative, that also will grow. By choosing the right gratitude lessons you water the right seeds.
Attitude Of Gratitude
An attitude of gratitude is simply what I have just stated, choosing to focus on the positive in any situation. As I have mentioned numerous times, I do not mean to ignore the negative, just don’t make it the center of focus. Developing that attitude simply involves looking for the positive and then expressing it, either silently or outwardly. A simple statement like “I am grateful for…” works just fine. If you are new to this it will probably feel forced or unnatural, but perseverance is the key to success. If it were easy everybody would be doing it.
In conclusion, life is a balance of both positive and less positive experiences. Both are present, how you feel will be largely determined by how you see the balance of these experiences. By developing a routine of gratitude, the balance will simply become a more healthy one and a better sense of perspective will be kept. As I mentioned, I make no claim that this is easy or that I’m good at it, but a constant striving and a desire to improve will always win out the day.
