How To Make Gratitude A Way Of Life

Life has certainly not been easy for me recently. First and foremost, my iPhone, email account, bank account and credit card had all been hacked by some very clever cyber-criminal. Soon after, my brother went into hospital for the second time. I was feeling rather sorry for myself until one day, after visiting my brother in the hospital, I was delayed while driving home. I had to stop at a junction to allow oncoming traffic to pass. A hearse was passing by on the other side of the road.

“God bless the deceased and their loved ones,” I softly prayed.

As the funeral procession moved closer, I noticed that the flower wreath beside the coffin had a ribbon with the words: Beloved Daughter.  In a flash, all my own problems seemed to evaporate, as I thought of the bereaved parents of the deceased. Here I was, complaining that I could not access my email account, while other people were grieving the passing of a loved one. Although it was a brief, random experience, it made me take a step back and take an honest look at my life. It caused me to reflect upon the many blessings in my life and, apart from my brother’s current health condition, the ongoing well-being of the rest of my family.

The hearse experience was highly synchronistic and definitely a sign from spirit. The Universe no doubt had an uncanny hand in ochestrating this occurence, as it mimicked an similar experience I had almost 20 years ago! Back then, my son had been born three months prematurely and suffered a minor brain hemorrhage as a result. Statistically, the doctors told me, the odds were fortunately in favor of him surviving such a premature birth. Still, the four months that he was in hospital were probably the most harrowing of my life!

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough ~ Oprah Winfrey

Finally, the day arrived when I could take him home with me. On the way home, I remember worrying that I was 42 years old, had never had a baby before, and did not know how I would manage. That day a hearse also passed by me. It was a very small coffin and therefore had to be an infant.

A wave of sadness swept through me as I watched this child be driven to her final resting place, while I thanked the powers that be that I was going home with my son. Later, I read in the local newspaper that the baby, a little girl, had been born a mere three weeks before my son, but sadly she did not survive.

Why must we sometimes witness someone else’s grief first, in order to figure out how lucky we truly are? We more often than not have so much to appreciate and be grateful for in our lives.

According to research, gratitude has many benefits, from increasing happiness and reducing stress, to improving relationships, sleep quality, and holistic health.

But how does one practice gratitude? The following should help.

Journaling

For many years, I have practiced journaling. Keeping a gratitude journal can be as simple as writing down just three things every day that you are grateful for. This causes one to reflect every day and count your latest blessings, especially at times when life is challenging.

Spirit says it does not have to be only major things or events that prompt our thankfulness. For example, you could be grateful for merely being able to go for a long walk in the park on a beautiful, sunny day.

Experience

We all face challenges in our life from time to time. However, when looking back on it, you realize that it made you more aware of what you had to be grateful for in life, among other personal and spiritual growth benefits.

Was it a job you thought you would lose and didn’t, or maybe a health scare that turned out to be nothing? Or perhaps you did incur some personal loss and have risen above your circumstances. Either way, we always have something to be grateful for, says spirit. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts ~ Henri Frederic Amiel

Reflection

We should never disregard the everyday as mundane. For example, take a quick look in your kitchen cupboards and refrigerator. Do you currently have a reasonable amount of food stored in them to feed your family?

What about your social circle? Is your support network strong, and does it include a few kind and loving relatives and friends you can turn to in times of need? Does your job pay your bills and allow for a reasonably secure and comfortable life?

For most of us, thankfully, we have enough to meet our most vital daily needs. Of course, there is always room for improvement, but increased abundance and prosperity begins with being grateful for what we already have in the here and now. According to spirit, being thankful for our many blessings, ensures that God, Source, Universe, the Divine will send us more of it! Like attracts like.

Action

Spirit says it is no good to merely feel grateful. We must also act upon our gratitude! The late John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”

Acting on our gratitude can take many forms, from giving an elderly neighbor a ride to the doctor’s office, to volunteering at a charity shop, rescuing stray animals, or donating food to a worthy cause. Whatever cause you feel intuitively guided to support is usually the way to go.

No matter how you choose to express your gratitude, it will uplift your soul, heal your heart, and inspire your mind. You will also become even more thankful for the blessed life you already lead.

Being grateful is not, however, says spirit, about comparing ourselves to others and looking to be in a better place than them. Gratitude and comparison, or even competition, do not, by any means, go hand-in-hand. Instead, it is about recognizing what we already have, being genuinely grateful for it, assisting those in need, and leading a harmonious, balanced… and sincerely grateful life.