The power of being Grateful

We are all told to be grateful for what you have, even things you may not like. Eat your vegetables, there are starving kids that would love to have your (insert the vegetable you could not stomach here). We are told to be grateful for everything because it is there for a reason, good or bad. We are even told what to be grateful for by anyone and everyone. Giving every reason from master plans to “it could be worse”.

Right now you may be re-reading the title of this post trying to understand if the power I refer to is a positive power or a negative power. It sounds like I am building a case for being grateful as not being all that is had been billed as. Trust me, I am not. I am attempting to illuminate an important difference that gives the power of being grateful its amplitude.

When we are told to be thankful we “get it” but it seems to lack flavor. It tastes like a bitter pill, or that horrible vegetable or food we were forced to down. In opposition to this feeling now imagine something YOU feel grateful for, go ahead I will wait. Holding that image in your mind how do you feel? There is no regret, shame, sadness. (Possibly a bit of a materialistic feeling in the broad scope of the world’s needs but we will get to that) There is the elation you have with that person, place, thing, activity, etc. in your life. Now imagine if that thought and feeling were at the forefront of every synaptic thought you had every day, coating it like a nice blanket, like a primer of good vibes for your responses and decisions. Now you are beginning to see the power.

Let’s address the materialistic cloud. Tell it to scram! You worked hard for what you have and being grateful for it is a positive appreciation for your efforts and skills you have been blessed with. Skills and effort you also use to help make the world better so go ahead and be grateful for those things as well.

Now let’s take this feeling of good energy, which may be already beginning to fade, and give the amplitude some staying power. “How do we do that” you ask? Think about your day yesterday and try to count how many things (challenges, gifts, or opportunities) you have it better than someone else or just smile thinking about a person, thing, or activity that was in your life that brings a small smile to your mind. Developing a hyper attentiveness to those things that occur during our day is called “living in the now’. Imagine the power your life has when you go through your day “coated” in this feeling.

I have a challenge for you: Tomorrow morning take a piece of paper and pen and write down three things you are Grateful for, look at it, think about them, then place the paper in your pocket. Each time you reach in that day give yourself a mini reflection. Then put how your day went in the comments.

Enjoy the power!