“If the only prayer you said in your
whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”
Meister Eckhart
Every day we
are given many reasons to be grateful. Good or bad, the events that are thrown
your way give you an opportunity to grow mentally, spiritually and physically.
Expressing gratitude lightens the heart, puts you in a better mood, and can
even lower your blood pressure. The simple act of saying “thank you” can make a
big difference in your life and the lives of others. If someone is having a
hard day, a small gesture can lift their spirits and can act as a reminder to them to do the same for someone else.
Can you imagine
a world where simple acts of kindness are the norm? How would that impact your
life? Something so easy can be so profound. It doesn't cost you anything to
tell someone “thank you”, “I appreciate your thoughtfulness”, or to even send
them a short note offering them support. Can you think of an easier
way to share universal love? On the flip side, refusing to show gratitude can
be physically harmful. If you don’t take time to recognize life’s gifts and
opportunities, you are more likely to be stressed. If you are stressed, chronic
pains, hypertension, high blood pressure, and other illnesses can develop.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good in life, but what about
the bad? It is even more important to be thankful for the challenges in our
lives. If every day there were no problems, how would we grow spiritually,
mentally or emotionally? Problems force us to grow and expand our consciousness.
They also remind us of the many blessings we have. It’s easy to complain about
the things that make us emotionally or physically uncomfortable. But in that
moment of frustration, humble yourself and remember to be thankful for having the
opportunity of freedom of thought and the power you have within to create your
future.
There are several ways you can make expressing gratitude a daily
routine. Take a few minutes each morning to give thanks to whomever or whatever
you are grateful for. During the day, try saying “thank you” when someone does
something nice for you, no matter how small. Then, return the favor. When
problems or setbacks arise, be thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow.
Know that everything that happens enriches our lives, in order to push us past
our imperfections and limitations, so we can share equally in the blessing of
universal love.
