Gratitude is more than an Attitude Gratitude…it’s one of the words that we use over and over to express our appreciation for what we have in our lives whether it’s tangible or intangible. We are taught to have an “attitude of gratitude” as a way of good living. To be seen as not grateful is to be seen as selfish and greedy. Feeling gratitude makes us happy! It sends positive energy into the world. Who wouldn’t want to be in an “attitude of gratitude”? But, what if gratitude was more than just an attitude? What if gratitude was just the beginning of a mindset of living gratefully? It’s one thing to express gratitude. It’s another to “live” gratitude. What does living in gratitude mean? Well, to me, living in true gratitude is a constant mindset of being grateful and then showing through our actions that we are willing to nurture, protect and be stewards of that for which we are grateful. Gratitude means nothing if we express thanks one minute and then turn around and damage, hurt or ruin what we’ve been given. Being grateful means taking actions and changing behaviors to live the “promise of our thanks” What does that look like? Well, ask yourself these questions. If you are grateful for your friends and family, what actions do you take on a daily basis to not judge or criticize? Do you let bygones be bygones? Do you still have expectations about the way they “should” be? If you are grateful for the air we breathe, then what do you do to make sure that it stays clean? Do you protest the forms of energy that pollute our air? Do you drive everywhere instead of taking public transit, walking or riding a bike when possible? If you are grateful for your neighbors, do you still gossip about them? If you are grateful for water, do you consciously take action to minimize water usage? Do you throw prescription medication down the toilet or use toxic detergents? If you are grateful for healthy food, do you go out and protest GMOs or keep buying them? If you are grateful for the “things” you have in your life, do you still live for that weekend shopping spree? If you are grateful to be able to turn the lights on whenever you want or to watch TV, do you take measures to conserve energy or live in a home of an appropriate size for your family’s essential needs? Now David what about all the bad things that happen to us or what about when tragedy hits our lives… are you saying I have to be grateful for that loss? No what I am saying is to use the bad situations as a Key. What do I mean as a key? Let’s say I lost my child and I choose to use my pain as a key to help unlock someone else’s prison door. I do not have to be thankful for the loss but I can be grateful to be able to use my pain as a key to help another family who may be struggling with the loss of a child. I think living an attitude of gratitude has to be a mindset change and it must be practiced every day. Too often we get caught up in being right and not being grateful for the people we have in our lives. I know I do and at times! I have gotten mad because someone has said something I did not like and waged war on them…when I should have looked at their great qualities and just moved on. Love David
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 00:00:00 +0000
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