Living a Joyful Life with the Practice of Gratitude

In a culture where success is praised above all other qualities of life, it is easy for a person to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of climbing the achievement ladder, forgetting to take a moment to give thanks for all he or she has accomplished and to those individuals who have helped along the way.

People tend to take for granted the good that is already present in their lives and have the habit of comparing oneself to other peoples’ success. By practicing gratitude and taking a moment to appreciate what has been achieved, a person gradually shifts their focus from what is missing in life to an awareness of abundance that is already present

Folks who practice gratefulness daily experience more positive emotions; have improved sleep; express more compassion and kindness towards other people and other beings; have stronger robust immune systems; and have less day-to-day stress.

By taking the time each morning and evening to sit and reflect on what a person is grateful for in life boosts a person’s overall well-being. Rather than becoming resentful towards people who have more money or better jobs – which is a major factor in reduced self-esteem – grateful people can appreciate other peoples’ accomplishments.

Gratitude provides a person with the instruments to live a simpler and happier life. A person who is grateful for the things they own will waste less energy seeking more stuff thereby creating feelings of copiousness. Gratitude gives a person the experience to find fulfillment in the treasures he or she already possesses rather than looking outside themselves for contentment.

Gratitude allows a person to be happy for what he or she has in life. When a person shifts awareness towards gratefulness, he or she will begin to have a higher frequency of appreciation for the simple pleasures of what a person has accomplished. Gratitude should not be just a reaction to getting what you want, but rather practiced regularly.

Start bringing gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for a positive experience in order to feel grateful. In this way, you’ll be on your way toward becoming a master of gratitude. May all beings be happy and free, may all our thoughts words and actions contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.