Let gratitude be your attitude.
Do we realize how fortunate we are to have been born in the United States?
Do we ever feel grateful for the people who have passed through our lives who inspired us or helped us in an hour of need?
Do we fail to recognize how our strong spiritual values and beliefs bring comfort and peace to our lives? Do we take our families and friends for granted so much that we fail to express our thanks for their help and support on a regular basis?
Do we feel so entitled that we are unaware of what others may be experiencing? Have we lost empathy?
Empathy is the ability to share in another’s thoughts or emotions. Gratitude is being thankful for the benefits received. It is being appreciative of what we have and mindful of what others may not have. Studies have shown that those who practice gratitude on a regular basis are happier, less depressed, and have better mental and physical health. Being grateful helps to keep us from putting emphasis on ourselves to becoming observant of others’ lives and conditions.
Here are some suggestions for enhancing the practice of gratitude.
- Start and end each day by thinking about three things in your life that you have gratitude for. Force yourself to go beyond the usual family, friends, and health, and bring to the surface things you may have taken for granted.
- Keep a gratitude journal for a week, noting five things a day you are thankful for.
- Express appreciation to all those around you on a daily basis. The act of affirming others brings personal rewards that cut down on the complaining, nothing is perfect.
- Lastly, we ought to consider how fortunate we are to live in comfortable, safe, and elegant surroundings. This is not the case for so many others in our country.
Let us count our blessings and let our attitude be one of gratitude.