In life, we take our close relations and friends for granted. We also take the routine happenings for granted. This becomes a cause of misery for us. Instead, if we show and feel gratitude, we will feel happy and content. The biggest wonder of gratitude is that it gives happiness to receiver too, if offered with true feelings. Just by showing gratitude, one can change the situation or equation with others dramatically.
One important aspect of showing gratitude is that it should be done without any expectations. Suppose, a friend did not behave in the welcoming manner when you visited her last time. But she was the friend, who have always stood by you in all (or may be few) tough times you had through your life’s journey. Now this beviour of hers annoys you and you are determined to pay her in the same way, when she visit you next time. In all these times, you will feel bouts of anger, whenever you think about her behaviour on your last visit to her place. This kind of behaviour from you will result in breaking of this friendship which will give you a lifelong pain. The better way to deal with this is to remember her support which she has always given you, prior to this episode. Now when she comes to your place, show her your gratitude for all she has done by being nice and mention about how her support was so valuable to you. This will save your friendship for the whole life and peace of mind to you both. Another thing will happen. She will realize that her behaviour with you was not appropriate . There might be some reason behind her behaviour, which she might want to share with you and you will be able to understand each other better.
Besides our friends and family, we need to show gratitude towards sun, air, rivers, trees – all natural resources which are providing us with the most valuable elements for life without any expectations. But we human beings as a species have been misusing them since ages and now when this misuse has resulted in unprecedented natural feuries like tsunami, landslides, cyclones etc on us. And we are calling global meetings to discuss ways to protect our natural resources.
Humans become selfish and do not give away in return. Have we ever showed any gratitude towards trees who provide us free oxygen? The latest calamity of Covid 19 has shown us the importance of oxygen in it’s second wave. We need to follow the scriptures where a gratitude towards natural resources are shown and they were treated with great respect. Sun, wind, rivers all were respected. That was a way to remind the importance of these which also helps us to think about ways of taking care of these resources.
Try to stay content and be thankful for what you are receiving. It also means the growth is mutual. We can’t hope to save our place, if neighbors’ place is on fire.
Let us start expressing gratitude to your immediate family as these are the people, you take most for granted. Be real and donot show gratitude on social media. These are real feelings and need real expressions. Gratitude is not sharing a pic with your mom on mother’s day on Instagram but it’s an everyday act.
Many studies over the past decade have found that people who consciously count their blessings tend to be happier and less depressed. Gratitude works to improve mental health. Do you know that gratitude shackles us from toxic emotions. The after effects of gratitude are not instantaneous but they take time. The most important effect of gratitude is that it helps you to come out of guilt.
Gratitude reverses our priorities to help us appreciate the people and things we do.