True gratitude is a quiet state of poise. An inner calm where you are truly thankful, where you sense the divine order and wouldn’t want anything to change. People who show gratitude also understand that true fulfilment is about embracing equally both sides of life’s coin – elation and depression, happiness and sadness. Happiness, like comedy, is a transient superficial mask that we wear when we ignore the downsides of an event. Sadness, like tragedy, is the transient, superficial, complementary opposite mask that we wear when we ignore the upsides of an event.
Love, Gratitude and Happiness
A feeling of inspiring love and gratitude occurs when we place realistic expectations on ourselves and others. When we understand that all events have a balance of benefits. Even drawbacks in life can be both supportive and challenging.
Searching for a one-sided life is as futile as searching for a one-sided magnet.
It is wise to embrace the oscillating cycles of happiness and sadness equally along our journey of gratitude and love, for they will both guide us to our most authentic self.
It is perfectly normal for us to feel sad at times
Whenever we have set unrealistic expectations on ourselves or others and our reality does not live up to these unrealistic fantasies, we experience sadness. However, sadness and depression do not have to be perceived as terrible afflictions. They could be seen as good feedback mechanisms to our conscious mind. They can guide us to go back, set more realistic goals and expectations or to clarify realistic strategies to achieve our desires.
Feelings of happiness and sadness oscillate throughout our lives
The quality of our lives is dependent upon the quality of the questions we ask. If we ask balancing questions we can moderate the extremes of emotion. We are able to then centre ourselves upon our primary task or mission at hand.
Listen to your intuition
Our intuition is constantly trying to reveal to our conscious mind the part we are ignoring with our biased perceptions and expectations. This helps bring our mind back into a balanced awareness. At times when we are sad our intuition tries to reveal the upsides. On the flip side, when we are happy, our intuition is trying to reveal the downsides. When we are balanced and centred, our intuition transforms into inspiration.
Count Your Blessings
Those who count their blessings and are grateful, have more blessings and fulfilment in life than those who do not. This is a simple principle, yet it has the power to change lives. We are built on universal principles and the universe behaves like us on a grander scale. If you were to give someone a gift, and they just looked at it and tossed it aside without thanks, would you be inclined to give them another? Of course not. The universe responds just as you do. The universe bestows its gifts where they are most appreciated. If you’re not grateful for what you’ve been given, why would the universe want to give you more?
5 Tips on How to Show Gratitude
1. Say ‘thank you’
There is no limit to how many times you can thank a person, including yourself. While it may only be two simple words, their meaning is universal and their effects can be profound.
2. Write a special note
Sometimes your best thoughts and ideas are those you do not try to edit. Let the message you write come to you at the moment. There is no need for the words to make sense to anyone else but the person it is intended for.
3. Treat yourself
The greatest relationship we will ever have is with ourselves. It is wise to take the time to show ourselves that we are grateful for who we are and what we choose to be.
4. Smile
A smile can be contagious if it comes from the heart. It often tells a person so much more than what words can say.
5. Give a gift that counts
The power of a gift when it comes to being a token of gratitude is ultimately the thought that goes into it. Take the time to really look at who the gift is intended for and what they value most in life. Everyone wants to be loved and appreciated for who they are. If you get a gift that really speaks to their values, it is likely to be remembered forever.
Living through gratitude will awaken your heart and equilibrate your emotions. This will allow you to become inspired and enthused by your life once again.
