As you give, so you receive. December is a month of giving and receiving.
Rohan and Robert are brothers. One Christmas Rohan received the Italian car of his dreams, and Robert got a bicycle. Rohan was overjoyed and filled with gratitude. What about Robert, you may ask, and be thinking that was unfair. But Robert was also filled with gratitude – he received a bicycle because he needed to keep fit and lose some weight. Months later, he entered the Tour de France and won. Winning brought him success and fame, which lead to him starting a multi-million health and fitness bicycle company. That was after Rohan had crashed his Italian dream car one night after having too much fun. He is now working for Robert in his company.
If you practise gratitude by waiting for material fulfilment – then you are no different from the average person. We can all be thankful in the spirit of plenty. But how thankful are we when there is very little, or we get less than we feel we deserve. Is your desire based in gratitude or greed? So, these are thoughts to ponder as we move towards the giving season of goodwill.
Try to approach the things you desire with gratitude even before they materialise because as they say it’s the thought that counts.
In life some people appreciate what they have, some never pay it any mind and others are unhappy with where they are in life and they let you know about it. But instead of waiting for happiness to fall on you, practise being in the moment of happiness, create it yourself. Stop waiting for someone to bestow your life with the basics, such as happiness and joy. Instead of living with the sadness of what you don’t have and what is missing, be grateful for where you are at right now. Life is about progress, so look forward to the next day.
Gratitude Shower
Take 5-10 minutes every morning to shower yourself with gratitude.
Take in a deep breath and a slow breath out. Do this three times and then reflect on what you have to be grateful for in your life.
If the first thing that springs to mind is your family. Then think further – what is it about your family – what are all the things that your family do for you, or what you do for them?
Look in great detail into 24 hours of being with your family. Think positively!
Make a list of the things for a day, then a week and then a month. Watch the list grow and feel the glow in your heart.
Gratitude is the answer to fear. Instead of living in fear of lack we live in hope for something better – which is preferable – fear or hope? When you live in gratitude, you have no time to be fearful.
You should practise gratitude everyday for just being a human being. Remember within you is a life force. This life force is everything and without it you are nothing. Therefore, you have everything to be grateful for.
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‘No matter what the situation is … close your eyes and think of all the things in your life you could be grateful for right now.’
‘Gratitude opens the door to … the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe.’
Deepak Chopra