An Attitude of Gratitude
Why should you have an ‘attitude of gratitude’?
Apart from your soul, nothing you have today will be with you forever.
Said another way, you lose everything.
The funny thing is the sooner we accept this fact, the sooner we begin to appreciate what is in our lives, right now.
Recently, I was watching a movie from the 1970s where two gentlemen were bemoaning the loss of certain values in the recent times. What struck me as interesting was that at no time did they consider the good things still in their lives or the possibility of further degeneration in the years to come. Of course, nowadays, most of us in North America would happily regress to the lifestyle of the 70s, instead of continuing at the dismal levels of morality and integrity we find prevalent in our society today.
However, as much as we have slipped into a more discouraging time, have we struck bottom, or could it get worse? If it could, doesn’t that mean we’re not as bad off as is possible? Shouldn’t we be thankful for that?
How many of us are?
How many of us wake up Monday morning and feel a sense of gratitude that we have gainful employment, instead of an empty belly we need to fill? Or have a decent car, instead of not being able to afford the gas to get us to work? Or, have but one manageable illness, instead of an ailment that requires medicine too expensive or too rare to buy?
Gratitude is a tricky thing, but like all that is important to us, we each decide what is expensive and what is valuable. Often they are exactly the same thing, differentiated only by how we choose to look at it.
I submit to you: change your view. That which has a high cost is either valuable or, quite honestly, a waste. Spending money on heat is valuable, whereas, keeping up with the Joneses is probably a waste. Those that learn to appreciate the difference will find their lives suddenly making much more sense. If a second car is valuable to you because you need to look important, maybe you should be considering whether looking important is valuable or expensive.
Here’s a real test, and although it might seem obvious, it’s surprising how few people categorize their priorities in these terms: if something give more back to you than its cost, it’s valuable. If it doesn’t, it’s expensive, regardless of its cost.
This test doesn’t just apply to things in a monetary sense, either. Time has a value that should be weighed against the outcome. Watching TV can be relaxing, but if you’re not getting done what you need to because of that relaxation, the TV time might be more expensive than the value of relaxing.
On the other hand, taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon is expensive if it’s a way to avoid work. However, if an hour-long nap gives you the energy to think clearly for three more, it’s valuable.
Assess your decisions in terms of cost and return, based on your goals. Be honest as to what you want for right now compared to what you need to do to get what you want, ultimately. As long as the return on your actions, and/or money, is greater than the cost of them, you’re winning, and you WILL move forward.
Above all, be grateful for all that you have right now, and that you have the opportunity to better yourself, everyday. That ‘attitude of gratitude’ will propel you forward, and the more you do it, the faster your progress will be. Remember, the ‘cost’ of gratitude will NEVER be higher than its return, thereby making it much more valuable than expensive. You have no excuse, if you truly want your life to move forward, not to practice it, every day, all the time, at every opportunity. It takes so little effort, and returns so much, immediately, and into the future.
Remember, the very attitudes you practice will produce the person in yourself you expect to be. If you can learn to adopt this mindset into your everyday existence, you ARE a winner, regardless of how long it takes to reach your goals. This is as it has always been and will always be, regardless of your present belief system. In fact, recently, research has been able to prove these concepts in scientific terms beyond any doubt.
However, as always, what you believe, and therefore your actions are entirely up to you.
See the light, feel the love, and find the strength to become more.
Michael B.
Recent Comments
6
As I get older and understand how limited our time is on this planet the easier it is to practice this attitude. :) Nice post Michael!
Great post Michael! A famous psychiatrist once said "The greatest cause of neurosis is the belief that we will live forever", and Dr. Leo Buscaglia said: "No one gets out of this life, alive". Makes you think, doesn't it? Blessings!
Great post Michael!, a good reminder to keep our feet firmly on the ground and appreciate all that is given to us....sounds like old school values to me, the best values to have - thanks for sharing!
A great reminder to those of us that live life in the fast lane and don't take time to count the things that we are grateful for. The attitude of gratitude is always a win/win.
Good stuff here, my friend.
Great post Michael! Thank you so much for reminding me to be grateful for so much God has blessed me with. Sometimes it is so easy to forget that in the turmoil of life.