People or circumstances can make you angry, sad, or fearful, but you may also experience the same emotions in solitude high up on the mountain overlooking a majestic view of the far horizon. How you feel depends on how you manage your thoughts. The outside world affects you in many ways, but ultimately, you decide how you want to feel. It is impossible to control what others say and do or what happens to you in life, but you always have a choice on how you respond. It is equally challenging to manage your thoughts when life is neutral and no specific external forces are trying to destabilize you. If you are unaware and unmindful of the damage these idle moments can cause, you will be unprepared and may involuntarily surrender your happiness.
There are only a few quick fixes in life, but one phrase works like magic and can brighten your day fast. Like the magician who pulls a rabbit out of his hat after he says “Abracadabra,” you can also create the same magic when you say, “Thank you.” Some actions naturally generate a positive energy flow, and saying “thank you” is one of them. Gratitude directs your thinking toward what is good in life. Creating a thankful mindset also helps you find something to celebrate when it is difficult. This is why being grateful leads to a happier predisposition. The rewards are even greater when you thank someone who does not deserve it, but you did it anyway because it was right. Imagine saying “thank you” to a store clerk who was rude to you. There was no justification for her behavior, but you still thanked her because she helped you accomplish your task, albeit begrudgingly. By being kind and forgiving, you turned a situation that was supposed to deflate you into an opportunity to create joy for yourself instead.
Happy people may be grateful; some are not because they take it for granted. But all grateful people are happy because they realize how fortunate they are. Those who are thankful when they receive something are happy because they feel loved and valued. Moreover, if what was given was unexpected because they did not earn or work for it, their gratitude is multiplied. Those who are thankful because they have faith that God will provide for their needs are happy because they feel hopeful and secure. Those who are humble do not demand more than they deserve and are content; they are thankful and happy. Being grateful is a conscious and willful act, not a passive state of being. It requires awareness, discipline, and effort. Expressing gratitude validates one’s belief that he is loved, valued, hopeful, secure, and content. Hence, creating a thankful mindset leads to a happier you.
You can practice the habit of being thankful by setting aside time each day to acknowledge the bestowed graces and acts of love you have received. You must also practice being present at each moment and raising your sensitivity to the flow of love and grace to you. This creates a mindset of seeking to be grateful because you believe and expect that blessings will always come your way every day. This is not wishful thinking. I believe God created the world from love, with love, and because of love. Therefore, feeling loved and blessed is what is natural, while experiencing suffering occurs only because love was withheld, leading to its inadequacy and absence. This thankful mindset perpetuates itself and can be a self-fulfilling prophesy. Gratitude often results in a mutual exchange of kindness and generosity. You are likely to reciprocate when you feel grateful for someone's actions. This reciprocity creates a positive cycle of interactions that strengthens relationships and fosters a loving environment. Love begets love, and this virtuous circle justifies the expectation that receiving blessings daily can be the norm rather than the occasional unexpected aberration. Developing a thankful mindset is a journey that requires consistent effort and practice. With time, it can become a natural way of thinking and enhance your overall emotional well-being, making you more positive, empathetic, and compassionate.
I have not achieved the zenith of gratefulness because there is no such thing. We can all be more thankful than we currently are. This is a lifelong process. The goal is just to be better today than we were yesterday. If we are a little bit more grateful today, we will also be a little bit more happy.