According to Cicero, gratitude is not only the greatest, but also the parent of all virtues.
It seems that the experience of gratitude is at the center of all world religions and has been discussed and examined by all philosophers as well.
However, the systematical study of gratitude through psychology did not happen before the year 2000. Perhaps, because psychology is more interested in negative instead of positive emotions. It is with the emergence of positive psychology that gratitude has become today the focus of psychological research.
Empirical studies proved the connection between gratitude and spirituality. According to the spiritual tradition gratitude is the highway to transform you further into higher vibrational states of consciousness. And in this states you experience what the Buddhists call “bliss” a deep feeling of happiness and contentment. You cease to be centered around your ego and you are open for a more expansive vision of the world and your connection with others. You acknowledge the good you daily receive from others and you experience more and more gratitude towards the little things of life, the world in general and towards the source of all life.
New research proves that grateful people are happier, healthier and less depressed, they suffer less under stress. They are satisfied with their life and their social connections. Grateful people have more self-esteem and self-control, they are more resilient and when it comes to challenges they have more positive ways of coping, don’t live in denial or run away. It seems that gratitude is strongly connected with psychic health of all character traits.
Can we learn to be more grateful? The answer is yes. And I will report about my experience with the daily practice of gratitude and of writing into a gratitude journal in the morning and at night.
When I wake up in the morning I stretch myself out, take deep breaths and feel grateful for awakening to a new day and new adventures.
And I start to count my blessings, as having a comfortable bed, that I’m healthy, and when this is not the case then I focus that there are still eyes to see, ears to listen or that I can rise and walk around. I’m happy to have a room of my own which gives me shelter and protection. And l’m happy to be able to see the sun rise and to be alive. I celebrate this time of quietude and gratitude every morning. It is my own private morning ritual. And I feel happiness and awe rising in me while I consciously experience the wonder of awakening to a new day as if being born anew. The celebration of light and life.
It seems like something we have done unconsciously when we were little and then in later years as grown ups, ensconced in daily routines, we have forgotten the miracle of awakening every morning, anew. Oblivious, that a morning ritual, prayer or expression of gratitude will rise our vibrations and will accompany us like a blessing into the whole new day. As soon as we are getting used to take our time of mindfulness in the morning, everything will appear fresh and new, all the little things we didn’t notice so far, will catch our attention as if we had never noticed that there is beauty and blessings all around us. The first sip of the freshly brewed cup of coffee or the fact that there is always running warm water when we open the faucet to take a shower. And then your favorite music available the moment you press a button. All this should add to your feeling of gratitude and wellbeing.
In the beginning of my reflection I said that gratitude is the highway to transform you into a state of higher vibration. This means to access a state of consciousness where your life is filled with more quality, more meaning and more inner peace.
You may ask how can we learn to feel more of this positive gratitude, which has nothing to do with the negative feeling of being obliged to say thank you for a benefit you received or make up for it.
The positive feeling of gratitude can enhance the social conduct in the benefactor. An investigation has proved that regular guests give more tips, when the waiter has written the words “thank you” on the bill.
If you follow a spiritual tradition or you practice a faith you might be used to prayer which is a form of expressing your gratitude for being alive and receiving God’s omniscience and love.
But also when you are not believing in a personal God or not a spiritual person there are many reasons to be grateful for.
You were born into a family for instance who supported you, gave you an education and helped you to become the person you are today. They did the best they could, don’t forget that. For many people the highest value in life is a family for which they are grateful to have.
Also, friends are equally important to have and you feel blessed to have them them in your life. They give you support, help you out, when there is a need for or just listen to you and tell you the truth if you ask them.
Our health is another factor which beside the health of family members and friends is on top of our feelings of gratitude.
Are we aware how much it means that we can live in freedom and peace without wars and extreme poverty in a democracy? Equal chances for education, a social system and democratic basic rights are not existent all over the world. Therefore we should be aware how lucky we are and be grateful for that, too.
Another reason for gratitude is that we have a job which provides us with a secure existence. We can raise a family and don’t have to be afraid that our basic needs are not met.
It seems banal that we are to be grateful to own a car, a place to live, that we can afford new equipment for the kitchen or furniture, or even go on a vacation. But it is not the case for everyone in the world. We should remember that, too.
The examples show you that there are so many reasons immaterial or material for which we can be grateful for. Often new ways of gratitude show up after having overcome a disease, a crisis or a stroke of fate.
Martin Luther named gratitude “the heart of the christian message”, which is love and gratitude. It is the characteristic attitude of what it means of being Christian: living in a state of gratitude, which results not in sentimental feelings but in a virtue that leads to action.
And have you followed me so far reading my blog? Thank you so much!