Voice of the Spirit

“Gratitude” seems to be a concept and belief that is quite widely spoken of and practiced in today’s spiritual culture. Whether in conventional religions or more metaphysically based circles, gratitude is everywhere.  Why is the practice of gratitude so important, and when, if at all is gratitude appropriate in our daily lives?
 
Along with forgiveness, I would have to say that gratitude is potentially the most important spiritual tool for all people, regardless of how easy or difficult ones journey is. Whatever spiritual path one is on, essence of spiritual lessons a person may be learning, or level of spiritual evolution anyone is at, gratitude does indeed work wonders.
 
First, gratitude brings more blessings.  When someone is grateful, and pronounces gratitude out loud daily, it magnetizes that person to a vibration of miracles and blessings, therefore more good comes to that individual.  One can say that all life is vibration, and when we vibrate to a state of gratitude, we attract good, as like attracts like.
 
Second, gratitude neutralizes and potentially negates negative emotions.  Perhaps you may feel resentful, perhaps over the actions of another. Let’s look at that example: By being grateful for whatever that experience has taught you, and appreciative for whatever gifts that person and experience may have brought you, the resentment is neutralized.  Practically ALL negative or dark emotions can be neutralized through the practice of gratitude.  When you’re feeling grateful, there’s not very much to feel negative about.
 
Another benefit of being grateful is that ones physical health will most certainly improve.  Negative, angry, resentful, bitter and sad emotions often bring down our health, vitality and well being, as well as contribute to actual physical illness.  Thinking that emotions affected our health was once largely thought to be nonsense, but more and more, even conventional medical doctors acknowledge that negative emotions and negative attitudes do indeed affect our health.  Gratitude neutralizes this internal negativity, which certainly contributes to a reality and environment of physical health and well-being.
 
Also, don’t forget that prosperity and money can come through being grateful.  As the great teacher Florence Shinn said,  “Money is a gift from God and the heavens, freeing us from lack and limitation.”  Wouldn’t it make sense that being grateful for the financial gifts we’ve received brings even more gifts to us? Remember that those financial gifts are waiting to be released from the heavens to help us.  Practicing gratitude brings them in!  It’s like a snowball rolling down the side of a mountain.  As it rolls, it gets bigger and moves faster.  The momentum carries what is already there.
 
I tell my clients to do this exercise:  Take a week, and pronounce out loud gratitude every day!  Here is a good affirmation: “I am grateful and thankful for every blessing I have!”   I have seen amazing improvements in my clients’ lives even in a single week just through repeatedly saying this affirmation. All through the practice of gratitude!
 
If you have a hard time feeling gratitude for your life, start by thinking of just one thing you have to be grateful for.  That may be your home, your job, a friend, a family member, your heath, or a wonderful lover.  Whatever it is, start from there by pronouncing gratitude!  Then, work through being grateful step by step to cover all areas of your journey.  Even for the things that may have gone “bad” before, a change for the better will occur, plus the negativity from the past again becomes neutralized.
 
Always try not to focus on the “bad” in your past and present journey.  Look toward all that you DO have that is indeed “good,” and build from there.  Building upon the “good” deemphasizes the “bad,” allowing the “bad” to take a back seat in our lives at the very least, and potentially even fade from consciousness.  By practicing gratitude for what you DO have, and not focusing on what you DON’T have, a better and more enriching life is yours, with more and more to be grateful for!