I was raised to say please and thank you. As a small child, learning these social graces planted the seeds of gratitude. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, whenever Mom or Dad reminded me to say please and thank you, the power of thankfulness was beginning to grow.
What is gratitude?
The dictionary on my laptop describes gratitude as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
I would extend this definition: Gratitude is a feeling.
When you say thank you or someone thanks you, how does it feel? The words thank you often sound like they are being delivered on auto pilot.
When I tap into the powerful vibration of thankfulness, I realize that each time I express gratitude it’s an opportunity to feel good. And who doesn’t want to feel good?
The more you practice gratitude the better you feel. This state of feeling better starts to shift the way you interact with the world.
Saying thank you shows appreciation. Having heartfelt gratitude without the expectation of anything in return builds relationships, community and a happy life.
Practicing thankfulness conveys a sense of self love and respect, and love and respect for others.
“Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.” Alan Cohen
Lack of gratitude was on my radar this week.
Has anyone ever expected you to do something without a please and thank you or expected that you would fulfill their request without considering you at all? Maybe you went out of your way to do something helpful and it was completely disregarded?
Ok, maybe I’m over sensitive; I’m a work in progress! But here’s the gift that I received from my experience this week. I was reminded that gratitude comes from within.
We can’t expect someone else to express gratitude just because we feel we should be thanked or appreciated or because we feel they didn’t honour us and our contribution to them. That’s looking outside of yourself for approval and that’s a slippery slope.
When someone doesn’t appreciate you or recognize your contribution:
1. It’s not about you. They could be distracted, unaware or any number of other scenarios.
2. Thank yourself for being the huge contribution you are. Appreciate yourself for being of service and feel gratitude for the reminder to look within.
“When you have gratitude for you, there is no circumstance in which you should feel under-appreciated or disregarded.” Pamela Henry
My partner Sid and I were in the bank a few weeks ago. In the middle of our meeting with the bank manager she stopped to mention how we both said thank you a lot. She was impressed by this as it wasn’t her usual experience. We were surprised. How unusual to be thanked for saying thank you!
What’s the secret?
Remember that gratitude comes from within. Express appreciation for everything and everyone in your life. Don’t let an opportunity to show kindness go by.
Be the catalyst who says please and thank you from the heart. Allow thankfulness to pour from the inside out without expectation and experience life with a renewed sense of awe.
What are your thoughts on gratitude? Please share in the comments below.
Heartfelt Gratitude,
Pamela
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