THE SUMMIT | MOTIVATION | WEEKLY PROMPT
What I Am Most Grateful for Today
Amongst all other things that have contributed to my advancement
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I wasn’t very aware of what gratitude actually meant for many years. It felt more like a duty- being grateful to my parents for raising me and putting me through school, or a form of showing politeness towards others’ acts of service.
But in actual fact, I was astounded to learn that gratitude was so much more than that. It’s also the feeling behind the words one expresses, behind the acknowledgment of someone’s act of kindness. I become more aware of what gratitude actually meant and what it felt like whilst in China when I started reading books on Buddhism and spirituality.
Cultivating the habit of gratitude has been a game-changer for me ever since.
What is gratitude?
From a scientific perspective, gratitude is not just an action: it is also a positive emotion that serves a biological purpose. Gratitude is more than feeling thankful: a deeper appreciation for someone (or something) that produces longer-lasting positivity.
According to Dr. Robert Emmons, the feeling of gratitude involves two stages:
- First is the acknowledgment of goodness in one’s life. In a state of gratitude, we say yes to life. We affirm that all in all, life is good, and has elements that make it worth living.
- Second, gratitude is recognizing that some of the sources of this goodness lie outside the self. We can become grateful to the Divine, the Universe, people around us, and beloved animals.
How gratitude has helped me
I started becoming less impatient and enjoy more the present moment more by grounding myself and being grateful for it. The vibration of gratitude is much higher and whenever I can embody it things flow much better.
It has definitely deepened my relationships with others. I have realized how important it is to show my appreciation to others in an honest way.
It has increased my well-being, I am happier and more relaxed, more balanced, and more open to the opportunities coming my way.
I feel like I am less self-centered and more service-oriented.
As the quote at the beginning of this article stated, I feel grateful for all things that have contributed to my advancement. All the ups and downs, the detours, and the people I have met along my journey. I would have never become the version of myself I am today if it wasn’t for all these things that led me where I am now.
Today I am grateful for:
- My Spirit Guides for always guiding me in this wonderful journey called life
- My family, for their health and for being able to spend quality time with them
- My pets for always bringing me lots of joy and wonder
- My friends and people who cross my path every day
- My mentors
- My job which allows me to assist and guide others to the best of my knowledge and abilities
- My yoga practice for allowing me to release all that tension stored in my muscles, unblock the energy channels, and for giving me inner peace and mental clarity
- My overall health and well-being
- The warm and sunny weather outside🌞
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes which has made me realize that nothing is truly meaningful to pursue if we are not grateful for what we already have:
“Be grateful for what you already have while you pursue your goals.
If you aren’t grateful for what you already have, what makes you think you would be happy with more.”Roy T. Bennett
I would love to know what are the things you feel grateful for!
Thank you for reading, I appreciate you!
Much love! 🧡
This article is in response to @Sahil Patel’s prompt The three things you are most grateful for today:
