Introduction
‘Thank you’ is a simple word yet beholds true magic. Everyone loves to be appreciated for their kindness, and kindness always invokes gratitude. Gratitude is a universal language understood by everybody and it starts from being grateful for simple things. It starts from the fact that you are alive, has a full belly, and have a fulfilling life that may be a dream of others. There are so many beautiful reasons to be grateful for.
Everything in this world, even the sun, and moon, nature, our beloved ones, our body, mind, and soul, deserves to be respected and appreciated because of their unconditioned work toward the work.
In short, Gratitude just like kindness is endless.
Gratitude and Kindness go hand-in-hand.
Gratitude and kindness are like the two faces of the same coin. They both go concurrently. It follows the cause and effect principle. One is the cause, and the other is the effect. The power of kindness goes a long way. A simple act of kindness creates an endless ripple that comes back to you.
Kindness induces Gratitude.. Saying thank you for someone’s Kindness is caring for them. Sometimes being kind to yourself and showing Gratitude to yourself, your body, mind, and soul are indispensable.
Once I had an encounter with a poor beggar who was struggling for food. His legs were injured, and he couldn’t walk. He looked miserable and helpless. My heart cried out for him and my eyes welled up. I felt lost for a second, and then I started to walk toward him. I asked if I could be of some help, some service to him. . He told me that though he was a beggar, living on others’ mercy, without attachment, them ignoring his very existence, feeling repulsed by his presence was making him depressed.
I was able to help him. I brought him a packet of snacks and a bottle of water. I sat with him for a bit longer as he enjoyed the meal and poured his heart out to me. I will never forget his eyes which felt a little more lit with joy and the amount of gratitude he expressed at the most humane and natural gesture that I had shown to him.
He reiterated my belief that kindness can be found in the simplest of acts, without spending a fortune and he taught me that it is who should be grateful to the Divine for presenting us with such opportunities.
Benefits of expressing Gratitude
According to Zig Ziglar, an American motivational speaker, “Gratitude is the healthiest of all emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”
Gratitude opens the door to abundance because the universe loves ‘Thank You’. Expressing gratitude heals you and takes you to a different level in life. How?
- It helps to build a positive perspective in life.
- Opens the door to abundance.
- Helps relieve stress and make sleep better.
- It helps increase our immunity and mental strength.
- It helps us genuinely happier and rewires the brain to look for more positive aspects of life.
- You’ll find yourself less attached to material things to make you happier.
- It enhances self-esteem.
- It induces happy hormones in a natural way that you sweep out the ‘I’ll be happy when syndrome’.
Gratitude can be expressed in several ways.
What are those ways?
There are an infinite number of ways to express thank you.
Your daily life is an example to show you have a million things to be thankful for.
Expressing gratitude to the people who love you.
For example,
Family
Friends
Colleagues
- For your health and wellness
- For your education
- For your food and shelter
- For the state of your life
- Showing Gratitude even when life doesn’t go the way you expected.
- For that warm smile you got from a stranger
- For that small puppy kisses.
- For your career and the finances
These are some of the ways you can express Gratitude.
- Gifting something to the people you love.
- Writing a thanksgiving letter.
- Roses are an excellent way of showing Gratitude.
- Helping someone in need is also a form of Gratitude.
- Listening to someone without judgment.
- A gratitude journal is just around the corner.
- Compliment others.
- Follow the ‘RAK’ a-k-a Random Act of Kindness.
- Offer a tip
- Stop complaining and gossiping.
- Finally, don’t forget to thank yourself.
Gratitude is like ROI, a Return On Investment, and you will reap the benefits by practicing it daily. However, gratitude is a skill.
Therefore, continuous and consistent practice is necessary to build it. Try to incorporate the practice of Gratitude into your daily routine. You can try the gratitude journal too, which helps you with consistency so that this gratitude practice bleeds through your body and life.
Any hobby, if practiced for 21 days, will become a habit. Take up a 21-day challenge to practice this and list all the things you are grateful for every day. You will be amazed at the shift in perspective you experience.
