I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder – Gilbert K. Chesterton
The calm before the storm. What are you thankful for, grateful for?
What does that mean?
This quote is about thanks and the giving of thanks. The quote states that thanks (the mindset of giving thanks) is the highest form of thought. Think about how you feel when you are truly thankful, and see if you agree with the quote. I know that I do.
The second part of the quote says that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. Think about happiness and how you feel when you are happy. Add in some wonder (as in wonderful or a wonder of the world) and see how close you are feel to gratitude. For me, it’s a pretty close match.
Why are gratitude and thankfulness important?
Thankfulness is being conscious of the things you have received. You have to be conscious of having received things before you can appreciate them. And it is the step that leads to gratitude.
Gratitude is the feeling of appreciation of the things for which one has thankfulness. Once you are aware of the great things you have received in your life, you can start to truly appreciate them.
Together, they are part of what makes life worth living. The love and tenderness that go with a deep thankfulness and heartfelt gratitude, it is truly moving. Why might someone think that this would be important? I would hope that only the pre-visitation Ebenezer Scrooge would say that it was not.
Where can I apply this in my life?
In the USA, this should be showing up on Thanksgiving Day. I hope you get a chance to read it before you get started into the holiday rush. Even those who aren’t visiting or being visited have things for which they can be grateful. They might have to work a little harder to find reasons than others, but the reasons do exist.
We take the time on Thanksgiving Day to call friends who are distant, and visit with those who are near. Same for family, at least those we still talk to, and anyone else who we happen to meet. It tends to be a happy day, full of thankfulness and gratitude. But how do we feel the next week?
I don’t believe that thankfulness and gratitude are meant to be felt and celebrated just one day each year, do you? I would hope not. So now the question becomes how does one manage to do these things on a more regular basis? Where should we start?
Sometimes it seems easy to focus on the things that are wrong with your life. I don’t think that it takes any more effort to focus on the good things. If it seems easier to focus on the bad things, I would guess it is because your ‘focus on the good things’ muscle is out of shape (or you hit a real bad patch, sorry if that’s the case).
How do we practice finding the good things in life? Each morning, I try to remember to take a little time and think of all the things for which I am thankful. I start with being alive. Some days, that’s where it ends as well. But I’m getting better at finding things to be thankful for.
What are you thankful for? Not just today, but every day. Is there someone special in your life, even if it’s a pet, it’s still something to be thankful for, right? Do you have enough food to sustain you? I’d list that as well. How about your health? At least you’re alive, right?
Please take a few moments and come up with some additional things you are thankful for. Once you have a list, pick one of the things that you are truly grateful for. Think of that thing and feel your gratitude welling up. Feel the warm place in your heart expand and cover your whole body.
Please don’t worry if it doesn’t get very warm or very large, perhaps you haven’t practiced much. I’ve been doing this for a while, and that’s how it works for me. The important part is that you can feel your gratitude and be happy for what you have.
Consider doing an exercise in thankfulness and gratitude at least once a week, perhaps as part of a “what I learned this week” or your weekly planning session. Eventually, you might even find it useful to do more frequently. I try to do it every morning, and find it very useful. As always, your mileage may vary, but it couldn’t hurt, could it?
From: Twitter, @NetworkerMK
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/gilbertkc140975.html
Photo by Puggles
