Gratitude is heaven itself.

Gratitude is heaven itself. – William Blake

Stormy weather can be a bummer, but can you be grateful for this spectacular sunset?

What does that mean?
I have seen this quote also attributed to Laura Huxley (as well as to her husband, author Aldous Huxley), Matt Cutts and others. Of the list of people to whom this quote is attributed, William Blake is the oldest, and I believe therefore likely to have been the first to have used it.

In this quote, with the word not capitalized, heaven isn’t the specific biblical location, but an expression of a place kind of like it. It is being used as a form of superlative, with specific implications.

But what could possibly bring us to this fantastic place? Gratitude. Gratitude doesn’t kill us. Gratitude doesn’t give us wings or harps. But it does give us a sense of well being. It does give us a feeling of great comfort. It does leave us feeling like we’re on top of the world.

In short, gratitude is a wonderful thing to receive from a fellow human being. How does someone’s gratitude make you feel? What are you willing to do to get more of it?

Why is gratitude important?  
There is a hidden idea in the quote. If getting some gratitude feels this good, shouldn’t you be giving some out as well? After all, it helps the other person feel great, so why be stingy with the gift of gratitude?

Gratitude, like praise, is a great way to train people to do more of what you want them to do, and less of what you don’t want them to do. It works on all ages, but especially on kids. Giving them your gratitude for things you want them to do can be a powerful motivator.

It also works for people at work, in social groups, even over the internet. There are so many ways to show gratitude that it should be hard to be stumped for a way to let another know that you are grateful. And it truly will make their day, as you probably already know. It is a powerful force.

Where can I apply this in my life?
Gratitude is where you find it. Are you grateful to be alive? Are you grateful to have a computer/tablet/phone on which to read this? Are you glad for the weather? Even if you don’t like the weather at the moment, can you be grateful for what it provides?

Sunny days (even in the desert) are things I’m grateful for, even though it’s over 100F here, with 110F likely before next weekend. They provide the light which gives life to the plants, and that’s something for which I am grateful. Rainy days provide cloud cover, keeping the temperatures down, as well as water, which is life-giving.

Yes, I could complain about how the weather isn’t exactly the way I want it, but I prefer to be grateful for what it gives us. Which of the two approaches leaves me in a better mood? Which one better helps me deal with a stressful day? I think you have guessed the answer.

We’re not perfect. I do complain about the weather from time to time. But that’s something on which I can work, right? I can try to catch myself getting ready to grumble about the weather, and try to find a way to be gracious about it, and that’s exactly what I do.

What about you? For what are you grateful? Grab some paper and make a list. This might be something you look at when you’re feeling grumpy someday, and get a little lift for your spirits, right? Also take a moment to write down (on different paper) the things you tend to complain about.

Take a moment and read through the things for which you are grateful, and then pause to let that feeling sink in. Now look at the list of things that make you grumpy. Are you as grumpy now as you were when you were writing the list? Which list should you hide, and which should you put somewhere prominent?

Let’s go back to the cranky list for a moment. What attitude do you have about those things which lead you to being cranky? Write those down as well. Now take a moment and consider what you could do to change your attitudes about those things. Is there anything common about them?

Do you deserve better from life? I have found that to be a common root cause for a lack of gratitude. Life rarely lives up to the commercials, so get used to it. Life is hard, sweaty, and often unpleasant. Sitting around complaining about it rarely helps.

I would seriously suggest that you change the beliefs which support your attitudes. What would you have to believe to be grateful? If you can get rid of the “Life Owes Me Something” belief and replace it with something a bit more realistic, you’re half way there. What should you replace it with? Something you truly believe, something appropriate to your life. Something real.

Gratitude is a great thing. Don’t keep it to yourself. Share it!

From: Twitter, @tonyrobbins
confirmed at : google books
Photo by Patrick Emerson