Three Steps Towards Constant Gratitude

Living in a consistent state of gratitude is probably the most important thing we can do for ourselves, and for those around us. This article is for anyone who is having difficulty achieving a consistent state of gratitude in their lives.

What is Gratitude?

Before beginning, we should first ensure you have an adequate understanding of what gratitude really is.

Simply put, gratitude is an expression of love.

It is, perhaps, love’s purest expression in this world. By its very nature, it cannot be complicated by lust or desire, nor any of the other debris love is so often entangled with.

The word itself stems from the same root as "grace", and comes from the Latin "gratis", meaning "free" or "for nothing".

To exist in a daily state of gratitude is simple, but without practice it is not always easy. Before explaining how to do that, we should first clear up some misconceptions you may have about gratitude.

Gratitude is not a gift you can give or receive from others.

It is not a reward that can be earned by any words or gesture.

It is not something you can passively wait to come to you, like a birthday present or a sunny day.

Gratitude is a state of being, a state of mind. It is a perspective through which your thoughts and feelings are filtered towards yourself and the world you inhabit.

For every moment you live in a state of gratitude, you are on expressway towards contentment, joy, and bliss.

In order to experience consistent gratitude in your life, you need only do three things.

Step One:

First, you must release your thoughts from the past. Understand that the past does not exist. Only the present moment exists. Do not dwell upon any memories. Unpleasant memories will lure you towards feelings of pain and sadness. Pleasant memories will tempt you to look upon what you may no longer have today, and will lead you towards longing and nostalgia. More than that, our brains have been trained to look at the past for patterns in our experiences that we may use to prepare for the future. Release yourself from this temptation by not dwelling on the past at all.

Step Two:

Second, you must release your thoughts from the future. The future does not exist either, and thoughts of the future invariably lead to speculations and expectations. Any expectations you may have for tomorrow, however modest they may be, will have one of only two results in your perspective today. You will experience fear for the future, because we expect something bad may happen. Or, you will experience hope for the future, which always carries with it the anticipation of disappointment.

Step Three:

Third, accept that everything you have at this moment is something that you need to have. Every experience through each moment of your life is a collaboration between yourself and the universe around you. Everything you have ever done or thought, from your very first breath, has led you towards this moment. The entire universe has been waiting to receive you here as well, from the most distant star to the smallest molecules you have just inhaled to accept as a part of yourself.

Accept every pleasure without expectation and express gratitude verbally, or by whispering it to yourself in your mind.

Accept every trouble as a necessary step towards your learning and growth, and for the learning and growth of the universe around you.

That is, accept every moment by assuming it has been given to you for a reason, and verbally express gratitude for it, whether or not you are presently aware of that reason.

Practice

Practice this for an hour each day, through meditation, or walking alone, or sitting quietly in a room by yourself.

As I said, to live in a state of gratitude is simple, but until you have practiced it, it will not always be easy. But like walking and talking, it is a skill you can master until it becomes natural to you and something you seldom need to think about. Gratitude will become your constant companion. It will fill your mouth with each word you speak, and will fill your heart fully each and every day.