Gratitude

Qamea, Fiji

We are happy when "good" things happen to us, and angry or sad when "bad" things happen to us. In reality, we do not have enough information to determine what is "bad" and what is "good."

Often we look back on obstacles and disappointments and realize that we were better off from having gone through it. When we are fired from our job, we will often find a more suitable position. When our relationship does not work out, we often find someone who makes us happier.

Since we do not have knowledge of the "big picture," we should treat every event that happens to us with gratitude. When we realize that everything is a gift, we let go of the ups and downs that make us victims of our circumstances. By being grateful for everything, we become masters of our lives. We also will find that when we let go of our judgments and assumptions about events, things begin to flow more harmoniously. By not being buffeted by the winds of fortune, fortune smiles on us.

However, if we are grateful in order to receive the things that we think we want, it will only reinforce our feelings of lack. What we put out is what we receive. This is the law of prosperity and the law of karma.

If we would be grateful for just one day for everything that happens to us regardless of whether we believe the circumstances are "good" or "bad," everything will change. For example, instead of being frustrated or angry when we miss a traffic light, we can be grateful that we have a moment to practice presence. If a family member is ill, we could become despondent, or we could be grateful for all that we have learned from this person and thankful to be able to spend whatever time is left with them. If we lose our job, we could become fearful of what will happen to us, or we could be grateful for the opportunity to surrender our fears, appreciate the time that we have for ourselves, and look forward to obtaining a more meaningful job.

Let's be grateful for everything in our lives.