Why gratitude is a must can be looked at 5 reasons. It can be more but for sake of time and keeping your attention, I wanted to pack it up like an overnight bag. Maybe that wasn't the best analogy since I can really pack but here goes.
1. Gratitude makes you happy again.
Whenever I get cornered by negative energy and I have to stay put, I remember something that I am grateful for. It could be being stuck in traffic, dealing with a not so polite retail worker or a unhappy colleague or boss. Whatever it is, I find that thinking about something that brings me joy, like a loving text or a good song. The possibilities of thoughts are endless when I get jammed up and need to come back to my happy place.
Gratitude is a must because it gets you off of thinking what's wrong, broken, or goals that are still not reached in your life. It's the center of happiness that reminds you that that no matter where you are in life , you will be okay. It keeps us motivated to carry on and move forward in our lives, when we really don't have the strength or mental stimulation to believe in our dreams for one more time.
2. It makes you attractive.
Gratitude is a must because it makes you attractive to others. Let's be honest, who doesn't like the perks? It's not just about superficial bonuses. It's about really being attractive internally! The more gratitude that you possess on the inside, speaks volumes on the outside. I remember shopping at Ikea for a round beige rug. Shockingly, I headed to the plant section instead. As I picked up a snake plant that caught my eye, I noticed a lady on the other side of me slowly lurking towards my way. She made her way besides me and began scouring the other snake plants that I just stepped away from. Suddenly, I could see her at the corner of my left eye trying to get my attention.
While blasting my music, I had to assume the best and pulled out one of my airpods to hear what she had to say. She asked me about the snake plant and if I knew how large it would grow. I told her that I just bought one a few months back and hadn't seen much growth so I wasn't sure. Then, she asked me more questions, surprisingly, since I didn't give her a concrete answer, but nevertheless, I was happy to help. We both took turns and roamed around the plant section and she picked up an aloe plant and I shared my experience with that plant as well. We shared Girlfriend style chit chat , and even though she asked more questions to sooth her uncertainty, I reassured her that it would be okay if she bought them both!
She thanked me and we wished each other a good night and I strolled along with my cart towards checkout. You see, I didn't have any expert advice to give her, I believe that she felt the positive energy to approach me and to ask me questions that I earnestly tried to answer. It was a simple moment in time between two souls who were open to a connecting. I believe our connection stemmed from gratitude.
3. It defeats hate.
When you practice having gratitude, it can block out hate and haters. Have you ever encountered a negative person who tried to block out your peace? Sometimes, it can last for a temporary moment, but it can feel like forever. They get you off your "happy horse". Then, you get tempted to return the pain, instead, stop, refocus and take back your power. When you feel like they are transferring their negative energy and it could be the start of an argument or anything to get you to react negatively, for examples. Whatever the reason might be, you must practice restraint - and you do that by remembering something grand, or simple and pleasant, and you will have your energy restored in no time.
4. Gratitude is contagious.
Having gratitude is a good thing and also contagious! Imagine when you focus on being thankful for the smallest things and it keeps a smile on your face. How contagious is that for other people! The law of attraction is strong in both negative and positive. Once you choose positive and think positively , you will see it return back to you.
When you practice gratitude daily, it automatically returns back to you. It could be the person standing behind you on line, with two items, and you have ten.
Then, you decide to them go in front of you. I guarantee that you just made their day. Then the next thing you know someone gifts you with a gift card and now you can go back and shop some more! On the surface, this might be an act of kindness, but gratitude for just being alive, being able to do simple things like shop or whatever you can think of, started the motions. Gratitude is contagious and good things happen when you focus on being thankful.
5. Gratitude brings you new found peace.
The final point about having and practicing gratitude is the everlasting peace that it brings. I am not kidding. It might annoy other people, or confuse them as to why you always seem to have a smile on your face. They can't figure you out! You never seem to have a care in the world and everything seems so in place in your life. What they don't know is that you face the same trials and tribulations as they do - if not more at times! The difference is, you remain grateful for what is and what will be, no matter what. There is no guarantee what life will bring. There is no law that if you are more thankful, that pain will surely pass you by. What I can promise you is this. The odds of being grateful favors more joy than pain.
And that's worth something being thank for.
