Life isn’t about living without being appreciative of the things that help us go through with it. Our attitude when receiving and achieving our milestones is very important in order for us to define who we really are.
What is “gratefulness” and what does it mean to be “grateful”?
Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulness, from the Latin word gratus ‘pleasing, thankful’, is a feeling of appreciation felt by and/or similar positive response shown by the recipient of kindness, gifts, help, favors, or other types of generosity, towards the giver of such gifts.
“Does having “this and that” make me happy?”, “Am I really happy?”, “How can I say if I’m happy?”
Oftentimes we ask ourselves these questions and answering it might be difficult if we are seeing our life in comparison to others. But what if there is no need for a “comparison”? Would you still be able to define if you are truly happy?
There are times when we regret our wrongdoings in the past. Sometimes, we delay our own progression as we believe that there were unfixed issues in the past. Most of the time, we forget to feel gratified for what we have in the present, because each day, we are focused on achieving our goal to make our life better. However, one must ALWAYS be grateful because without it, life must feel dark and lonely.
What will you get from being grateful?
1. Contentment
Some people have the ability to obtain all the things they want in life while most people, even if they work hard in order to fulfill all their necessities, were not able to achieve their desires and leisure. Aside from this, not everyone has the capacity to pursue their dreams, travel around the world or purchase the things they want.
Nevertheless, not being able to have such things doesn’t hinder a person to be satisfied on what he have. Satisfaction is when you feel contented and not asking for more. It is not forbidden to aspire for more, however, too much of it can lead to grievances and frustration. Being satisfied even with an unfortunate social and economic status in life is a significant factor to attain happiness and contentedness.
2. Less insecurities
Insecurity is synonymous to one’s lack of confidence. A good example is our current social situation associated with the substantial development of technology leading to the growth of social media platforms and their ability to acquire and send information to people all over the world. Seeing private life of other people is now made possible for everyone, from youngsters to elders. As a result, envy and covetousness in a person grows showed by an inordinate desire for having another person’s possessions especially those material stuffs.
On the other hand, being grateful for your own abilities and belongings gained from your own savings and by working hard will make you less insecure of what the others have. Therefore, having a deep sense of security is enough to feel confident in pursuing life challenges.
3. Healthier sleep
Feeling of thankfulness promotes a deep sound sleep away from worries and fear. Instead of being anxious and distressed of what is yet to come, why not be appreciative of what you have in the present and be optimistic of what the future has to offer. So that when you wake up, another life full of chances and surprises will stir you up.
4. Better relationship with others
Gratification leads a person to a better and harmonious relationship with God, his family, friends and other people. We meet different people in our lives, some stayed with us whom we called “friends for keeps” and some we must let go. We encounter conflicts and disagreements with some but we have to learn how to forget about it and forgive ourselves in order for us not to settle with resentment and disgruntlement. Instead, we can be thankful for the memories and lessons other people share with us, may it be in the present or in the past.
5. Improved physical health
Being delightful gives a huge sense to live a happy and healthy life. Away from troubles and stressors, we tend to eat hale and hearty foods instead of the junkies. Furthermore, indulgence gives us inspiration to perform physical activities which then eases our breathing and improves our circulatory and respiratory systems. It even makes us look younger and healthier.
6. Enhanced mental health
Likewise, being grateful improves mood and reduces episodes of anxiety. Living life in a positive way decreases the way we think of it negatively resulting to the decrease sense of our apprehensions and distresses. It overcomes solitude and therefore provides joy to our everyday lives.
7. Greater self-esteem and self-love
A good self-esteem comes from being proud of who you are and what you do, while self-love is an overall self-acceptance of who you are as a person, despite flaws, that creates an inner desire to take good care of you and focus on what makes you happy. When you feel grateful, the worth you give to yourself becomes greater which further provides you higher pride and dignity.
8. Higher value of life
The value of one’s life is not determined by their properties, land titles, or social status. It can never be measured by any amount of money. It is by understanding it through examining what is within your heart and how your actions affect you and other people. Value it by investing to your own happiness such as pursuing your dreams, taking care of your family and doing well to others. Gratefulness will result to the mastery of your own invaluable worth.
9. And most of all, TRUE HAPPINESS.
It is achieved by being true to oneself and admitting own imperfections and mistakes. One must understand that life is not always perfect as you wish and that you cannot get to experience all things as you desire. You must not envy what you see from others as true happiness is not measured by what you see; it is rather immeasurable and is a gift from Above. True happiness is not what you find on social media; instead it is what you feel and what you treasure the most.
“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.”
Elizabeth Gilbert
