The Power of Gratitude

The words "please and thank you," were taught to us as children. We teach our children the tradition and it will continue to be taught throughout generations.

The words "thank you" are important. Why?

A quote from Melodie Beatte, freelance author and journalist states: "gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures to success, the unexpected to perfect timing and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."

The simple phrase "thank you," the gestures or even the thoughts you think in giving appreciation, showing gratitude, are powerful and magnetic ways of attracting, manifesting and receiving abundance and happiness into your life. Imagine giving a friend wonderful gifts but that friend never say thank you, never shows gratitude or send a card of appreciation. It would not be a surprise if you suddenly stopped giving your friend gifts. And so it is with the universe as you give thanks for your health, family, your job, your talents, life events, joys and opportunities in your life, you attract positive vibrations that create and bring more abundance, harmony and balance to you.

Read, think about and practice the following quotes and see how they will affect your life.

Anthony Robbins states, "when you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears."

Brian Tracy says, "develop an attitude of gratitude and give thanks for anything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."

"The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated."
William James.

The following reports from research studies emphasize the powerful effects of gratitude.

According to Rind, B., and Borda, P. 1995. Effect of Servers "Thank You"
and Personalization on Restaurant Tipping. Journal of Applied Social Psychology.
They found that restaurant patrons gave bigger tips when their servers wrote "Thank You" on their checks.

According to Kashdan, T. B., Uswatte, G., Julian, T. 2006, Gratitude and Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being in Vietnam War Veterans Behavior Research and Therapy.
"Although gratitude is something that everyone can experience, some people seem to feel grateful more often than others. People who tend to experience gratitude more frequently than do others, also tend to be happier, more helpful, giving and less depressed than their less grateful counterparts."

So, what can you do to express more gratitude and attract more harmony, peace, love and abundance into your life?

Simple Ways to Express Gratitude.
Make a list of the things you are thankful for in the physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, social and educational aspects of your life. As you go through this list you will amaze yourself of the increase in positive energy and gratefulness that you will feel.

The best things in life are free- sunrise and sunsets, a beautiful moonlit night, the sky, the rain, a magnificent mountain range- stop, look, listen and feel the wonders of Mother Nature and express your gratitude.

As you begin to relax at night review your day, recall the things you experienced that you are thankful for and express gratitude. Share these things with your partner as you both settle down for the night.

Write a thank you note to a friend or family member expressing your gratitude and appreciation for having them in your life. This will create a higher level of positive energy in your relationship.

A phone call to a friend expressing appreciation or encouragement can make a difference in their day and in your own.

Show encouragement and appreciation to the people you interact with on a daily basis. A co-worker, the banker, the clerk at checkout counter or your neighbor.

Share your abundance with others. This is a way of telling the universe thank you and uplifting the life of others.

Feelings of gratitude comes from the heart, as you open your heart and express gratitude more positive energy, love and abundance is attracted to you. So quiet your mind, be still, meditate, give thanks, be open to the abundance that the universe offers you and to the power of gratitude.