Gratitude is the root of happiness

Firstly what is Gratitude? the state of being grateful. When you feel gratitude, you're pleased by what someone did for you and also pleased by the results. Unlike indebtedness, you're not anxious about having to pay it back. Why should one practice gratitude? It boosts your self esteem and confidence. Free you from negativity. Improves focus. Rewires your brain. Heals the inner you. Eliminates stress. Improves sleep. Makes you at least 45% happier. Improves relationships. Enhances Law of Attraction. Increases your mental health. Reduces Aggression. Once you practice gratitude your perspective to life will automatically change, you would be more gentle and productive.

Once an old lady with her grandson were walking near the sea-shore. Suddenly a huge wave swept the child into the sea. There was nobody at the sea-shore to help them, so the old lady cried and prayed god for help. To her surprise a strong wave came and she found her grandson back on her lap. The grandmother on seeing her grandson looked towards the heaven in anger and cried, “Where is the hat that my grandson was wearing?” The grandmother was very sad for loosing the hat and was less happy that her grandson returned safely.

People are never satisfied with what they have and what they get. The realty is Gratitude is the secret of happiness which I have learnt while learning astrology from the book, “Star impel they don’t compel”. The author of the book Astrologer Ashutosh Varshney of Prayagraj, India further says, ‘When your eyes are open only to the missing aspect of your life, you automatically close your eyes to the things present in your life.’ For success, we must practice to follow the basic rules of gratitude, appreciation, dedication etc.

It is because if you keep on measuring the amount of assets you deserve or all that you want compared to what you have , you'll always remain sad and unfulfilled throughout but the day you start feeling gratitude towards what you have and compare it from the ones who don't , you'll feel grateful for all that you have and therefore feel satisfied. Practising gratitude is a very powerful habit. As you practice gratitude, you thank God for whatever you have. That makes you realise things you have and focus on what you don't have is reduced.

That makes you happy and releases stress, makes your attitude positive. It does indeed, and at the very least it gets rid of sadness. Being grateful helps you focus on what you do have (real and true) instead of dwelling on what's unreal and missing. Gratitude also grounds you in faith and patience to go on because it reminds you of how things have worked out for the best in the past and therefore will somehow work out in the future. Please note, I refer to the gratitude where one is immersed in full appreciation of what they are grateful for. Not just the fleeting “thank you” gratitude. It is a gratitude that is rich with reason why you feel grateful for your object of attention. The more you attach true and positive reasons for being grateful, the more the brain amplifies the feelings of happiness.

I am most definitely grateful. I mean, I pretty much have to be. I don't believe life or any other person owes me any damn thing. I certainly don't think I deserve it. So I am immensely grateful for any momentary display of human kindness, I am grateful for the world around me, I am grateful for my life itself. But sometimes I am very far from happy. Gratitude is important, but it does not magically overcome depression. It does not take away guilt. It does not annihilate fear.

It may be the most influential thing that is entirely within our control, and that indeed makes it very important, but I would think a firm foundation of self confidence combined with good luck in the neurological lottery may go a damn sight further insofar as obtaining happiness is concerned. Gratitude works. And it works miraculously. You know why? Because it eventually changes the way we understand circumstances by adjusting what we focus on. You can remain thankful for your work, just repeating your words again and again, “I’m grateful for what I am doing.” However, if you want to achieve a positive outcome, stay realistic about your gratitude practice. Explore different and creative ways to pursue your grateful moments. Remember, the advantages of practising gratitude are infinite. Cheers!