When was the last time you thought long and hard about the nature of gratefulness? If you’re like most people, probably not recently. But if we want to grow in gratitude, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what it is and how it works. So what exactly is gratitude?
First and foremost, gratitude is a way of living. It is a state of being in which you open yourself up to receive good things. It is a posture of openness, receptiveness, and willingness to receive things that are very good. And when you do receive those very good things, you instinctively and consistently give thanks.
In other words, gratitude is not a one-time event where you simply say, “Thank you.” It’s an entire way of being in which you joyfully receive good things and give thanks for those good things. It’s a perpetual way of life, almost like breathing. You take in something good and breathe out gratitude: Receive. Be grateful. Receive. Be grateful…
It encompasses all things.
Everything in life happens for a reason, and in every circumstance, there are valuable things for us to learn. These valuable things help us advance in life, primarily in character. Because all things contribute to our advancement, we must live a life of gratefulness for all things that come our way.