Use Gratitude to Create a Happier and More Successful Life

Every country and culture appreciates gratitude for good deeds, yet today we have grown so busy that we neglect to show appreciation. Although we all learned those warm words of thank you as a child, our world is filled technological advances that have replaced the simple and kind “thank you” with a cold impersonal text message saying “thx.”

Do we truly take enough time to show gratitude to those who we love, or have we become too busy to even say “thank you?”

If we want to achieve happiness and success in life, it is essential that we make expressions of gratitude a part of our everyday existence. People who are grateful tend to be more fulfilled and happier. Therefore, we should show gratitude on a daily basis.

To be successful in life, people need to remain focused on their goals. Through developing an attitude of gratitude we learn to express good and therefore to see good.

When we focus a lot of energy on negative things in our lives, we remain in a state of conflict. Expressing gratitude allows us to focus on positive things and the good in our lives. This helps us to remain optimistic. With optimism we can achieve success.

I encourage you to take time to reflect upon these seven quotes of gratitude, and think about how precious life really is. Meditate on one quote each day over the next three to four weeks. During this time, think about the things in your life for which you are grateful.

Make a gratitude list.

Start by writing down simple things that you are grateful for, like your home, your spouse, your children, your health, or your job. At the end of each day, review your list. After three to four weeks, you should be in the habit of showing gratitude daily.

Keep your list in an easily accessible place. When you have negative thoughts, or difficulty staying focused on your goal, review your list. It is difficult to remain negative, when you review a list of things and people for which you are grateful.

The quotes below show the positive effect gratefulness has on your ability to achieve a life of happiness and success. Begin your day by reading a different quote each day.

“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more.” — Brother David Steindl-Rast

“Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude.”— Joseph Wood Krutch

“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” — Rabbi Harold Kushner

“Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.” — Christiane Northrup

“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.” — Charles Dickens

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — Albert Einstein

“What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it-would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.” — Ralph Marston

Start today by remembering to say "thank you" to the special people in your life.

Reflect upon the good things in your life throughout this week and let your acts of gratitude continue throughout the year.

By engaging in acts of gratitude on a daily basis, you will find peace of mind happiness, and success as you pursue your dreams.

©2011 Winifred D. Bragg, MD. All Rights Reserved.