Being thankful is the first step towards a happy life, writes Teja Gudluru

You might have heard of this statement repeated at every nook and corner of your spiritual existence. Practising gratitude is the most in-trend thing amongst novices as well as seasoned practitioners of spirituality. Yet, you must be wondering, what bridges the eternal feeling of blessedness to spirituality?

Why is gratitude central to a close spiritual connection? One answer to it is that the realm of spirit exists at a high frequency of vibration, and believe it or not, a state of gratitude matches aptly to this vibration. What this does is that it allows you to tune into the frequency of spirit, heightening your sense of self-actualisation.

Gratitude is the very embodiment of spirit, which is the energy of celestial love. Gratitude is one form of that love. These are the very energies that mankind needs to create an enigmatic confluence and lingering power, in the world. Here are a few key findings to keep in mind:

Gratitude: Not a formality to say thank you, but an attitude of being thankful for all the things we do have, rather than complain about the things that we don’t have or things that are not happening the way we want.

Gratitude is about being conscious about our thoughts, self-talk and the emotions we go through in any situation. When we take the time to be grateful, we draw into our lives what is needed to feel at peace, happy and strengthened against all that is negative.

Spirituality is about attaining a sense of peace, a connect to oneself beyond boundaries and a connect to the higher being. This cannot be achieved if one is not vulnerable to oneself and be honest to the reality. The first step to attain this is gratitude. It is the highest of form of vulnerability a human can display. It is at this vulnerable state that one can evaluate situations, be thankful for what one already possesses and this gives a sense of purpose to walk away from negativity, work towards goals etc.

People are busy. What is important to note is, gratitude is not different from spirituality but just an integral part of it. The attitude of gratitude is not therefore a task or a check list but it’s a way of life. It is one of the most effective ways of getting in tune with your soul. And the moment you’re in touch with your soul, you embrace the wisdom of uncertainty and see yourself as a field of infinite possibilities. To unlock this magical world of magical possibilities, here are a few ways:

Consider your motivation. Whatever improvements you’re making to your life, make sure you’re doing it for you, not to impress other people. “Live your you”.

Be grateful for your gifts. “The key is to appreciate your own uniqueness and abilities. Get your friends’ and family’s input and make a list of the attributes you’ve been blessed with. Keep it handy for those times you feel “less than.” I am grateful for my beauty, for my strength, for my kindness, for my friends.

Set your own standards. Base them on your skills, interests and ambitions. “You must learn to think independently, and be mindful of what is suitable for you regardless of what the rest of the world says.

Value your own good judgment. Look back on the smart decisions you’ve made and things you have accomplished in the past, and remind yourself of your worth. With a little practice, you will find that nobody compares to you! Being grateful means you appreciate all that you have all that you see, feel and experience in a way that leaves feeling blessed.

Transform negative self-talk into positive self-talk. In present day circumstances- it is comparatively easy to be self-depreciative as negative self-talk can creep up naturally into any mode of analysis. What is even worse is that it is often hard to notice and hence slips about at every juncture. We are all common to think of our shortcomings and dissect our failures. Yet it is these very innocent actions which transform into harmful habits cementing conceptions of you. When you catch yourself doing this, stop and replace those negative messages with positive ones. Self-affirmation is the best cure for this disease and can make a great difference.

Focus on the present. Humans are often found chasing goals that are way ahead of time or dwelling in actions taken in past, while forgetting to enjoy the essence of what one has now. This constant switching between time periods leaves us harried and lacking in the basic sense of satisfaction. One should never count chickens before they hatch and therefore it is prudent to focus on this one, individual moment. In most situations, you’ll find it’s not as bad as you imagine it to be. Most sources of negativity stem from a memory of a recent event or the exaggerated imagination of a potential future event. Living in the present helps us channelise our energies into positive outcomes, without giving a second thought into the negative consequences.

Find positive friends, mentors and co-workers. As they say, positivity breeds positivity and this stands true in terms of the company we attract to ourselves. As Rhonda Byrne aptly said “the law of attraction is unanimous” and a positive set of friends help imbibe positivity. When we surround ourselves with positive people, an increase in positive outlooks, stories, and affirmations comes along. A chain reaction of thought comes across with people hearing more positive pearls of wisdom than statements of despair. While finding positive people can be an uphill task, you need to eliminate the negativity in your life before it takes a greater control of your senses and existence.

Gratitude is a fullness of heart that moves you from limitation and fear to expansion and love. When you’re appreciating something, your ego moves out of the way. You can’t have your attention on ego and gratitude at the same time. Just for a few moments, consider the things you have in your life that you could be grateful for: all the nurturing relationships, the material comforts, your body, and the mind that allows you to really understand yourself and everything around you. Just breathe and be grateful for the air that is filling your lungs and making your life possible. Simply feel your body and your aliveness, and acknowledge what a miracle it is just to be alive right now. Allow your awareness to appreciate what you are seeing, smelling, and touching just at this moment and you will find yourself in the middle of the stream of life without trying at all. This will heighten your spiritual senses and be a path to self-awakening, making you feel inclined towards the goal of a purer living Live a life of gratitude and you are living free.

The writer is founder and CEO, UDo