- The takeaway from this episode is … having gratitude expects nothing and appreciates everything.
- Here’s what this will do for you … gratitude is what it takes to make a solid connection to your Guides.
- Here’s what I want you to do with it … being in a state of gratitude lets you experience the present moment without any effort at all.
NOTE: The “italic text” within this post is channeled from Linda’s Spirit Guides and Angels
You’ve heard people say that the more gratitude you have the more things will come into your life to be grateful for.
It sounds simple enough. So why are most people lacking in gratitude? In fact, most people seem to go the opposite way, into feelings of lack.
Most people don’t appreciate what they do have and want more of what they don’t have.
They want new cars, new clothes, better jobs and relationships, more money, and vacations, yet they don’t seem to ever get enough. They may even feel that they would actually be grateful if they had enough but having enough seems to elude them.
So if it’s true that, if you’re grateful for your life more things will come into it to be grateful for – why aren’t you grateful for what you have right now? Let’s start with less materialism. If you desire less materialism or even have less than most people and you are grateful for what you have you become even more grateful when even a little more shows up. You meet many people who don’t have a lot, yet seem to be very happy. They even seem to be more spiritual and conscious. It may even mystify you as to why they could be so happy with less.
It’s not the way of the world.
The idea that more will make you happier is what people have been taught. People who have been grateful for what they have also possessed more self-control. They actually enjoy having less, less to worry about, less to pay for, less to clean, less to insure, less to manage and think about. With less, they seem to have a lot more peace of mind. They are a lot happier and more optimistic about life. How can this be?
You are bombarded daily with ads telling you what you need to have to be happy, to fit in, and to be normal. Yet these people, without all these things, are happier, more grateful, and more optimistic about life. What’s wrong with this picture?
If you could turn off the distractions of ads telling you what you need to be happy, all the diseases you might have that you need to ask your doctor about because now there’s a new pill for it, or some quick-fix to increase your self-esteem you wouldn’t have to go out and buy things you don’t need with money you don’t have anymore.
What kind of pressure would be taken off your shoulders if you put a stop to all those impulsive distractions? The only thing you’d lack would be self-imposed stress. What you would have is a presence of mind to be kinder to others, more relaxed, more compassionate, and happier. In general, simplifying your life will produce gratitude for what you do have and not be envious of what you don’t have.
CALL TO ACTION: Start your Self-Examination
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Having gratitude is the key to happiness.
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Look at all the things you have that you don’t ever use and didn’t need in the first place.
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How would your life be different if you didn’t have those things or even desired them?
HOW IT WORKS: I had a friend who claimed she had a hard life. From my perspective, she was very spoiled. She hardly ever worked, took advantage of men financially, always conned her mother out of money, and did whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. Yet she claimed to have led a hard life. This is what it feels like to a person who does not appreciate what they have. They feel that if they had more everything would be great.
From my point of view, it’s true that this type of person leads a hard life because they are never satisfied. These types of people are spiritually bankrupt. They continue to blame everyone and everything for their feelings of lack as they continue to search “out there” somewhere for what they are missing inside themselves. The lesson is that gratitude comes to those who have not been spoiled. Gratitude comes to those who have paid their dues and received the most precious gift of all, gratitude. ~ Linda Deir
RELATED ARTICLES:
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Grateful People Are Happy and Healthy—But Why? – Frontiers for young minds
- The 8 Things the Happiest People Do Every Day – Time
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Why Thankful People Are Happier And Healthier – Fast Company
Linda, you are so right about the connection between gratitude and happiness. Some people have witnessed my life and yet see only the hardships and sorrows. We have struggled with health problems, financial problems–even the death of our little boy. Then, my daughter was diagnosed with the same terminal condition. (She has a milder case and is an adult now.) And yet, through it all, I see only the incredible blessings, grace, and mercy from the divine. Through it all, I’ve heard the whispers of my spirit guides only I never realized they were from my spirit guides until I read your book and then had a coaching session with you. Now, it all makes perfect sense. I’ve always had a sense of hope and encouragement. It came from them! I have felt immense gratitude from the time I was a small child. And THAT is why I’ve always been joyful.
It seems that nothing will bring humanity more happiness and joy than when they possess gratitude. It’s a superpower! People who don’t have it are spiritually bankrupt.
I listen to your book Guided at least once a week to remind me I have Spirit Guides.
You are in good company, as many people tell me they do the same thing. If you feel ready to take this to the next step get the companion journal to Guided, entitled; My Guided Journey.
Here is a post on how this all works together.