For some of us, it is easy to give thanks and feel great gratitude for what we have in our life. For others it is very difficult because of trauma, depression, physical and emotional pain and more. There is great power in moving forward to feel gratitude for the good in our life. We can know we have worth even though we have failed in some ways or have been struck with trauma. We should remember that we are not perfect and forgive ourselves, but many times we are our own worst enemy.
For just one day, let go of those deeply seeded, disturbing events in life and think about what we are grateful for. There are many philosophers who have spoken about gratitude and the positive effects of these thoughts. Here are a few quotes to think about:
“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” – Henry Ward Beecher
“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” – Amy Collette
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel
“Happiness cannot be traveled to owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” – Denis Waitley
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth
“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” – Alfred North Whitehead
“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” – Lionel Hampton
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick
“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert C. Chesterton
“Gratitude will shift you to a higher frequency, and you will attract much better things.” – Rhonda Byrne
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” – Buddha
“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” – Eileen Caddy
“As with all commandments, gratitude is a description of a successful mode of living. The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.” – James E. Faust
“True healing brings the gift of gratitude and humility.” Albert Pooley
There is physical evidence of health-related benefits from being grateful. We can start today to think about all that we have been blessed with in our life. Even better, spread the gratitude around by posting on social media what you are grateful for with #givethanks and feel your heart grow. It’s a contagious phenomenon when we read of so many thoughts about gratitude and how we can think about what we are grateful for. Let the gratitude begin.
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