We are living in a world where instant gratification seems to be it! We are no longer happy with what we have.

We seem to want MORE, NOW, QUICKER!

Gratitude is about knowing and acknowledging that we don’t control life. It is about being thankful for all the little and precious things that we encounter on a daily basis.

Gratitude will create happiness, a sense of being loved and appreciated.

It is about believing in the abundance life has to offer us; finding ways of achieving our goals and aspirations. Gratitude will always lead to you taking action, being kinder and being pro-active in society.

However, let’s not confuse gratitude with being ambitious. To want to have better, do better and be better is also very important. But then let’s at least be grateful for it and acknowledge it. Noticing all the little things is where gratitude begins. Noticing simple pleasures and counting your blessings is what gratitude means. Shifting your mind to being thankful will remind you of what your life already has rather than what it lacks. Gratitude has a magical power that will change your life.

Behavioural and psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude.

This research also proved that people who practice daily gratitude were more alert, enthusiastic, determined, optimistic and energetic. The study also showed that there is less depression and stress, and these types of people are also more likely to help others reach their goals.

A big part of being grateful is acceptance. There is tremendous power in acceptance and being happy for what you have. Accept the things that life has given you and live your life to the best of your ability.

When we say “We are feeling grateful”, it does not necessarily mean that everything in our lives is wonderful, but rather that we are aware of our blessings and are not taking things for granted. One thing is for sure: being ungrateful will only cloud your vision.

Just like anything we can create habits. Some habits are good for us and others are bad – such as getting into the habit of complaining and finding fault with everything and everyone. If you work at gratitude and make it a daily ritual you will be creating a positive and rewarding way of thinking and behaving.

One should also take time to notice all the people, circumstances and situations that brought you to where you are and be thankful for your personal growth and achievements. Just imagine if you were the only person on the planet with whom you could share things with, why would you paint something beautiful, or run your fastest race if no one was ever there? You wouldn’t!

It is our contact and experiences with the people in our lives that brings us joy. Often we forget the good that already exists in our lives and are too quick to complain.

I personally believe that gratitude is an attitude and a mindset that one can get into and practice on a daily basis. The feeling is indescribable so if you haven’t tried it you really should.

Gratitude is a sure form of taking responsibility and counting your blessings – no matter how big or small. This way you don’t take things for granted and you can always see the good in a situation.

As adults we are often faced with adversity and dilemmas. We become disillusioned by disappointment. It is then that you need to change your negative mindset, just like rebooting a computer. Clear away the “negativity habit” that you have created. There is nothing like feeling sorry for ourselves. When things don’t go our way there are always lessons to learn. Ask yourself: “What can I learn from this?”, “Is there anything good about this?”, “How can I turn this into something positive?”

We need to notice the small gifts in life, the little things that make us happy. We need to get out of the spiral of negative thinking and feeling.

You will notice that happy people are grateful people. They attract good luck and abundance in their lives. They are upbeat, positive and often have huge amounts of energy.

Some tips:

Notice the world around you: “I had the blues because I wanted new shoes until I saw a man on the street that had no feet!”

What we have isn’t just a given, it is a gift.

Know the difference between a need, a want, and a necessity.

Luxuries are often wanted but then don’t forget to be grateful for them.

“Think to say thanx” is just another way of creating a new.

Gratitude/Attitude.

Get in touch with nature. It brings you back to reality after being in a world of technology and concrete. Nature has its own special way of humbling us.

“It is also the little steps that take you places.”

If you want to create a new habit, here are some suggestions:

Find a small stone. This is going to be your “gratitude” stone. Put it next to your bed so that you can see it every time you go to sleep. Every night when you get into bed and are ready to relax and clear your mind, take your gratitude stone and hold it in the palm of your hand. Hold it tight. Think about your day and find the best thing that happened that you are truly grateful for. Then go through the rest of the day and do it for everything else you can remember. It takes 21 days to create a new habit and soon you will be doing it not only when you get into bed.