What is Gratitude?

 

Before I explain the gratitude and how it can change our lives, let me tell you what gratitude is not. Gratitude is not positive thinking. Gratitude is not a mental exercise. Gratitude is not a form of meditation. Gratitude is not a law or equation.

Then what is gratitude?

Gratitude is to be aware of and appreciates the fact that we are blessed. Gratitude is an acknowledgment of the fact that we are a part of a beautiful creation. It is our choice to be happy, and gratitude acts as a path toward ultimate happiness. Gratitude is focusing more on what we have than what we do not have.

Let me show you some translations of this word.

Gratitude = आभार, कृतज्ञता, धन्यवाद, एहसानमंदी

Gratitude = Thankfulness, Obligation, Indebtedness, Acknowledgement, and Appreciation of our blessings

The Harvard Medical School explains gratitude as “a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. As a result, gratitude helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals–whether to other people, nature, or a higher power”. This is one of the definitions of gratitude. Many people have defined it in several ways, based on their experiences and understandings. However, we can have our unique definitions of gratitude based on our experiences, emotions, and perceptions.

Have you ever felt that you are so blessed to receive any object or have a specific person in your life? Any time has life made you realize that you are so exceptional and lucky? Why do you experience happiness whenever you receive any gift from your loved one? Is it because of the cost of the present or a feeling of thankfulness towards the person?

Gratitude is a feeling or state of mind where we appreciate and cherish our receivings. Gratitude is nothing but focusing on the goodness and positivity in our life. Being thankful for whatever we have and nurturing it builds a positive perspective toward life. Gratitude helps to identify the source of peace and happiness within the individual and the outside world. Apprehending the power of gratitude offers a strong bonding with other people, nature, and the universe. If we are grateful for the presence of a specific person in our life helps us connect with the person emotionally, physically, and spiritually on a sincerer level. In psychological studies, it has been stated that the feeling of gratitude is directly proportional to happiness.

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A person can be grateful for anything and everything; there is no restriction on the object, person, situation, or even place. One can be thankful for any past event, present possessions, and future receiving. Remembering the pleasant memories and thanking us for the ancestral gifts feels our hearts with warmth and love; this feeling is nothing but gratitude. Feeling grateful when you have achieved your goals, met your soulmate, landed the dream job, won a prize, or were given delicious food is gratitude.

Thanking your cab driver for dropping you at the desired location, Thanking your colleague for reminding you to revert on an important yet forgotten mail, Thanking your partner for letting you hand in your daily chores, or thanking your friends and family for feeding you an amazing meal is showing gratitude towards their action. You will change your mood drastically if you start meaning thank you instead of using it as a formality.

Every little action you take and everyone around you can be a source of gratitude. Gratitude can do miracles in your life if you recognize it and feel it for the rest of the day. Gratitude practice is the act of consciously expressing appreciation for the people, experiences, and things in our lives. It’s a way to savor the present moment and recognize all that we have to be thankful for. By expressing gratitude, we can cultivate an attitude of appreciation and contentment that can lead to greater happiness and well-being. A gratitude practice can also help us build stronger relationships with others by recognizing their contributions and showing our appreciation. Practicing gratitude can help us become more mindful of our surroundings, allowing us to savor life’s small moments while also recognizing its larger blessings.

What if you started your day by listing five things you were grateful for? You can also keep a Gratitude Journal and write down three things every day that you are grateful for. The more we focus on the good in our lives, the better we will attract into our lives. And that is a wonderful thing!

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So let us be thankful for understanding the concept of gratitude and welcome happiness in our lives. Write your thoughts in the comments below, and until next time “Rewrite your Mind & Relive your Life”.

Further readings:

 

About the Author:

Dr. Priyanka Mohol [BHMS, PGDEMS & CC, DDHN, MPH (Scotland)]

Public Health Consultant & Community Nutrition Specialist