We have all been fortunate in many ways with what we have – three decent meals a day, a roof over our heads, and clothing to wear – during the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the time to count our blessings because gratitude unlocks the fullness of life and turns what we have into enough, and more.
Every person should be grateful and not gripe over what they don’t have.
Many have the habit of taking the comfort they enjoy for granted and fail to express their appreciation to those who make their lives better in small or large ways.
They think it is their birthright to have them, and in the process, they show disrespect to the things they relish daily, for example, by wasting food or water or not being satisfied with the comforts of their home.
Showing gratitude for the goodness we enjoy daily is a path to happy living and being content with what we have.
I would like to devote this column to appreciation because I’m touched and indebted to my readers and friends who have been sending me messages of encouragement on my writings on conscious living.
By being thankful for every little accomplishment that brings us cheer daily, we unknowingly free our hearts and minds from stress and anxiety.
So, why are there people often dissatisfied or unappreciative?
It can be traced to your thoughts that do not stop with what you have but wander aimlessly, seeking more comfort and luxury.
You spend a large part of your day outside our home, where most of you are more likely to receive criticism than appreciation because expectations are higher.
Your peers and others expect much from you and when you fail to live up to their expectations, you are criticised.
Appreciation, whether verbal or written, has been found to be the greatest gift we can give to those around us.
A distinctive person who left a lasting impression on my life for showing grace was my late grandfather, Govindasamy, who was known to shower visitors to his home, young or old, with gifts.
He has a practice in which no visitor returns home without a gift from him, which can take the form of food, fruit and vegetables, or money.
That was the way he showed his gratitude to those who took the trouble to look in on him.
It is noble to instill this virtue from a young age, especially among children, so that they grow up and be appreciative of what they have and also reflect the same to others.
Gratitude can be a very powerful habit when practiced regularly, as it naturally brings a smile and happiness to anyone.
It can turn denial into acceptance, trouble into order, confusion into clarity, and hatred into love.
The act can also turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home and a stranger into a friend.
One way to encourage this is to recognise or credit children for any good that they have done.
In some homes, parents have introduced a point system where children collect points whenever they show thankfulness and they are rewarded when they reach a certain level.
Whether we like it or not, it is imperative that we have an attitude of indebtedness toward everything that happens in our lives, no matter how we view those events.
Everyone has something to be thankful for, and it can be clothing, food on your plate, family, job, house, car, or health.
We should be content with what we have, but this does not mean we no longer have dreams or adventure in our lives.
Nothing is going to stop life from unfolding, but we can definitely change the way we react to it and be gratified.
Appreciation exercise
● Find a quiet spot and spend 5 to 10 minutes every morning sitting calmly with your eyes closed.
● Next, focus your attention on a mental picture of everything that you have in your life.
● It can be family, having enough food, a house, a car, a job, money, or friends.
● Picture those events, people or things in your mind and feel the joy within you as you view them.
● Sometimes tears may come to your eyes naturally as you feel so filled with gratitude and joy that the feeling is overwhelming.
● Starting your day in this way sets your attitude towards appreciation and your actions, words and deeds will follow suit.
Gratitude guide
● Whenever you attend an event or party, bring a small gift for the host and it will bring magical cheer to him or her.
● Send a thank-you card or a note of appreciation via a text message for any gesture that you have received, and it will show that a genuine effort was taken.
● Speak your appreciation directly. Say “I appreciate what you did”.
● Say “Thank you” as often as you can.
● Express appreciation for the person as well as the deed, like “appreciate you” or “Thank you for being my friend”.
● Wherever you are, take a moment to look around and find something for which you can be thankful.
Award-winning writer Dr T. Selva is the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide and Secrets of Happy Living. To get a copy, WhatsApp +6019-2728464. He can be reached at drtselvas@gmail.com. Facebook: Vasthu Sastra
