Posts tagged Gratitude

Success Through Gratitude

1
358 days
by in Philosophy of Life

Which Comes First – Success or Gratitude?

Which do you think comes first?  Being grateful for what you have or success? If you are like me, you often say, “I’ll be thankful when such and such occurs.”  Will you? Will you be thankful that you were given such a wonderful opportunity? Or will you want more?  It is hard for most people to face the fact that they will not be thankful when they are given something.  They will want more and more. Success is being grateful first.

Gratitude Leads to Success

It has been my observation that people who are grateful for what they already have are given more.  I have a friend that no matter what you do for her, it is never enough.  If you volunteer to drive her to the store because her car is in the shop, she will moan and complain if you are five minutes late.  Does it make me want to help her out more? No way, Jose! It makes me want to avoid her.  Everything I do for her comes out of a sense of community.  I don’t do it for her.

Gratitude Brings Joy

I have another friend who is always thanking me for every little thing I do for her.  If I post on her Facebook page that I’m praying for her, she will thank me profusely.  Do I want to do more for her? Absolutely.  And I do it with a happy heart.  I am joyful that I can help her.

My friend who is always grateful is a generally happy person.  She is always looking for the good in others.  My other friend is always miserable and complaining.  Who is happier? It’s obvious.

Success!

So, which comes first? Success or Gratitude? I’m sure you can see that gratitude comes first.  Be grateful today for the little (and big!) things in your life.  Consider yourself lucky to be alive and able to do what you can do. Enjoy your success by being grateful!

Three Ways to Achieving The Gratitude Attitude

0
838 days
by in Uncategorized

rose“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” Alphonse Carr certainly had the right attitude about life. There are times in my life that I have found myself moaning about something in my life for which I should be grateful. It is possible to discover the gratitude attitude instead.
1. Be present. It’s a beautiful season, here in East Tennessee. The leaves are changing; the air is crisp. I had not noticed ANY of this until this week, when I finally slowed down and took it all in.
2. Say thanks. Every day I notice how little our society says “thank you” anymore. It seems we have a sense of “entitlement.” No one owes us anything. Nothing. We should be grateful to others for any kindness they show us.
3. Be grateful.  List everything for which you should be grateful. I’m grateful for my family and friends, for God’s love and generosity towards me, and many other reasons. Sometimes when something is bothering me, I focus on that and get unhappy. I’ve been accused of being a Pollyanna (thanks, Kate!), but in reality, I have had some rough times. Really rough times. I just have chosen to focus on what is right in my life. Does that mean I never get discouraged, that I never get down? Quite the contrary! I can complain with the best of them. I have just noticed that I am happier (and my family and friends are happier) when I focus on the positive. Nothing may inherently change about the situation, but my attitude will make a big difference.

Some people argue that a positive attitude does not help; I disagree, because I have lived both ways.  Being positive is infinitely better.

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