Why Be Grateful?

To counter the ego’s attraction for the dark and the heavy, we need good reasons for living a grateful life. Then, when fate seems loaded against us, we can exit from the garden of despair and enter one full of abundance. These rational arguments for a thankful mind and a grateful heart are like sentries guarding the gate into the city, allowing in only those who come in peace.

The foremost reason says gratitude will open all doors, whereas ingratitude will prompt them to close. We teach this simple truth to young children, explaining that when they say, “Thank you”, the giving person will be happy and more likely to keep showing love. In contrast, ungratefulness will eventually turn away most people.

As the child grows, awareness comes that true gratitude, shining out from a joyful heart, does not expect rewards for its presence. And yet rewards – if we can call them that –do come. It is well known amongst gardeners that words of love and gratitude to plants will increase the size of the harvest. In contrast, a negative attitude interferes with natural growth. In the same way, a thankful mind and a grateful heart will enhance, and not inhibit, the in-flow of returns from good deeds we carried out in the past.

Before going on, we can implant this aspect of gratitude, deep in the subconscious mind. To do this we use an affirmation, and you repeat it to yourself as often as you like. The words are: “Thank you. Thank you. My grateful heart keeps open the doors to my earthly rewards.”

If you write the words on a small card and carry it with you, you’ll find it easy to practise more often.