#22- How Gratitude Will Change Things

There are times when we get so wrapped up in our circumstances, & feel so stuck in our situation that we may forget, & not even notice, all the good in our lives.

Today’s topic is Gratitude. Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to become happy & to attract good things into our lives.

The two main benefits of living a life of gratitude are:

1. Happiness: The more you consciously notice all the positive that is coming your way, the happier you’ll be. You’ll start viewing the whole world through this positive lens & will thereby keep noticing all the great things you already have. Your whole attitude will shift to a grateful, positive one since you’ll be attracted to all the positive things in your life. This will help you get out of what I call the "Down Rut,” which most singles experience at some point or other.

2. Change of circumstances: Another enormous benefit of gratitude is that by being thankful for everything Hashem has given us, we have the power to actually change our circumstances themselves!

Imagine, for a moment, a father who has two sons whom he loves very much. He does everything for them, & buys them anything they’ll ever need.

One son is very grateful & always tells his father, “Thank you so much for giving me XYZ... It’s so thoughtful of you! I really appreciate it! Would I also be able to have ABC?” The other son, when he gets what he needs, always tells his father, “Thank you, but I also wanted DFG…” Which son would the father be more excited, & willing to give to? Obviously, the grateful one!

The same is true with us. If we are like that first son, & constantly thank Hashem for everything, even the seemingly “small” stuff, Hashem will just want to keep giving us more & more. I once heard an amazing quote that went the following: “Imagine if you would wake up in the morning with only the things that you thanked Hashem for the previous night!” Pretty scary, no?

So now that we know the importance of gratitude & the benefits of gratitude, what can we do to actually become more grateful?

Here are two ideas. A. When good happens, ask yourself, “What do I now know about the way Hashem treats me?” What does this mean about my life? Create a mantra you will use whenever you feel yourself sliding into a rut. For example-“Hashem really cares about me & loves me.” This will help keep your attitude positive, & grateful.

B. Every night, write down two reasons why you’re grateful. What is so amazing about this idea is that once you start doing it, you’ll suddenly begin to notice more and more good in your life. The more grateful you are, the happier you are, & therefore, you will not only attract more positive into your life but will also attract more positive people into your life! You will become a magnet for positivity.

So gratitude, really, is a vehicle to change ourselves, & to change our realities! It is up to us to choose to replay Hashem’s blessings in our lives instead of replaying our struggles.