The Magical Power of Gratitude and Saying 'Thank You!'

My story is a perfect example of what life is like when a person is ignorant of gratitude, and what happens when you make gratitude a part of your life.

The Enchanting Effect of Expressing Gratitude and Saying 'Thank You!'

If I had been asked six years ago if I was a grateful person, I would have answered yes, for sure I'm a grateful person. I said thank you when I received a gift, when someone opened a door for me, or when a person did something for me. The truth is, I was not a grateful person at all. I did not know what being truly grateful meant, and just saying the words "thank you" on the odd occasion certainly did not make me a grateful person. My life without gratitude was pretty challenging. I was in debt, and it was increasing a little bit more every month. I worked really hard, but my finances never improved. In trying to keep up with the mounting debt and obligations, I was living with a continuous undercurrent of stress. My relationships seemed to swing unpredictably, and I never seemed to have enough time for each person. While I was what would be termed healthy, I felt exhausted at the end of each day, and I always got my fair share of colds and the latest illnesses going around each season.

I had moments of happiness when I went out with friends or when I went on vacation, but then the reality of having to work harder to pay for those pleasures would sweep over me. I was not living; I was surviving from day to day and from paycheck to paycheck. I would no sooner solve one life problem than more problems would appear. But then something happened that would change everything in my life from that day forward. I discovered a secret about life, and as a result of my discovery, one of the things I began to do was practice gratitude each day, to say “thank you!” more. As a result of this, everything in my life changed, and the more I practiced gratitude, the more miraculous were the results.

The Transformation Through Gratitude

My life truly became magical. For the first time in my life, I became debt-free, and shortly after that, I had all the money I needed to do whatever I wanted. Problems in my relationships, work, and health disappeared, and instead of facing daily obstacles, my days became filled with one good thing after another. My health and energy increased dramatically, and I felt better than I had in my twenties. My relationships became much more meaningful, and I enjoyed more good times with my family and friends in just a few months than I had in all the previous years. More than anything else, I felt happier than I thought it was possible to feel. I was blissfully happy, the happiest I had ever been.

Gratitude changed me, and my whole life magically changed. And is my life magical? You can tell right now how much you have actually used gratitude in your life. Just take a look at all of the major areas in your life: money, health, happiness, career, home, and relationships. The areas of your life that are abundant and wonderful are where I have used gratitude and are experiencing the magic as a result. Any areas that are not abundant and wonderful are due to a lack of gratitude. When you are not grateful, you cannot receive more in return. You have stopped the magic from continuing in your life. To receive, you have to give. It's the law; gratitude is giving thanks, and without it, you cut yourself off from the magic and from receiving everything you want in life. The bottom line of ungratefulness is that when we are not grateful, we take things in our life for granted. When we take things for granted, we are unintentionally taking from ourselves. The law of attraction says that like attracts like, so if we take something for granted, we will be taken from as a result.

Conclusion: The Essential Practice of Gratitude

In conclusion: remember whoever does not have gratitude, even what he or she has will be taken from him or her. Most certainly you have been grateful at various times in your life, but to see the magic and cause a radical change to your current circumstances, you have to practice gratitude and make it your new way of life. Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. To bring forth magic, a person must first say the magic words like “thank you!”. Bringing forth magic from gratitude works in the same way, and first, you must say the magic words: thank you. I cannot begin to tell you how important the words thank you are for your life. To live in gratitude, to experience the magic in your life, thank you must become your identity. Thank you is the bridge from where you are now to the life of your dreams.

References:

• Brown, B. (2012). The power of vulnerability: Teachings of authenticity, connection, and courage. Sounds True.
• Emmons, R. A. (2007). Thanks!: How practicing gratitude can make you happier. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Free Press.
• Lyubomirsky, S. (2007). The how of happiness: A scientific approach to getting the life you want. Penguin Press.