Gratitude is a beautiful word, and so is the effect of gratitude. Being grateful is something that our grannies often told us to be mindful of, remember the words, ‘count your blessings’? Maybe, they knew the power of being grateful. Studies show that it makes people healthier by strengthening their resilience, increasing energy, decreasing blood pressure, and enhancing sleep. It has also been found to impact our inner well-being by increasing self-esteem and empathy. Being thankful also strengthens your relationships and makes you feel more connected.
Maybe it’s time we revisit what our grannies taught us.
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Nurturing gratitude through meditation
A drop of water on a hot plate takes little time to disappear. It makes some noise, and it evaporates. Gratitude in our life seems to disappear even faster. We seem to forget how much we have grown, how much we have received. The mind seeks more and more. And in every wanting of more and more, it forgets the past very easily. Everyone is grateful, but for the moment and then it is finished. When gratitude in you stays, that very gratitude flows out of as grace.
- Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Despite our granny’s good-intended commandment and the benefits science has shown, for many of us, gratitude remains a sometimes-used virtue. And when we do feel grateful, the feeling fizzles immediately in the other direction, showing our helpless inability to hold it any longer than a few minutes.
But, what if we could nurture the feeling of gratitude consciously? Meditation is a natural way to foster gratitude consciously. When gratitude is nurtured, the feeling of abundance follows. So, how is meditation for gratitude and abundance connected? How does meditation kindle gratitude in us?
Stop! Make way for gratitude
Our restless minds are trained to jump from one desire to another. This leaves no time for us to pause and take notice of the plentiful gifts the universe has bestowed upon us. Meditation helps bring this much-needed peaceful pause. When we are at peace, we are naturally able to appreciate more of what life has offered us.
Say goodbye to complaints
Gratitude runs away from a complaining mind. The practice of meditation increases our prana (life energy), generating happy hormones and sending negative tendencies like complaining off in a tizzy.
You can even practice this guided meditation that helps foster contentment.
Enhances your perception
Our narrow perception of the world restricts our mind to petty things which make us cringe. But, what if we could enhance our perception in a way that it holds a view of the larger universe?
Regular practice of gratitude meditation coupled with reading and gathering knowledge widens our perception. We behold the world from a bigger frame in which our petty issues no longer remain as seriously etched in our mind. The awareness of the magnanimity of our universe leaves us with nothing but gratitude.
Based on inputs by Seema Thanedar, Faculty, The Art of Living
