Gratitude is more than an attitude

An attitude of gratitude is not gratitude, because gratitude is not about attitude. It’s about a way of being.

Too often we confuse appreciation with gratitude.

Appreciation is what we express for favours or gifts, or the ease that we experience in our lives or with others.

We appreciate the absence of problems, the presence of happiness, or the good fortune of wealth, etc.

We appreciate such things because we know how much more difficult or challenging life would be without it.

Gratitude, I believe, goes beyond such acknowledgements of blessings.

Gratitude is reflected in how we nurture, protect, maintain, or leverage what makes such blessings possible.

For example, if we have the ability to create good, but we restrain ourselves because it’s not our job or our responsibility, then we’re not grateful for that ability.

That ability is merely a tool that we use in a transactional way.

Like having a car that we appreciate because it enables ease of movement, but we don’t take care of it because the thrill of driving recklessly is more important than the blessing of having a car.

By its very nature, gratitude increases the benefits and blessings of what we have and are capable of, whereas mere appreciation for it only maintains the status quo.

It may seem like a play on words, or a philosophical debate, but the moment we connect with gratitude for who we are, rather than just appreciating what we are or what we have, we’ll find opportunity to be of benefit in every sphere of our lives, rather than waiting to feel appreciated before we create the value that we’re capable of creating.

It always starts with you.

Own Your Life.

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