We find ourselves at the close of another year. And, as I do every December, I want to share my thoughts on peace and joy for the future. Our world and country are in the midst of a lot of strife, disruption, and change. However, I have to think that kindness and joy always win over hate and anger. So, for my closing message for this year, I decided to focus on happiness and joy. It’s my feeling that if we all nurture what drives happiness in our lives, we will be more patient and kind to each other. So, what determines happiness? That answer is simple. Gratitude is the key to happiness.
As children, many of us are told fables so we can learn life’s lessons. One of the fables that come to mind for gratitude is Aesop’s “Androcles and the Lion.” In that story, Androcles is a slave who escaped, and in the forest, he comes upon a lion. At that moment, the lion is suffering great pain with a thorn stuck deep in his paw. Androcles does the compassionate thing and takes the thorn out of the lion’s paw. Later in the fable, both Androcles and the lion get captured. The order comes down that Androcles be “thrown to the lion.” Once the two face each other again, and as hungry as the lion is, he does not eat Androcles. Instead, the lion greets his friend with licks of gratitude. When the Emperor sees what transpires, he sets them free.
What is a life of gratitude?
We all know what gratitude is, but for some reason, many haven’t internalized the meaning. Yet, gratitude is the key to happiness and joy. And, as a result, if we practiced it daily, we would find our lives become better. Sure, we still face whatever challenges exist in our lives. Gratitude and happiness do not have to do with unrealistic ideas. As a result, we still have to get up and go to work. We still have to pay our bills. And we still have to tend to whatever needs to get done in our lives.
However, when we choose to live a life of thankfulness, our perspectives change. And, this singular approach to personal development is almost like magic. One of the thought leaders of living a happy life is Leo Babauta, who blogs in Zen Habits. He writes that living a life of gratitude:
- Reminds you about the positive things in your world.
- Thankfulness helps change bad things into good ones.
- Gratefulness reminds you of what’s essential in life.
- And, being thankful is a reminder to thank others (leading to a better life for all of us).
As a result of living a life of gratitude, your positivity will bring you happiness and joy. How do I know? Trust me. On this, I know. And it will.
How to develop the foundational skill for happiness and joy
Now that you have a deeper understanding of why gratitude is the key to joy, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can cultivate gratitude in your life.
Create a thankfulness morning ritual
You want to start every morning in a good place. In other words, you want to set the tone for the next 24 hours. And, you have a choice to decide that you want to be frustrated, or that you want to cultivate gratitude. So, the top thing to do each morning is to create a morning ritual. For me, I wake up very early—before sunrise. It gives me the space for quiet and appreciation for the day ahead. Whatever you decide to do each morning, remember to be grateful that you are awake and alive to see another day.
Every day, think of doing something special for someone else
It is true what they say about giving being joyful. Another way to live thankfully, which increases your happiness and joy, is to give to others. In other words, every day, think of paying it forward. We know that Americans are generous people. I would say we’re some of the most generous people in the world. So, discover more happiness in your life by doing something good for someone else, every day. Paying it forward with a random act of kindness doesn’t have to involve grand gestures. It can be as simple as bringing a cup of coffee to a work colleague who had a tough moment. If you would like to get inspired about how to do something good for someone else, take a look at these 70 ideas. Then, choose to act daily.
Find the power of thankfulness in the challenges of your life
Despite what we may see on our social media feeds, no one lives a perfect life. Every person is dealing with their struggles. For instance, it can be a family member or friend dealing with a life-threatening disease. Or, it can be financial troubles or a work environment that they’d like to leave. Still, in every challenge, there is grace and gratitude. And yes, even in the face of death, gratitude exists. Just the other day, I heard the story of how one man is dying of cancer, and he had a falling out with his best friend. But, as his days drew to a close, he wanted to see his old friend. They recently met, and it was as if nothing had ever transpired between them. They thanked each other for decades of friendship. So, yes, even in the most challenging moments of life, gratitude is present.
As the year draws to a close, I wish you and your loved one’s happiness and joy. Make it a point to remember that gratitude is the key to happiness and joy. I think that the more of us that practice gratitude in our lives, the better 2020 will be for each of us, our country, and the world.
© 2019 Wayne Elsey. All Rights Reserved.