Gratitude offers inner joy and abundance in a world full of cynicism and fear. It will open you up to the vastness that is inside of you and show you all that you need you already have. It removes the emotional issues that you carry and turns them into a path towards joy. Gratitude shows you that you have enough, in fact you have everything and there is nothing to fear. Rather than letting your mind run with the things that have gone wrong during the day, gratitude will allow you to see all the good and all the positives that you have. And in seeing all that you possess you will want to share it around. No one who is happy wants to keep it to themselves. How much happier will you be and those whom you affect.

So, no matter what is happening in your life there are always things to appreciate, that will lift your spirits, rather like the glass half full exercise, life is a matter of perspective. The deeper you look into your life for the smallest things to be grateful for, the more you will see and marvel at. The more you marvel at the more miraculous everything becomes. The more love you will be able to feel being sent your way.

What is gratitude?

The following is a quote from a 17 year old girl that survived an earthquake when she was 11 years old;

“Many people perceive an earthquake as something negative as it destroys so many lives. I lived through an earthquake whilst on holiday, at the age of 11, where I lost my grandparents, mum, siblings and friends and refused to be one of those negative people. The earthquake taught me so much; how to hurt and cry, be thankful and strong.

I thanked God every day for letting me experience the love of those I lost and I refused to say, 'if only', and to regret. The earthquake taught me to be strong and made me feel like I was ready for everything and made me more determined to make my family – past and present – proud of me. Instead of looking at my life in a ‘the glass is half empty’ sort of way, I thanked God as I still had my father, and a large amount of family members and friends surrounding my father and myself, supporting us in every possible way.

Some may view my loss as a great sadness and fell pity. But it is neither one of those things, because I believe that everything happens for a reason. What could have easily been the worst day of my life was actually one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Of course, there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about or miss my family, but I refuse to view life negatively. 

I chose to share my experience because I believe that life is extremely precious and we should savour every single moment of it, for time is the only thing we cannot take back, and we shouldn’t live to regret one thing. My understanding of the word ‘family’ has deepened and I express my love for my family and friends at every opportunity. My philosophy of life since the age of 11 has been that life does go on and that we should live life to the fullest without any regrets.

And so, in conclusion to the question, ‘what I believe to be the greatest importance?’ - the value of life.”

Gratitude is noticing how much worse off others are and appreciating and being thankful for our own lives, in comparison.