Appreciation and Nurture

Many appreciate only after loss.  But perhaps it is instead that we frequently lose, that which we did not appreciate.  

The Part 2 of “The How To’s of Daily Gratitude” clarifies another common Gratitude misconception.

Misconception 4. Gratitude and contentment means we do not work for improvements, and are deaf to problems.

Actual:   The inverse is more the norm.

Learning about Our Blessings

Interest.  True Gratitude means appreciation and interest for how things work.  Deeply grateful people are frequently more aware and alert to issues, simply because they do not take daily blessings for granted.  They know that hard work, sacrifice and even “chance” was required for the daily.

Deep gratitude knows how precious the beautiful are, asks who or what made it happen, how did it happen, how can giving back be done, and if sharing and longevity can be encouraged?

Nurturing and Protecting Green Shoots

Nurture and Protect.  Where possible, deeply grateful people take reasonable (not excessive) steps to nurture and protect blessings.  They leave less to chance, but do not overdo in detriment of other loves.  Deeply grateful people do not “enjoy and forget”, nor squander love, friendships, wealth or resources.  They appreciate and know they should use their gifts well ,and look for the best outcome possible.

Hence, other conditions equal, deep gratitude makes people more alert to real issues, more nurturing and active in solution than others .

Shoots Growing into Trees Through Nurture and Time

Use it or lose it.  On the point of working for improvements, the Grateful similarly do not squander ability and opportunity.  Gratitude for our abilities and opportunities spurs us to work towards our potential, and to give back to our loved ones and others while doing so.  Hence, a truly grateful person is more likely to work for reasonable improvements than a less attuned person.  Furthermore, the bonus joy of working on our purpose in view of our abilities and resources, is no less than that of working for any want.

Conclusion

We should strive to be deeply grateful.  Daily Gratitude, understanding, nurturing, protecting, improving.   To nurture our blessings, to improve and to work for the best outcome.  

In short, True Gratitude is a virtuous cycle of “Appreciation and Nurture, Nurture and Appreciation”!

Thank you for reading and/or sharing your views!

Previous Post

Misconception 1: Reason for Gratitude – I have no reason to be grateful
Misconception 2. Boredom – Grateful people lead boring monotonous lives
Misconception 3. Gratitude is a Feeling – Either, I feel it or I do not

For future posts.

Misconception 5. With Gratitude, I will never feel negative, anxious, sad etc and have no wants.

Image Credits: Clayton Sieg, Stephen Wolfe, Magnus Franklin, Gastavo Devito

The How-To’s of Daily Gratitude

Who achieves Gratitude, reaps rewards.  Satisfied with blessings, the grateful are predisposed to joy, and direct less resource or effort in upkeep.

While interdependence customarily necessitates reciprocity, Gratitude is very much a personal choice.  

The How-To’s of Gratitude

A list of clarifications is compiled below. 

Misconception 1: I have No reason to be Grateful

Actual: There are great much we take for granted: many already won the lottery!  Food, water, shelter etc and the chance to grow.  We can be mostly happy if we count our blessings.  Surplus, improving and giving back are bonuses!  

Other reasons for Gratitude are practical.  The grateful spend and risk less for the same level of bliss.  They have daily sources of happiness, and are able to focus on the important.

Misconception 2. Boredom – Grateful people lead boring monotonous lives

Actual: Gratitude endows a zest for life.  Grateful people appreciate the great beauty and opportunity present that others are too busy, fearful, anxious, angry or sad to notice.  Life is ever-changing and brings new beauty and lessons every day.  New friends, old friends, changing seasons, bustle or quiet, daily encounters with nature, a myriad of constant change.

Essentially, grateful people are more appreciative, and the beauty that they experience is within easy reach.

Misconception 3.  Gratitude is a Feeling –  Either, I feel it or I do not.

Actual:  Granted, Gratitude is a feeling, but daily Gratitude is not just the “tactless” extension of the emotional.  Like a baby learning to walk, we need to develop a degree of understanding, “strength and dexterity” to unlock daily Gratitude.

Understanding. A deeper understanding (of things we take for granted brings greater appreciation.  A deeper understanding of how Gratitude works helps maintain gratefulness, and avoids excessive negative emotions that overwhelm reasonable Gratitude and happiness.

Strength and Dexterity. Practice makes perfect.  The longer we stay grateful, the easier daily Gratitude will be.

Some actions we can take:

a. Taking time to appreciate our blessings is a way to help us enjoy and engage with the beautiful and important.  Spending and appreciating happy time with family, friends and things we love etc. Writing and re-reading Gratitude journals can also help some remind  themselves of the beautiful and important..

b. Ignoring or isolating the irrelevant (the unpleasant but transient; excessive wants) keeps the irrelevant fleeting.

c. Humour, learning from the experiences of others, finding inspiration, avoiding (emotional) situations like being tired and late in the morning due to late nights etc are just some of a multitude of ways to help keep us sane enough to smell the flowers along the way.

Thanks for reading and/or sharing your views.

P.S.: Above post edited for clarity.

Claims and clarifications 4 & 5 in a future post –

Misconception 4. Gratitude and basic contentment means grateful people do not work for improvements, and are deaf to problems.

Misconception 5. With Gratitude, I will never feel negative, anxious, sad and have no wants.

Image Credits: Gustavo Devito, Diego Torres, Camdiluv,

Desiderata

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.”

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”

1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann.

Last read at Laurel’s Blog, Laurel’s Reflection.

Image Credits : Stocksnap, Alessandro Cani, More alive via photopin (license)