Practical Spirituality: The Power of Gratitude

By Rev. Marla Sanderson

Gratitude isn’t just a nicey-nice idea dreamed up by some holier-than-thou person to make you feel unworthy. It’s the power that will perpetuate more and more good things in your life.

Your consciousness creates your world, and your beliefs, thoughts, habits, opinions, attitudes, and outlook make up your consciousness. A few other things—like feelings, character, past experience, etc., have an effect as well. All of this works together to create the life you live.

You attract certain conditions, situations, and people into your life based on the creative energy you put out. Good friends, opportunity, loving partners, and wonderful serendipitous events are drawn to those who have a grateful attitude.

Said another way, consciousness precedes everything. Gratitude will fill you with the consciousness of that which you desire rather than the consciousness of that which you lack. It says “I have,” not “I need.” It’s impossible to be grateful and fearful at the same time.

The Law of Increase assures us that whatever you are grateful for will multiply. In fact, anything you think about will increase, so gratitude is a solid and positive foundation.
Gratitude sweetens the creative energy, and it’s actually fun to develop a habit of being grateful for everything around you. Notice the good things in your life. Appreciate the bed you sleep in, the roads you travel, the meal you just ate, the car you drive—or that you have feet to walk. Notice the beauty around you—the blue sky, the green trees, the sparkling color of that red light that makes the road safe for you to drive.

You can develop a practice of appreciating and being grateful for whatever comes your way. Anything can be a gift. It could be an intuitive message, a lesson, or a prompting to raise your expectations.

A faltering relationship might have a growth lesson or be a placeholder while things get lined up for that special someone. A silly error on your part could save you from being hired for a miserable job.

Is it a blessing or is it a curse? You get to decide.

Life always tends toward something greater. When people say “go with the flow” this is the Flow they’re talking about. But your belief is powerful, and you can negate this tendency in your own life if you’re not careful.

Whatever happens, you have the power to call it good or bad. Since the direction of your thoughts will either create something better or something worse, whatever you think about will increase. What follows, then, is up to you. Try being grateful when some seeming negative thing comes out of the blue by declaring that something good will come from this.

Expect it. Look for it.

And it always does. And that’s something else to be grateful for!

Marla Sanderson has been a student of spiritual practice for more than 35 years. She began as Assistant Director of The Next Step, a psychic and spiritual community in a New Mexico ghost town. As workshop leader, teacher, practitioner, and minister, she has led relationship and personal growth workshops, taught psychic development and meditation, Living Love, and the Science of Mind. Marla is available for workshops and speaking engagements. She recently founded the New Thought Center for Creative Living. www.newthoughtctr.org

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