Effortless Gratitude

We've all heard it before: "Be grateful for what you have."

But why do we often find ourselves grumbling about our circumstances instead?

Are we inherently self-centered beings, doomed to fight an uphill battle against our negative thoughts?

Perhaps gratitude isn't about forcing ourselves to be thankful, but about recognizing the abundance already present in our lives.

Let’s take a look at this Sufi Comic:

Art by Charbak Dipta

Be grateful to God, for any who is grateful does so to the profit of his own soul (Quran 31:12)

Gratitude is not about forcing ourselves to appreciate things; it's about opening our eyes to the incredible value of everything around us.

Here's a thought that might shift your perspective: everything we have is a gift.

Yes, you read that right. Everything.

Think about it:

• The warmth of the sun on your skin

• The cool water that quenches your thirst

• The body that carries you through life

• The earth that provides your food

• The parents who brought you into this world

• Your very existence on this beautiful planet

Did we earn any of these things? Did we do anything to deserve them?

They're all gifts, freely given.

But What About Our Achievements?

Now, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute! What about the things I've worked hard for?" It's a fair question. But let's dig a little deeper:

• The money you earn comes from your talents... which are a gift.

• The skills you've developed come from your mind... which is a gift.

• The choices you make are shaped by your experiences and the guidance of others... all gifts in your life.

When we truly internalize this, gratitude stops being a chore and becomes our natural state of being. With this perpsective, something beautiful happens:

1. We stop clutching tightly to what we have, realizing it was never "ours" to begin with. Everything we have is a “trust” that we have to find the best use for.

2. We feel a natural urge to express our gratitude.

3. Our work becomes a gift we offer to the world, rather than a means to hoard for ourselves.

The goal isn't to force yourself to feel grateful. It's to open your eyes to the abundance of gifts already present in your life.

As we shift our perspective, we might find that gratitude isn't something we do – it's a natural state of being.