Gratitude

by Robert Rabbin

During a workshop this past Sunday in Sydney, a participant asked me to speak about strategies for remaining aware of our inner essence and of our loving connection to others and Life itself.

I forgot to mention “gratitude,” which has an immense power to alter our consciousness and reshape our world instantly.

In their book, Seasons of Grace, Alan Jones and John O'Neil write: “Gratitude — as conviction, practice, and discipline — is an essential nutrient, a kind of spiritual amino acid for human growth, joy, and creativity. Take away the daily experience and expression of gratitude, and life is quickly diminished. Like a weakened immune system, the spirit is left vulnerable to the diseases of cynicism, anger, low-grade depression, or at least an edgy sense of dissatisfaction. Gratitude-deprived, we suffer a relentless loss of vitality and delight. Every occasion for gratefulness is in some way a recognition that we belong to the world and to our fellow beings, that we exist in the community. Practicing gratitude can restore us to our rightful place in the world.”

In order to sincerely express gratitude, we have to stop everything we are thinking and doing and come fully into presence; we have to make deep contact with our own heart and connection with another. From this still place of open-heartedness and connection, authentic gratitude flows into the world as healing light.

There once was a monastery that was very strict. Following a vow of silence, no one was allowed to speak at all. But there was one exception to this rule. Every ten years, the monks were permitted to speak just two words. After spending his first ten years at the monastery, one monk went to the head monk. "It has been ten years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"

"Bed... hard..." said the monk.

"I see," replied the head monk.

Ten years later, the monk returned to the head monk's office. "It has been ten more years," said the head monk. "What are the two words you would like to speak?"

“Food... stinks...” said the monk.

“I see,” replied the head monk.

Yet another ten years passed and the monk once again met with the head monk who asked, "What are your two words now, after these ten years?"

“I... quit!” said the monk.

“Well, I can see why," replied the head monk. "All you ever do is complain.”

Gratitude is an attitude of mind, suffused with heart-stuff. Gratitude is a choice to look at life, to look at the things of life, the people, the circumstances, the surroundings, and look to see the beauty, the light, the point at which you and it are one. Then the looking itself dissolves into gratitude, which becomes wonderment and amazement at how incredibly precious and gorgeous life is.

©  Robert Rabbin/All rights reserved
 

Robert Rabbin is an executive advisor, keynote speaker, workshop leader, counselor, and author. He is the creator of RealTime Speaking and the co-founder of the “caring revolution” and Care Factor workshop. For contact information, please visit www.robertrabbin.com.