ALSO	BY	LOUISE	L.	HAY
Books
Colors	&	Numbers
Empowering	Women
A	Garden	of	Thoughts:	My	Affirmation	Journal
Heal	Your	Body
Heal	Your	Body	A–Z
Heart	Thoughts
I	Can	Do	It®
Inner	Wisdom
Letters	to	Louise
Life! Reflections	on	Your	Journey
Love	Your	Body
Love	Yourself,	Heal	Your	Life	Workbook
Meditations	to	Heal	Your	Life
(also	in	a	gift	edition)	
The	Power	Is	Within	You
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	(also	in	a	gift	edition)	
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	Companion	Book
Coloring	Books/Audiocassettes	for	Children
Lulu	and	the	Ant:	A	Message	of	Love
Lulu	and	the	Dark:	Conquering	Fears
Lulu	and	Willy	the	Duck:	Learning	Mirror	Work
Audio/CD	Programs
Anger	Releasing
Cancer
Change	and	Transition
Dissolving	Barriers
Feeling	Fine	Affirmations
Forgiveness/Loving	the	Inner	Child
Heal	Your	Body	(audio	book)	
How	to	Love	Yourself
Life! Reflections	on	Your	Journey	(audio	book)	
Loving	Yourself
Meditations	for	Personal	Healing
Meditations	to	Heal	Your	Life	(audio	book)	
Morning	and	Evening	Meditations101	Power	Thoughts
Overcoming	Fears
The	Power	Is	Within	You	(audio	book)	
The	Power	of	Your	Spoken	Word
Receiving	Prosperity
Self-Esteem	Affirmations	(subliminal)	
Self	Healing
Stress-Free	Affirmations	(subliminal)	
Totality	of	Possibilities
What	I	Believe/Deep	Relaxation
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	(audio	book)	
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	Study	Course
Your	Thoughts	Create	Your	Life
DVDs
Dissolving	Barriers
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life,	the	Movie
Card	Decks
Healthy	Body	Cards
I	CAN	DO	IT
®
	Cards	(a	60-card	deck)
I	CAN	DO	IT
®
	Cards	for	
Creativity,	Forgiveness,
Health,	Job	Success,	Wealth,	Self-Esteem,	Romance,
a	Stress-Free	Life
	(each	deck	has	12	cards)
Power	Thought	Cards
Power	Thought	Sticky	Cards
Power	Thoughts	for	Teens
Wisdom	Cards
_______________________________
All	of	the	above	are	available	at	your	local
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www.hayhouse.com
®
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www.hayhouse.co.inLouise’s	Website:	
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®Copyright	©	1996	by	The	Hay	Foundation
Published	and	distributed	in	the	United	States	by:
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Edited	by:
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	Jenny	Richards
All	rights	reserved. No	part	of	this	book	may	be	reproduced	by	any
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“fair	use”	as	brief	quotations	embodied	in	articles	and	reviews	without	prior
written	permission	of	the	publisher. Library	of	Congress	Cataloging-in-Publication	Data
Hay,	Louise	L.
Gratitude	:	a	way	of	life	/	by	Louise	L.	Hay	and	friends. p.	cm. ISBN	1-56170-309-5
1. Gratitude. I. Title. BJ1533.G8H38	1996
179’.9—dc20																																																				96-22530
																																																																															CIP
ISBN	13:	978-1-56170-309-8
ISBN	10:	1-56170-309-5
14		13		12		11				21		20		19		18
1st	printing,	October	1996
18th	printing,	January	2011
Printed	in	the	United	States	of	America
To	all	the	contributors	in	this	book
—
I’m	very	grateful	to	you! CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION	BY	LOUISE	L.	HAY
Contributors	to	
Gratitude
		
Louise	L.	Hay:
	
Thanking	the	Universe
		
Joan	Z.	Borysenko,	Ph.D.:
	
Thank	God	for	What	Doesn’t	Need	Healing
		
Carolyn	A.	Bratton:
	
Grateful	Reflections
		
Lee	Carroll:
	
Patty
		
Alan	Cohen:
	
I	Love	My	Wall
		
Lee	Coit:
	
The	Gifts	That	Gratitude	Offers	Us
		
Terah	Kathryn	Collins:
	
The	Circle	of	Gratitude
		
Dr.	Tom	Costa:
	
Gratitude
—
The	Vital	Ingredient	in	Our	Lives
		
Sri	Daya	Mata:
	
Words	of	Gratitude
		
Amy	E.	Dean:
	
Gratitude	Is	Awareness
		
Dr.	Wayne	W.	Dyer:
	
Gratitude:	One	of	Life’s	Miracles
		
Nicholas	Eliopoulos:
	
The	Meaning	of	True	Gratitude
		
James	Eubanks:
	
The	Awesome	Design	of	Life
		
Sylvia	Friedman:
	
Gratitude	Feels	Good! Shakti	Gawain:
	
Being	Grateful	During	Life’s	Challenges
		
Michele	Gold:
	
Gratitude	Is	a	Sanctuary
		
Karen	M.	Haughey:
	
Gratitude:	It	Can	Make	Your	Day! Christopher	Hills,	Ph.D.:
	
An	Appreciation	of	Gratitude
		
Sharon	Huffman:
	
Gratitude:	The	Key	to	a	Happy,	Healthy,	Successful	Life
		
Laura	Archera	Huxley:
	
“Gratitude	Is	Heaven	Itself”
		
Dr.	Gerald	G.	Jampolsky/Diane	V.	Cirincione:
	
“Love	Is	the	Way	I	Walk	in
Gratitude”
		
Susan	Jeffers,	Ph.D.:
	
Noticing	the	Abundance
		
lone	Shockey	Jenson:
	
“In	Everything	Give	Thanks”		
Elizabeth	A.	Johnson:
	
Grateful	Is	Good
		
Patrice	Karst:
	
Great	Days
		
Julie	Keene:
	
Bless	It	All! Kimberly	Lockwood:
	
Gratitude:	One	of	Life’s	Most	Important	Lessons
		
Sir	John	Mason:
	
So	Many	Blessings
		
Emmett	E.	Miller,	M.D. :
	
Gratitude:	A	Healing	Attitude
		
Dan	Millman:
	
Transcendental	Gratitude
		
Mary-Margaret	Moore:
	
Falling	into	Gratitude
		
Rev. Nancy	Norman:
	
My	Own	“Gratitude	Book”
		
Robert	Odom:
	
The	Gift	of	Gratitude
		
Daniel	T.	Peralta:
	
Gratitude:	The	Natural	Expression	of	a	Loving	Heart
		
Marcia	Perkins-Reed:
	
Gratitude:	A	Lifestyle
		
John	Randolph	Price:
	
Gratitude:A	Powerful	Force
		
Rev. Michael	C.	Rann:
	
A	Shortcut	to	a	Miracle
		
Dr.	Frank	Richelieu:
	
Gratitude:	Its	Healing	Properties
		
Murray	Salem:
	
Thank	You,	God
		
Dr.	J.	Kennedy	Shultz:
	
In	All	Things	Give	Thanks
		
Ron	Scolastico,	Ph.D.:
	
The	Power	of	Gratitude
		
Bernie	S.	Siegel,	M.D. :
	
Gratitude:	A	State	of	Mind
		
Rev. Christian	Sorenson:
	
Looking	Through	the	Eyes	of	Gratitude
		
Hal	Stone,	Ph.D.,	and	Sidra	Stone,	Ph.D.:
	
The	Manifestation	of	Gratitude
		
Dr.	Sharron	Stroud:
	
Gratitude	As	a	Way	of	Being
		
Angela	Passidomo	Trafford:
	
Being	Authentic	Sets	Us	Free
		
Rama	J.	Vernon:
	
Gratitude:	A	Silent,	Unspoken	Prayer
		
Doreen	Virtue,	Ph.D.:
	
Unconditional	Gratitude
		
Stuart	Wilde:
	
Step	to	the	Infinite	Self	Within
		
Margaret	Olivia	Wolfson:
	
The	Most	Amazing	Day
__________________________________________________
		
GRATITUDE	PRAYER	BY	LOUISE	L.	HAY		
MY	OWN	THOUGHTS	ON	GRATITUDE	
INTRODUCTION
	
by	Louise	L.	Hay
I
	am	so	pleased	to	be	sharing	this	very	special	book	with	my	friends	…	and
the	world. All	of	the	profits	from	this	book	will	benefit	my	charitable
organization,	The	Hay	Foundation,	which	diligently	works	to	improve	the
quality	of	life	for	many	people,	including	those	with	AIDS,	and	battered
women. As	you	read	through	the	lovely,	inspirational	thoughts	in	this	book,	I	hope	that
you	will	take	the	time	to	think	about	all	the	things	that	you	have	to	be	grateful
for	in	
your
	life. Thanking	the	Universe
Louise	L.	Hay
Louise	L.	Hay
	
is	a	metaphysical	lecturer	and	teacher	and	the	bestselling
author	of	numerous	books,	including	YOU	CAN	HEAL	YOUR	LIFE	and
LIFE! REFLECTIONS	ON	YOUR	JOURNEY. Since	beginning	her	career	as	a
Science	of	Mind	minister	in	1981,	she	has	assisted	thousands	of	people	in
discovering	and	using	the	full	potential	of	their	own	creative	powers	for
personal	growth	and	self-healing. Louise’s	works	have	been	translated	into	29
different	languages	in	35	countries	throughout	the	world. She	is	the	owner
and	founder	of	Hay	House,	Inc.,	a	publishing	company	devoted	to
disseminating	books,	audios,	videos,	and	other	materials	that	help	heal	the
planet. I	have	noticed	that	the	Universe	loves	gratitude. The	more	grateful	you	are,
the	more	goodies	you	get. When	I	say	“goodies,”	I	don’t	mean	only	material
things. I	mean	all	the	people,	places,	and	experiences	that	make	life	so
wonderfully	worth	living. You	know	how	great	you	feel	when	your	life	is
filled	with	love	and	joy	and	health	and	creativity,	and	you	get	the	green	lights
and	the	parking	places. This	is	how	our	lives	are	meant	to	be	lived. The
Universe	is	a	generous,	abundant	giver,	and	it	likes	to	be	appreciated. Think	about	how	you	feel	when	you	give	a	friend	a	present. If	the	person
looks	at	it	and	her	face	falls,	or	she	says,	“Oh,	it’s	not	my	size,	or	not	my
color,	or	I	never	use	anything	like	that,	or	is	that	all	there	is,”	then	I	am	sure
you	will	have	little	desire	to	ever	give	her	a	present	again. However,	if	her
eyes	dance	with	delight,	and	she	is	pleased	and	thankful,	then	every	time	you
see	something	she	would	like,	you	want	to	give	it	to	her,	whether	you	actually
do	so	or	not. Gratitude	brings	more	to	be	grateful	about. It	increases	your	abundant	life. Lack	of	gratitude,	or	complaining,	brings	little	to	rejoice	about. Complainers
always	find	that	they	have	little	good	in	their	life,	or	they	do	not	enjoy	what
they	
do
	have. The	Universe	always	gives	us	what	we	believe	we	deserve.Many	of	us	have	been	raised	to	look	at	what	we	do	not	have	and	to	feel	only
lack. We	come	from	a	belief	in	scarcity	and	then	wonder	why	our	lives	are	so
empty. If	we	believe	that	“I	don’t	have,	and	I	won’t	be	happy	until	I	do…,”
then	we	are	putting	our	lives	on	hold. What	the	Universe	hears	is:	“I	don’t
have,	and	I	am	not	happy,”	and	that	is	what	you	get	more	of. For	quite	some	time	now,	I’ve	been	accepting	every	compliment	and	every
present	with:	“I	accept	with	joy	and	pleasure	and	gratitude.”	I	have	learned
that	the	Universe	loves	this	expression,	and	I	constantly	get	the	most
wonderful	presents. When	I	awaken	in	the	morning,	the	first	thing	I	do	before	I	even	open	my
eyes	is	to	thank	my	bed	for	a	good	night’s	sleep. I	am	grateful	for	the	warmth
and	comfort	it	has	given	me. From	that	beginning,	it	is	easy	to	think	of	many,
many	more	things	that	I	am	grateful	for. By	the	time	I	have	gotten	out	of	bed,
I	have	probably	expressed	gratitude	for	80	or	100	different	people,	places,
things,	and	experiences	in	my	life. This	is	a	great	way	to	start	the	day. In	the	evening,	just	before	sleep,	I	go	through	the	day,	blessing	and	being
grateful	for	each	experience. I	also	forgive	myself	if	I	feel	that	I	made	a
mistake	or	said	something	inappropriate	or	made	a	decision	that	was	not	the
best. This	exercise	fills	me	with	“warm	fuzzies,”	and	I	drift	off	to	sleep	like	a
happy	baby. We	even	want	to	be	grateful	for	the	lessons	we	have. Don’t	run	from	lessons;
they	are	little	packages	of	treasure	that	have	been	given	to	us. As	we	learn
from	them,	our	lives	change	for	the	better. I	now	rejoice	whenever	I	see
another	portion	of	the	dark	side	of	myself. I	know	that	it	means	that	I	am
ready	to	let	go	of	something	that	has	been	hindering	my	life. I	say,	“Thank
you	for	showing	me	this,	so	I	can	heal	it	and	move	on.”	So,	whether	the
lesson	is	a	“problem”	that	has	cropped	up,	or	an	opportunity	to	see	an	old,
negative	pattern	within	us	that	it	is	time	to	let	go	of,	rejoice! Let’s	spend	as	many	moments	as	we	can	every	day	being	grateful	for	all	the
good	that	is	in	our	lives. If	you	have	little	in	your	life	now,	it	will	increase. If
you	have	an	abundant	life	now,	
it
	will	increase. This	is	a	win-win	situation. You	are	happy,	and	the	Universe	is	happy. Gratitude	increases	your
abundance. Start	a	gratitude	journal. Write	something	to	be	grateful	about	each	day. On	a
daily	basis,	tell	someone	how	grateful	you	are	for	something. Tell	sales	clerks,waiters,	postal	workers,	employers	and	employees,	friends,	family,	and
perfect	strangers. Share	the	gratitude	secret. Let’s	help	make	this	a	world	of
grateful,	thankful	giving	and	receiving	…	for	everyone! Thank	God	for	What	Doesn’t	Need	Healing
Joan	Z.	Borysenko,	Ph.D.
Joan	Borysenko,	Ph.D.,
	
is	the	president	of	Mind/Body	Health	Sciences,	Inc.,
and	the	author	of	numerous	bestselling	books,	including	THE	POWER	OF
THE	MIND	TO	HEAL;	FIRE	IN	THE	SOUL;	and	MINDING	THE	BODY,
MENDING	THE	MIND. She	co-founded	and	is	a	former	director	of	the
Mind/Body	Clinic	at	New	England	Deaconess	Hospital	and	was	an	instructor
in	medicine	at	Harvard	Medical	School. Joan	is	a	cancer	cell	biologist,	a
licensed	psychologist,	and	a	yoga/	meditation	instructor. One	clear	winter’s	day,	I	decided	to	take	a	walk	in	the	tiny	Colorado
wilderness	town	where	I	live. The	sky	was	a	shade	of	azure	blue	peculiar	to
the	higher	elevations	of	the	Rockies. The	early	March	sun	poured	like	liquid
gold	through	the	limbs	of	tall	spruce,	creating	dancing	patterns	of	light	in	the
delicate	crystals	of	freshly	fallen	snow. Mountain	peaks	rose	majestically	in
sculpted	layers	of	greens	and	grays,	piercing	clouds	that	hung	like	fairy	mist
in	the	enchanted	valleys	below. Marching	resolutely	down	the	road,	I	was	all	but	blind	to	the	extraordinary
beauty. Attempting	to	relax	before	driving	down	the	mountain	to	undergo	a
breast	biopsy	at	the	local	hospital,	I	was	actually	reviewing	the	endless	menu
of	dire	medical	possibilities	that	might	materialize. As	my	mind	slid	into	well-
worn	patterns	of	awfulizing,	it	gathered	momentum. Not	only	might	my	body
be	in	mortal	danger,	but	my	life	wasn’t	working	so	well	in	other	ways	either. Not	only	did	the	glass	seem	half	empty,	but	the	remaining	water	appeared
downright	polluted! My	youngest	son,	although	nearly	22,	was	terribly	upset	by	the	recent
separation	of	my	husband	of	nearly	24	years	and	myself. My	fault,	of	course. I	felt	overworked	and	burned	out. Also	my	fault. What	kind	of	crazy	life	had	I
managed	to	create—especially	when	I	am	supposed	to	be	some	kind	of	role
model	for	others? Guilt,	fear,	anger,	and	disappointment	joined	the	cacophony
of	inner	voices	accompanying	me	down	the	road	on	my	attempt	at	a	mindfulrelaxation	walk. I	was	rudely	awakened	from	my	toxic	reverie	by	a	searing	pain	in	my
hindquarters. Perfectly	focused	on	my	well-rehearsed	mental	movies,	I	had
been	completely	unaware	of	the	speedy	approach	of	a	large	German	shepherd
who	bounded	up	and	bit	me	unceremoniously	on	the	behind. My	mental
movie	department	immediately	began	to	run	a	feature	film	starring	my	bare
buttocks	being	sutured	in	the	Boulder	Community	Hospital	emergency	room,
while	I	was	simultaneously	being	injected	with	huge	doses	of	tetanus	toxoid
and	rabies	vaccine. I	would,	no	doubt,	miss	my	biopsy	and	have	to	undergo
that	second	round	of	medical	torture	on	another	day. I	reached	down	into	my	pants	expecting	to	encounter	a	sticky	mass	of	blood. Strangely,	my	hand	emerged	perfectly	clean. Energized	by	sudden	hope,	I
slipped	behind	a	bush	and	pulled	my	pants	down. While	a	large	red	welt,
framed	by	the	impression	of	a	perfect	set	of	canine	teeth,	graced	my	derrière,
the	skin	was	magically	unbroken. With	a	yelp	of	pure	joy,	I	pulled	up	my
pants	and	burst	from	the	bushes	with	a	whoop	of	uncensored	gratitude. No
emergency	room. No	tetanus	shots. No	slow	death	from	rabies. I	could	get	to
the	biopsy	on	time. Lucky	me. Suddenly,	the	entire	scene	seemed	hilariously	funny. The	dog	was
transformed	from	a	nasty	cur	to	a	Divine	Messenger. “Wake	up,	you	silly
human! Feel	the	sun	on	your	face	and	the	wind	in	your	hair. You	are	alive,
and	the	world	is	beautiful. The	mountains	are	alive,	and	the	day	is	young. There	are	endless	possibilities	to	experience	and	worlds	to	create.”
The	veil	of	forgetfulness	dropped	from	my	eyes,	and	I	suddenly	found	myself
overwhelmed	with	gratitude	for	the	gift	of	life. Every	breath	was	precious. Every	step	was	a	miracle. The	stresses	I	had	obsessed	about	seemed	like
cleverly	constructed	challenges	that	beckoned	me	to	create	life	more
mindfully	and	authentically. Peace	settled	around	me	like	a	down	quilt,	and	I
felt	held	by	unseen	arms. Gratitude	is	indeed	like	a	gearshift	that	can	move	our	mental	mechanism	from
obsession	to	peacefulness,	from	stuckness	to	creativity,	from	fear	to	love. The
ability	to	relax	and	be	mindfully	present	in	the	moment	comes	naturally	when
we	are	grateful. One	of	the	most	delightful	aspects	of	my	Jewish	heritage	is
the	saying	of	Brachot,	blessings	or	prayers	of	thanksgiving	throughout	the
day. These	are	praises	of	God	for	creating	a	world	of	infinite	wonder	and
possibility. There	is	a	blessing	upon	seeing	a	star	or	a	rainbow. There	is	ablessing	for	the	gifts	of	food,	wine,	and	water. There	is	even	a	blessing	upon
going	to	the	bathroom	for	internal	organs	that	function	so	well! I	like	to	add
impromptu	blessings	throughout	the	day. Thanks	to	the	Infinite	Creative
Universe,	the	Unknown	Mystery	we	call	God,	for	creating	German	shepherds
to	wake	us	up	at	the	most	unlikely	times! I	once	attended	a	Charismatic	Catholic	healing	service	during	which	the	priest
led	us	in	a	prayer	of	gratitude	for	all	the	things	in	our	life	that	did	not	need
healing. Thank	God	the	German	shepherd	didn’t	break	the	skin. Thank	God
the	breast	biopsy	was	negative. Thank	God	I	am	healthy	and	able	to
remember—at	least	from	time	to	time—that	gratitude	is	the	key	to	peace,	joy,
and	creative	choice. May	you	also	be	blessed	with	the	gift	of	remembering. Take	a	moment	tonight,	before	you	go	to	bed,	and	give	thanks	for	five	things
in	your	life	that	don’t	need	healing. Throughout	the	day,	when	you	find
yourself	stuck	in	awfulizing	about	the	things	that	seem	wrong,	remember	to
say	a	prayer	of	gratitude	for	all	the	things	that	are	right. Grateful	Reflections
Carolyn	A.	Bratton
Carolyn	A.	Bratton
	
is	the	co-founder	of	Lifestream	Center
—
Roanoke,
Virginia’s	only	holistic	healing	center;	and	she	is	an	ordained	minister	as
well. A	graduate	of	two	of	Louise	Hay’s	Intensive	Training	Programs,	for
several	years	Carolyn	has	been	conducting	workshops	and	seminars	in	both
the	United	States	and	abroad	based	on	Louise	Hay’s	book	YOU	CAN	HEAL
YOUR	LIFE	and	James	Redfield’s	bestseller	THE	CELESTINE	PROPHECY. When	I	look	back	on	my	life	and	see	how	incredibly	it	has	unfolded,	with	all
of	the	lessons	I	have	been	taught	by	the	Masters	who	have	helped	me	look	at
the	dark	corners	of	my	life,	I	am	in	awe	at	this	wonderful	thing	called	Life! So,	yes,	I	am	indeed	grateful,	at	some	times	more	than	others,	but
nevertheless,	I	am	filled	with	humbling	gratitude	that	I	have	the	opportunity
to	be	acting	out	my	life	at	this	most	auspicious	time	in	the	history	of	our
planet. Gratitude	is	something	that	is	so	important	to	one’s	quality	of	life. For	me,	I
know	that	when	I	am	in	gratitude,	my	channel	is	wide	open	for	any	and	all
good	that	could	make	its	way	to	me. The	opposite	is	also	true. If	nothing	is
happening	in	my	life,	all	I	have	to	do	is	check	the	gratitude	barometer,	and
there	it	is. A	closed	heart	renders	a	closed	lifeline	to	the	Source	of	all
happiness,	joy,	and	bliss. It	has	become	my	practice	to	operate	in	the	“act	as	if”	mode—that	is,	I	act	as
if	I	am	grateful	even	when	I	am	finding	it	difficult	to	muster	up	the	fuzzy
feeling	that	just	naturally	comes	when	one	is	thankful	and	grateful. And
before	too	long,	I	AM	grateful! I	have	found	that	it	is	an	interesting	ritual	to	sing	a	tune	to	all	the	things	I	am
grateful	for	when	I	am	riding	in	my	car. I	begin	my	song	with	a	simple	thank
you	for	whatever,	and	that	whatever	seems	to	unclog	an	endless	supply	of
things	that	I	am	grateful	for. This	practice	is	especially	uplifting	if	I	am	not	ina	particularly	grateful	mood. The	tune	or	ditty	becomes	quite	creative,	and
soon	I	find	that	I	am	smiling	at	myself,	which,	by	the	way,	is	a	great	way	to
nurture	and	amuse	your	own	best	friend—YOU! Another	thing	I	love	to	do	is	to	say	thank	you! And	I	would	add	to	that	the
word	
yes! As	Louise	Hay	says	in	her	wonderful	affirmation,	“I	say	YES	to
Life,	and	Life	says	YES	to	me!”	With	that	kind	of	chemistry	floating	around
in	your	head,	your	body,	the	ethers—emanating	from	you	and	touching
everyone	and	everything—it’s	bound	to	come	back	to	you,	and	come	back
multiplied! We	sometimes	forget	that	we	are	God-beings,	and	that	the	intent	of	the
Creator	was	for	us	to	enjoy	this	thing	called	Life! Our	lessons	can	be	filled
with	joy	instead	of	so	much	pain,	and	when	our	attitude	comes	from	a	loving,
grateful,	and	appreciative	place	of	the	heart,	the	Masters	and	the	Angels	and
the	Guides	can	assist	us	even	more. When	we	ask	for	their	assistance,	we	can
be	ever	so	grateful	for	this	Planetary	Hierarchy	that	is	more	than	willing	to
help	us. It	is	then	that	we	realize	that	we	are	never	alone	on	our	path. I	find	that	the	more	willing	I	am	to	be	grateful	for	the	small	things	in	my	life,
the	bigger	stuff	just	seems	to	show	up	from	unexpected	sources,	and	I	am
constantly	looking	forward	to	each	day	with	all	of	the	surprises	that	keep
coming	my	way! So,	if	your	life	is	not	working	for	you	right	now,	it	could	be	because	that
gratitude	attitude	needs	a	loving	adjustment. Decree	and	affirm	that	you	are
willing	to	be	more	grateful,	and	watch	Life’s	gifts	come	to	you. Also,	be	more
willing	to	be	giving. The	more	grateful	you	are,	the	more	good	will	come	to
you;	the	more	you	give,	the	more	you	receive. Life—how	good	it	is! And	so	it	is. And	so	be	it! Patty
Lee	Carroll
Lee	Carroll
	
is	the	author	of	the	KRYON	book	series,	a	love-filled	suite	of
works	that	speak	of	the	good	news	for	planet	Earth. Found	in	metaphysical
stores	all	over	the	planet,	the	books	have	become	a	source	for	renewed	hope
as	we	move	into	the	uncertainty	of	the	next	millennium. He	is	the	co-author	of
THE	INDIGO	CHILDREN. There	was	no	hope,	I	was	told. It	was	only	a	matter	of	time	before	the	hand	of
God	reached	out	to	take	the	small	remaining	spark	of	life	from	my
deteriorating	body. Each	day	I	lay	in	the	same	spot	staring	at	the	wall	next	to
me…waiting	for	Patty. She	arrived	at	about	3:00	
P.M.
	each	day	to	read	to	me,
hold	my	hand,	wipe	my	brow,	and	speak	kind	words	of	reassurance. She	left
at	6:00	
P.M.
	Each	night	I	had	to	pretend	it	was	okay	for	her	to	go,	and	then	try
to	figure	out	why	I	was	being	served	dinner	yet	again—a	seeming	waste	of
food. Patty	knew	I	was	dying,	and	yet	her	eyes	sparkled	with	hope,	and	her	words
were	always	cheerful. Even	in	the	midst	of	my	most	painful	times,	she	smiled
and	winked	that	special	wink	that	said,	“Stop	all	this	self-pity	stuff,	and	come
up	to	my	level	to	meet	me.”	Oddly	enough,	I	did—each	time. It	wasn’t	hard
to	do	when	I	had	a	vibrant	human	being	in	front	of	me	who	cared	about	my
last	days…like	it	mattered. I	dreaded	the	visiting	relatives—the	awkward
silence,	the	downcast	eyes,	and	the	sorrow	they	broadcast	every	time	they
visited. It	was	more	than	I	could	take. Patty	was	different. She	wasn’t	a	trained	nurse	or	even	one	of	those	special	workers	who	went	to
classes	to	aid	the	terminally	ill.	She	was	simply	a	regular	volunteer,	but	one
who	had	decided	to	spend	each	afternoon	of	her	life	with	a	book	in	her	hand
reading	to	me. She	loved	books,	and	I	can	remember	looking	at	her	for	hours,
seemingly	without	even	blinking	as	she	read. She	would	read	all	the	stories	I
loved	to	hear	with	great	expression. Sometimes	she	would	cry	or	laugh	to
illustrate	the	story	better. Every	so	often	she	would	look	up	to	see	if	I	was	stillwith	her	or	if	I	needed	anything. I	never	did. Her	presence	was	enough	to	send
the	pain	and	fear	fleeing	into	a	special	hiding	spot	for	the	moments	that	she
sat	by	my	side. The	mornings	were	the	worst. Again	I	was	served	a	meal,	much	to	my
disgust. Why	bother? Sometimes	my	body	would	feel	like	it	was	being	eaten
from	the	inside	out,	with	all	the	accompanying	pain	that	went	with	that	vision. Sometimes	I	begged	to	be	released	from	what	I	knew	was	coming. I	prayed	to
whoever	would	listen,	crying	out	that	I	was	weary	of	all	this	trouble	and
expense…then	Patty	would	show	up,	and	everything	would	change. We	never
spoke	of	my	impending	death. She	treated	me	like	I	was	going	to	spring	up
and	run	the	next	track	meet	any	minute! There	was	never	the	pity	that	I	so
often	saw	in	the	eyes	of	almost	everyone	else	that	came	in. I	knew	the	names
of	her	children	and	her	husband,	and	even	once	got	to	meet	them	all. What	a
family! None	of	them	seemed	to	mind	that	they	were	in	the	presence	of	a
dying	person—like	they	all	took	an	angel	course	or	something! Patty	told	me
the	secret	later,	and	it	was	the	only	time	she	ever	mentioned	her	spirituality	or
anything	to	do	with	God. She	told	me	that	all	humans	have	a	path	that	is	known	to	God	and	that
somehow	I	was	right	where	I	had	agreed	to	be,	and	with	all	of	it	there	was
honor	for	some	reason. I	laughed	at	her	as	I	looked	around	at	my	surroundings
and	saw	my	bedpan,	my	half-full	urine	bag,	and	the	tubes	that	were	connected
to	my	wrists. My	eyes	had	grown	more	red	with	each	passing	day,	and	my
complexion	had	turned	to	ash. I	motioned	with	my	tube-laden	hand	and	said
out	loud,	“Some	honor,	huh?”	We	had	a	good	laugh,	but	she	continued. She
told	me	that	she	and	her	family	believed	that	I	had	selected	a	special	thing	to
do	for	the	planet,	and	that	my	situation	was	somehow	appropriate	in	the
scheme	of	God’s	love. I	didn’t	understand	that	at	all,	but	it	comforted	me
anyway. Hours	after	she	left,	I	thought	a	lot	about	what	she	had	said. The	inevitable	happened,	and	I	received	a	major	answer	to	my	most	often
prayed-for	request. I	had	asked	God	(whom	I	never	spoke	to	before	I	got	sick)
to	let	me	go	in	the	presence	of	my	angel	Patty—and	I	got	my	wish! It	was	far	easier	than	I	had	thought…this	dying	thing. Patty	was	just	getting
into	my	favorite	part	of	
The	Lord	of	the	Rings
	when	my	heart	stopped. There
was	a	moment	of	fear	when	I	realized	what	was	happening,	and	Patty	stopped
reading	as	though	I	had	sent	her	a	mental	message	or	something. She	looked
at	me	in	a	way	I	had	never	seen	her	do	up	till	now,	and	then	I	realized	she	had
seen	this	before. A	faint	knowing	glint	in	her	eyes	said,	“Go	peacefully	in	thearms	of	God.”	She	placed	her	hand	on	my	chest,	we	looked	at	each	other	in
silence,	and	blackness	took	over	for	a	moment	or	two. There	was	tremendous	light! I	was	free! I	felt	a	grand	release	from	my	pain
and	began	floating	above	my	body	while	watching	everything	in	the	entire
room. I	saw	my	tired,	frail	body	lying	still	on	the	bed	with	Patty’s	hand	still
on	my	chest. She	closed	her	book	slowly	and	remained	still. Only	then	did	she
cry	a	bit,	but	she	shed	tears	of	joy	at	my	freedom…and	her	countenance
seemed	filled	with	honor	for	my	life. I	was	watching	the	whole	thing! As	I	gently	floated	further	away,	I	saw	her	astral	wings	and	realized	that	just
as	I	had	somehow	honored	the	Earth	with	my	passing,	she	was	honoring	the
Earth	with	her	angelic	service. Her	body	literally	glowed	with	the	role	of	who
she	was,	as	if	there	was	a	rainbow	all	around	her	head. My	angel	really	was
an	angel…or	at	least	an	Earth	angel! As	the	room	faded,	I	realized	that	I
hadn’t	told	Patty	that	I	appreciated	her	hours	of	service	and	work	making	my
dying	bearable. My	gratitude	towards	her	flooded	over	me…but	perhaps	too
late! Did	she	know	of	my	thanks	for	how	she	had	comforted	me? I	was
overwhelmed	with	emotion	to	think	that	the	one	human	being	who	had	helped
me	the	most	in	my	entire	life	had	never	verbally	heard	me	tell	her	I	was
grateful. Then	I	saw	the	others	around	me	and	understood	everything. I	was
peaceful	now. She	knew. Don’t	ask	me	how,	but	Patty	knew. She	knew	how
grateful	I	was	even	as	I	moved	away. I	saw	her	raise	her	open	hand	and	lift
her	face	to	me	as	if	she	could	actually	see	me! Was	she	waving? The	surreal
scene	was	beginning	to	fade,	and	my	new	surroundings	were	starting	to	take
shape. It	was	time	to	leave. Patty	sat	for	a	moment	silently	next	to	the	body,	with	her	hand	and	face
uplifted	to	the	ceiling. She	had	been	here	and	done	this	before. She	felt	the
essence	of	life	leave	her	friend	on	the	bed,	then	she	waited	for	a	moment	for
what	always	came	next. She	was	overwhelmed	by	a	celestial	wash	of	love. The	feeling	in	the	room	was	so	thick	that	it	was	like	a	fog	of	warm	mist	that
vibrated	with	the	gratitude	of	multitudes	for	what	she	had	done. This	is	why
she	seldom	cried	with	sorrow	at	this	moment,	for	how	could	anyone	be
sorrowful	at	such	an	honored	event? Grieving	for	the	loss	would	come	later,
but	for	now	Patty	sat	in	the	place	of	honor	for	some	time	and	celebrated	the
life	of	the	one	she	had	helped. No	one	came	in,	and	she	was	alone	to	feel	the
love,	thanks,	and	gratitude	of	all	the	heavenly	entities	in	God’s	treasury	that
had	gathered	to	lay	hands	on	her. Patty	understood	what	was	happening	and
remained	reposed	and	tranquil	as	she	received	her	gifts	of	gratitude.Feeling	renewed,	Patty	slowly	got	up	and	gently	covered	her	friend’s	head
with	the	three-day-old	sheet. She	rose	and	began	her	walk	to	the	hospital
office	where,	that	very	night,	she	would	receive	the	name	of	her	next	terminal
patient—a	person	whom	she	would	be	with	to	read	to	until	the	end,	when	she
would	again	receive	the	anointing	of	gratitude	and	the	incredible	wash	of	love
energy	from	those	heavenly	beings	responsible	for	such	things. Patty
understood	that	what	she	had	just	gone	through	was	the	closest	any	human
being	on	Earth	could	ever	be	to	God…and	she	rejoiced	in	the	opportunity	to
do	it	all	again. I	Love	My	Wall
Alan	Cohen
Alan	Cohen
	
is	the	author	of	many	popular	inspirational	books,	including	the
classics,	THE	DRAGON	DOESN’T	LIVE	HERE	ANYMORE,	I	HAD	IT	ALL
THE	TIME,	and	A	DEEP	BREATH	OF	LIFE. He	is	also	a	contributing	writer
for	the	bestselling	CHICKEN	SOUP	FOR	THE	SOUL	series. His	column
“From	the	Heart”	appears	in	many	New	Thought	newspapers	and	magazines. Alan	presents	seminars	internationally	and	resides	in	Maui,	Hawaii,	where	he
conducts	programs	on	spiritual	awakening	and	visionary	living. One	Saturday	after	our	excursion	to	Pizza	Hut,	the	mall,	and	a	movie,	I	drove
my	ten-year-old	goddaughter	Samantha	to	her	family’s	new	residence. As	we
turned	off	the	highway	onto	a	dirt	road	that	led	to	her	house,	my	heart
dropped	to	see	that	she	and	her	parents	were	living	in	an	old	school	bus	in	a
field. As	Samantha	showed	me	around	her	family’s	quarters,	I	began	to	feel	sad	that
this	little	girl	whom	I	love	so	much	was	growing	up	in	such	a	shoddy
environment. As	my	eyes	painfully	fell	upon	rusted	seams	on	the	metal	walls,
cracked	windows,	and	a	leaking	roof,	I	realized	that	her	family	had	fallen	into
bare,	subsistence	living. I	wanted	to	rescue	her	from	such	a	barren	plight. Looking	up	at	me	with	her	big	brown	eyes,	Samantha	asked	me,	“Would	you
like	to	see	my	room?”
“Okay,”	I	answered	hesitantly. The	child	took	me	by	the	hand	and	guided	me	up	a	makeshift	staircase	that
led	to	a	small	wooden	addition	that	had	been	superimposed	over	the	roof	of
the	bus. I	shuddered	to	observe	that	her	room	was	in	the	same	condition	as	the
rest	of	the	place,	just	barely	livable. Looking	around,	I	noticed	one	fairly
attractive	element	of	her	abode,	a	colorful	tapestry	hanging	over	the	one
section	of	the	room	that	could	be	called	a	wall.“How	do	you	feel	about	living	here?”	I	asked	Samantha,	waiting	for	a	glum
response. Instead,	to	my	surprise,	her	face	lit	up. “I	love	my	wall!”	she	giggled. I	was	stunned. Samantha	was	not	kidding. She	actually	enjoyed	the	place
because	of	this	colorful	wall. The	child	found	a	touch	of	heaven	in	the	midst
of	hell,	and	this	is	what	she	chose	to	focus	on. She	was	happy. I	drove	home	in	a	state	of	awe. This	ten-year-old	saw	her	life	through	the	eyes
of	appreciation,	and	that	made	all	the	difference. I	began	to	consider	all	the
things	in	my	life	that	I	have	complained	about. I	realized	that	in	my
preoccupation	with	what	isn’t	there,	I	have	been	missing	what	
is
	here. While
focusing	on	rusty	metal,	I	have	overlooked	some	colorful	tapestries. I	made
Samantha’s	statement	my	meditation:	“I	love	my	wall!”
Gratitude	is	not	the	result	of	things	that	happen	to	us;	it	is	an	attitude	we
cultivate	by	practice. The	more	we	are	thankful	for,	the	more	we	will	find	to
be	thankful	for. I	heard	of	a	woman	named	Sarah	who	lay	in	a	hospital	bed
after	an	accident,	deeply	depressed,	unable	to	move	any	part	of	her	body
except	the	little	finger	on	one	hand. Then	Sarah	decided	she	would	make	use
of	what	she	
did
	have	rather	than	bemoan	what	she	was	missing. She	began	to
bless	the	one	finger	that	could	move,	and	she	developed	a	system	of	“yes”	and
“no”	communication	with	the	little	finger. Sarah	became	grateful	that	she
could	communicate,	and	she	felt	happier. As	she	blessed	the	movement,	her
flexibility	increased. Soon	Sarah	could	move	her	hand,	then	her	arm,	and
eventually	her	whole	body. It	all	started	with	the	critical	shift	from
complaining	to	blessing. Harville	Hendricks’	book	
Getting	the	Love	You	Want
	has	become	a	popular
manual	for	relationships. The	first	step	to	getting	the	love	you	want	is	to
appreciate	the	love	you	have. The	universe	always	gives	you	more	of	what	you
are	focusing	on. Jesus	taught,	
“To	him	that	hath,	more	shall	be	given;	to	him
that	hath	not,	more	shall	be	taken	away.”
	Jesus	was	elucidating	a	supremely
important	metaphysical	principle,	the	very	key	to	the	manifestation	of
abundance. Jesus	was	teaching	the	importance	of	concentrating	on	what	we
have	or	want,	rather	than	on	what	we	lack	or	do	not	want. We	can	look	at	any	experience	in	two	ways:	through	the	eyes	of	lack,	or	the
eyes	of	plenty.Fear	sees	limits,	while	love	sees	possibilities. Each	attitude	will	be	justified
by	the	belief	system	you	cherish. Change	your	allegiance	from	fear	to	love,
and	love	will	sustain	you	wherever	you	walk. A	Course	in	Miracles
	tells	us,
“Love	cannot	be	far	behind	a	grateful	heart	and	thankful	mind	…These	are
the	true	conditions	for	your	homecoming.”
The	Gifts	That	Gratitude	Offers	Us
Lee	Coit
More	than	20	years	ago,	
Lee	Coit
	began	a	quest	for	answers	to	his	pain	and
frustration. He	decided	to	devote	an	entire	year	to	this	search,	and	as	a	result,
he	discovered	an	inner	guidance	system. Since	that	time,	he	has	followed	this
inner	voice	in	making	all	his	decisions. This	path	has	lead	to	a	peaceful	and
happy	life,	the	writing	of	several	bestselling	books	(LISTENING	and
ACCEPTING),	and	to	giving	lectures	and	workshops	throughout	the	United
States	and	Europe. For	nearly	ten	years,	he	ran	the	Las	Brisas	Retreat	Center. His	dramatic	change	from	a	very	busy	advertising	agency	executive	to	a
content	and	happy	spiritual	being	gives	hope	to	anyone	who	is	seeking	a
better	way	to	live. We	think	of	gratitude	as	an	appreciative	word	or	deed	given	in	return	for
someone’s	kindness. It	was	part	of	my	early	training	to	always	say	thank	you
even	when	I	really	wasn’t	thankful. Gratitude	can	become	an	automatic
response	to	any	situation	that	benefits	us	and	is	often	given	without	awareness
of	its	many	benefits. Like	Thanksgiving,	thankfulness	can	become	so	stylized
that	its	real	meaning	is	lost. Just	as	“How	are	you?”	is	not	a	real	question	but
a	greeting,	so	“Thank	you”	can	become	no	more	than	a	nice	way	of	ending	an
interpersonal	interaction. What	gifts	does	gratitude	offer	us	when	we	use	it? A	very	old	spiritual
teaching	says	that	“giving	and	receiving	are	the	same.”	If	that	is	so,	what	does
being	grateful	do	for	us? First	of	all,	gratitude	has	great	restorative	powers. Long	ago,	I	found	that	being	grateful	for	what	I	had	helped	me	get	over
feeling	sorry	for	myself. My	appreciation	of	others	always	raised	my	own
level	of	happiness. Whenever	I	thought	I	felt	unappreciated,	I’d	count	up	all
the	wonderful	things	that	had	happened	to	me	recently,	and	my	joy	would
return. Being	grateful	for	what	I	have	is	also	an	effective	way	of	releasing	a
sense	of	loss. When	I	am	aware	of	all	the	love	I	am	receiving,	I	can	quickly
forget	my	problems. Gratitude	is	an	excellent	way	of	removing	myconcentration	from	negative	situations	and	placing	my	attention	on	what	is
right. It	doesn’t	matter	whether	I	am	grateful	to	my	Divine	Source	or	to	my
friends;	the	simple	act	of	being	aware	of	what	I	am	receiving,	and	expressing
my	gratitude	in	action,	brings	the	desired	state	of	joy. The	second	thing	I	noticed	about	being	grateful	was	that	I	could	extend	my
present	joy	backwards	by	holding	thoughts	of	gratitude	about	people	and
events	from	my	past. It	always	makes	me	smile,	and	my	heart	fills	with	joy
when	I	reminisce	fondly	about	my	beautiful	friends	and	the	special	times
we’ve	had. I’ve	noticed	over	the	years	that	the	more	gratitude	I	feel	about	the
past,	the	happier	I	am	in	the	present. Getting	to	a	joyful	state	with	gratitude	is
easy	when	I	use	pleasant	memories,	but	I	don’t	exclude	unpleasant	memories
from	my	gratitude. Being	grateful	for	those	who	we	think	have	hurt	us	may	be
harder,	but	it	is	very	effective	for	healing	the	past. I	call	this	unconditional
gratitude. Unconditional
	means	that	we	give	gratitude	to	everyone	regardless
of	whether	we	think	they	deserve	it	or	not. What	works	for	me	is	to	remember	only	the	good	things	about	each	person
and	let	the	other	thoughts	go. I	can	always	find	something	about	each	one	for
which	I	am	truly	grateful. I	have	even	started	with	the	idea	that	at	least	these
people	are	out	of	my	life	now. I	then	let	go	of	my	desires	and	plans	for	how
they	should	have	acted	and	try	to	think	of	one	good	quality	they	possess. Even
if	it	is	a	small	thing,	I	hold	on	to	that	thought	and	let	the	other	memories	fade. Once,	for	example,	I	started	with	the	idea	that	when	I	had	lunch	with	this
person,	we	always	went	to	a	nice	place. Daily,	I	bring	this	chosen	person	to
mind	and	try	to	add	one	new	positive	quality. If	I	cannot	add	a	new	one	that
day,	I	go	back	to	an	old	one. I	do	this	until	I	can	think	of	this	person	without
dislike	or	a	desire	to	avoid	him	or	her. Before	you	know	it,	an	amazing	thing
begins	to	happen. At	first	I	may	struggle	to	find	one	little	thing	for	which	I	am	grateful,	but	as	I
keep	trying,	other	good	qualities	slowly	appear. They	may	not	be	qualities	I
like,	but	they	are	qualities	someone	else	might	like. When	I	continue	to	search
for	good	qualities,	after	a	while	I	begin	to	see	how	other	people	in	my	past
have	also	benefited	me. They	may	not	have	tried	to	help	me,	but	my	gratitude
opens	my	vision	to	a	point	where	I	can	see	that	they	gave	me	a	real	spiritual
gift. A	real	spiritual	gift	is	something	that	increases	my	awareness	of	my	true
spiritual	nature. It	is	all	right	if	you	never	get	to	the	point	where	you	see	these
people	as	having	helped	you	in	a	human	or	worldly	way. It’s	all	right	that	they
never	seem	to	change	in	the	ways	we	approve	of. It’s	important	that	you	behonest	with	your	feelings	and	not	block	out	old	hurts	or	pretend	that
everything	is	all	right	if	it	isn’t. To	see	the	spiritual	gift,	I	release	my	ideas	of	how	I	want	things	to	be. It	helps
to	ask	questions	of	myself	such	as,	“How	did	this	person	help	me	become
more	aware	of	my	spiritual	nature? How	did	their	actions	lead	me	or	push	me
in	a	particular	direction	that	benefited	my	spiritual	growth? Even	if	the	action
was	deemed	harmful	to	my	human	and	physical	being,	how	did	this	action
enhance	and	support	my	spiritual	being?”	As	you	can	see,	these	are	tough
questions. There	may	be	a	desire	to	keep	another	locked	in	a	web	of	blame
and	guilt. Unconditional	gratitude	given	in	these	situations	may	at	first	feel	as
if	we	are	letting	people	who	we	dislike	“off	the	hook.”	I	can	assure	you	from
my	own	experience	that	it	is	ourselves	we	are	letting	off	the	hook. Gratitude,
like	its	sister,	forgiveness,	frees	the	giver	first	of	all. Gratitude	brings	freedom
to	our	self-imposed	prison	of	hatred	and	revenge. Perceived	past	wrongs	are
our	prison	bars. Unconditional	gratitude	melts	these	bars	away. Hatred	not
only	locks	us	in	a	tiny	cell	of	self-pity,	it	keeps	out	those	who	are	seeking	to
bring	love	into	our	life. (Hatred	includes	everything	from	rage	to	a	seemingly
innocent	desire	to	avoid	someone.) Our	past,	released	with	gratitude,	frees	our
present	to	be	as	it	could	be. Finally,	the	most	marvelous	gift	that	unconditional	gratitude	gives	us	is	clarity
and	vision. Giving	unconditional	gratitude,	I	begin	to	see	that	everything	is
here	to	bless	me. I	really	cannot	explain	how	this	happens. It	just	does. It
makes	no	sense	in	terms	of	our	worldly	thought	processes. Only	the	actual
act,	in	which	you	give	gratitude	unconditionally,	brings	the	fantastic	results	of
seeing	clearly. As	I	keep	extending	my	gratitude	to	everyone	in	my	past	and
my	present,	I	start	to	see	that	all	that	surrounds	me	is	actually	in	harmony. I	begin	to	see	that	what	I	judged	as	harmful	and	unfair	was	really	a
misinterpretation,	a	faulty	judgment	based	on	my	perception,	which	is	very
limited	in	its	scope. Human	perception	seems	very	powerful. It	proceeds	from	our	limited	self-
concept. From	this	view,	that	of	a	limited	and	unconnected	being,	we	look	out
at	a	world	filled	with	danger	and	pain. If	we	refuse	to	act	on	this	perception
but	desire	to	see	what	is	happening	in	our	life	spiritually,	we	get	an	entirely
different	view. We	begin	to	see	the	interconnected	and	intersupporting
relationships	of	reality. We	begin	to	see	the	spiritual	dance	in	which	we	are
each	engaged. It	is	important	that	you	not	try	to	figure	out	the	dance,	but
merely	let	it	reveal	itself	to	you	and	then	move	to	the	beat. Unconditionalgratitude,	rather	than	seeking	to	control	the	situation,	frees	you	from	stress
and	pain. Unconditional	gratitude	replaces	your	frustration	with	the	peace,
joy,	and	happiness	that	is	naturally	yours. The	Circle	of	Gratitude
Terah	Kathryn	Collins
Terah	Kathryn	Collins
	
practices,	teaches,	and	lectures	on	Feng	Shui,	the
Chinese	art	of	placement,	in	San	Diego. She	specializes	in	teaching	people
how	to	see	through	their	“Feng	Shui	Eyes,”	opening	the	vision	that	leads	to
living	in	optimal	harmony,	comfort,	and	balance. She	is	the	author	of	THE
WESTERN	GUIDE	TO	FENG	SHUI:	CREATING	BALANCE,	HARMONY,
AND	PROSPERITY	IN	YOUR	ENVIRONMENT. Expressing	gratitude	was	something	I	learned	by	watching	other	people. At
first,	I	wasn’t	very	good	at	it. I	often	forgot	or	simply	wasn’t	in	the	mood. Besides,	I	figured	that	people	wouldn’t	notice	if	I	wasn’t	grateful. It	was	like
giving	a	gift	they	weren’t	expecting	anyway. But	on	those	occasions	when	my
mood	was	just	right,	and	I	did	grace	someone	with	a	sincere	thank	you,
something	magical	always	happened. A	surge	of	joy	would	whip	through	my
body,	magnetically	connecting	me	with	the	other	person. I	began	to	remember
to	be	grateful	more	often. I	like	to	try	different	ways	of	expressing	gratitude	to	see	how	they	feel. Surprising	people	with	a	thank	you	is	great	fun—their	faces	always	light	up,
and	we	laugh	and	hold	hands	for	a	moment. Gratitude	sheds	a	rosy	glow
across	my	whole	life. The	more	grateful	I	am	for	everything	in	life,	the	more
reasons	I	find	to	be	grateful. There	are	the	big	things,	such	as	my	“tribe,”	or
my	friends	and	family. There	are	the	personal	things,	such	as	my	good	health
and	wonderful	career. And	gratitude	reaches	all	the	way	down	to	the	little
things—the	fresh	flower	arrangement,	the	bowl	of	oranges,	the	fire	in	the
fireplace. Focusing	gratitude	on	anything	makes	it	grow! Does	this	mean	that	because	I’m	grateful	for	the	food	on	my	table	today,	I’ll
soon	be	giving	thanks	for	everyone	around	the	community,	the	region,	and	the
world	having	plenty	to	eat? Could	it	be	that	since	I’m	grateful	for	the	peace
that	exists	in	my	neighborhood	now,	I	will	soon	have	the	opportunity	to	be
grateful	for	peace	on	Earth?I’ve	decided	that	the	answer	is	YES. The	circle	of	gratitude	gets	bigger	every
day. One	grateful	thought	and	you’re	in. And	once	you	are,	watch	the	circle
grow. Gratitude—The	Vital	Ingredient	in	Our	Lives
Dr.	Tom	Costa
Dr.	Tom	Costa
	
is	founder	of	the	Religious	Science	Church	of	The	Desert	in
Palm	Desert,	California,	and	is	currently	on	the	Board	of	Directors	of
Religious	Science	International. His	popularity	as	a	public	speaker	has
resulted	in	a	number	of	television	appearances,	as	well	as	lectures	and
seminars	throughout	the	United	States,	Canada,	and	England. Tom	is	the
author	of	LIFE! YOU	WANNA	MAKE	SOMETHING	OF	IT? My	attitude	of	gratitude	has	been	developing	for	the	last	seven	decades	of	my
life. My	deep	feelings	for	the	spiritual	privilege	of	being	grateful	were	tested	when
I	first	became	a	minister	in	1974. I	was	counseling	a	man	who	was	quite
unhappy. Here	was	a	man	who	was	in	good	health,	played	tennis	daily,	was
successful	financially,	and	who	loved	his	work. I	had	just	performed	the
wedding	ceremony	for	him	and	his	new	and	devoted	wife,	and	he	also	had	a
loving	family	from	his	previous	marriage. Yet,	although	every	area	of	his	life
—health,	wealth,	love,	and	work—seemed	fulfilled,	he	was	STILL	unhappy. As	a	new	minister,	I	was	stymied;	what	could	I	pray	for? How	could	I	help
him	move	through	his	depression? As	we	continued	our	sessions,	what	came
out	was	this	man’s	lack	of	gratefulness. He	never	gave	thanks	for	his	health,
his	wealth,	his	children,	his	home,	or	life	itself. He	took	everything	for
granted. This	inspired	me	to	find	out	more	about	this	nebulous	but	vital
ingredient	in	our	lives…GRATITUDE. How	well	I	remember	years	ago	when	I	was	doing	what	is	referred	to	as	a
Fifth	Step	in	the	Twelve	Steps	of	the	Alcoholics	Anonymous	program. The
Fifth	Step	is	the	one	where	someone,	perhaps	a	member	of	the	clergy,	would
listen	to	an	account	of	the	alcoholic’s	life	up	to	the	time	of	admitting	to	their
alcoholism. A	young	lady	remarked	to	me,	“You	cannot	be	grateful	and
unhappy	at	the	same	time.”I	was	probably	about	40	years	older	than	she	was	at	the	time,	but	I	was
spiritually	stunned. I	had	never	heard	that	“one-liner”	before,	and	it	made
sense! Since	then,	I	have	used	that	thought	throughout	my	ministry—in
classes,	seminars,	and	in	my	personal	life. YOU	CANNOT	BE	GRATEFUL
AND	UNHAPPY	AT	THE	SAME	TIME. It	is	truly	emotionally	impossible	to
do	both. As	I	think	about	this	concept,	I	flash	back	to	my	Catholic	upbringing,	where
we	used	a	rosary. Personally,	now	I	have	what	I	call	a	mental	Rosary	of
Gratefulness. I	count	the	“beads,”	if	you	will,	daily	and	often	in	my	morning
meditations	and	prayers. This	is	when	I	count	MY	blessings,	and	not	someone
else’s. This	period	of	gratitude	in	my	life	does	not	occur	just	on	the	third	Thursday	in
November. This	time	of	thanks	is	something	I	implement	into	each	and	every
day. I	have	so	many	beads	to	count…beads	representing	people	who	have
helped	me…beads	representing	people	who	didn’t	help	me	(for	this	made	me
stronger	in	every	area	of	my	life). There	are	beads	representing	close,	intimate
friends,	my	family…beads	representing	my	health,	my	body,	my	physical
senses,	my	home	that	I	treasure	and	enjoy. I	give	thanks	for	my	pets,	who
teach	me	daily	unconditional	love. I	give	thanks	for	my	ability	to	choose	my
thoughts,	my	attitudes,	my	path. Take	a	moment	of	time	daily,	and	be	grateful	for	all	that	you	are	and	for	all
that	you	are	not. Be	grateful	for	all	that	you	have	and	for	all	that	you	do	not
have. REMEMBER:	YOU	CANNOT	BE	GRATEFUL	AND	UNHAPPY	AT	THE
SAME	TIME! Words	of	Gratitude
Sri	Daya	Mata
Sri	Daya	Mata
	
is	one	of	the	earliest	and	closest	disciples	of	Paramahansa
Yogananda,	author	of	the	spiritual	classic	AUTOBIOGRAPHY	OF	A	YOGI. She	has	served	for	the	past	40	years	as	president	of	Self-Realization
Fellowship,	the	international	nonprofit	religious	society	founded	by
Yogananda	in	1920	to	disseminate	his	universal	teachings	on	India’s	ancient
science	of	Yoga	and	its	time-honored	tradition	of	meditation. Soon	after
meeting	Yogananda	in	1931,	Sri	Daya	Mata	became	a	nun	of	the	monastic
Self-Realization	Order;	and	for	more	than	20	years,	Yogananda	personally
prepared	her	to	carry	on	his	spiritual	and	humanitarian	work. One	of	the	first
women	in	recent	times	to	be	appointed	spiritual	head	of	a	worldwide	religious
movement,	Sri	Daya	Mata	has	made	several	global	speaking	tours,	and	she	is
the	author	of	two	anthologies
—
ONLY	LOVE	and	FINDING	THE	JOY
WITHIN	YOU. Gratitude	is	a	quality	that	can	contribute	immeasurably	to	our	happiness,	for	it
is	an	essential	aspect	of	love. Indeed,	it	draws	us	closer	to	the	ultimate	Source
of	all	love. Looking	back	on	the	many	years	that	I	was	privileged	to	be	in	Paramahansa
Yogananda’s	presence	during	his	lifetime,	I	recall	how	often	he	encouraged	us
to	cultivate	the	habit	of	appreciating	all	the	good	in	life—not	taking	for
granted	even	the	little	things. The	more	we	express	loving	gratitude	to	God
for	our	blessings,	great	or	small,	the	deeper	will	be	our	attunement	with	that
Infinite	One,	and	our	awareness	of	His	responding	love. And	too,	the	divine
laws	of	abundance	operate	more	fully	in	our	lives	when	we	acknowledge	and
appreciate	the	Giver	behind	the	bounty	of	our	spiritual	and	material	blessings. It	is	so	rewarding	to	recognize	the	good	in	each	moment,	in	every	experience,
looking	to	the	Giver	with	a	grateful	heart. How,	then,	do	we	cultivate	such	gratitude? One	way	is	to	dwell	on	some
circumstance	in	our	life	for	which	we	feel	truly	thankful. It	does	not	have	tobe	a	momentous	experience. A	hint	of	some	good	done	to	us—maybe	a	smile
that	came	our	way	and	lifted	our	heart—is	sufficient. Remembering	such
experiences	helps	us	to	develop	a	spirit	of	thankfulness. As	often	as	some	sweet	grace	comes	to	you,	inwardly	say,	“Thank	You,	my
God.”	This	simple	practice	brings	far-reaching	results,	because	to	dwell	on
good	is	to	magnify	it. That	which	we	enliven	in	our	mind	soon	reflects	in	our
outward	behavior. Thus,	a	deep	sense	of	gratitude	ennobles	our	life	and	the
lives	of	those	with	whom	we	associate. Sometimes	the	greatest	cause	for	gratitude	lies	concealed	in	the	challenges	we
face,	for	they	help	to	make	us	stronger	and	more	compassionate	human
beings. The	concept	of	giving	thanks	to	God	even	in	the	midst	of	misfortune
is	a	very	beautiful	one,	often	referred	to	in	the	scriptures	of	both	East	and
West. More	than	that,	it	represents	the	truest	perspective	we	can	adopt. Even
the	highest	and	finest	of	the	pleasures	of	this	life	are	bound	to	come	to	an	end. But	God	is	our	Eternal	Well-Wisher,	and	when	we	turn	to	Him—whether	in
joy	or	sorrow—with	a	whispered	word	of	thanks,	we	begin	to	transcend	the
fluctuations	of	earthly	existence	and	to	anchor	our	lives	in	a	love	that	will
endure	forever. Gratitude	Is	Awareness
Amy	E.	Dean
Amy	E.	Dean
	
is	an	author	and	nationally	known	speaker	on	self-esteem,
family	relations,	and	recovery	from	a	dysfunctional	past. She	has	written	a
number	of	books,	including	PLEASANT	DREAMS,	LIFEGOALS,	and
FACING	LIFE’S	CHALLENGES:	DAILY	MEDITATIONS	FOR
OVERCOMING	DEPRESSION,	GRIEF,	AND	“THE	BLUES.”	Amy	currently
resides	in	Maynard,	Massachusetts. There’s	a	story	of	a	spiritual	teacher	whose	daily	sermons	were	powerful	and
inspiring. Hours	of	preparation	often	went	into	creating	such	messages	of
hope,	love,	forgiveness,	and	joy. One	morning,	before	standing	to	deliver	the
day’s	sermon,	the	teacher	focused	on	the	message	about	to	be	given	and	knew
it	would	probably	be	the	best	ever. The	teacher	remembered	the	time	spent
writing	and	rewriting	the	words	of	hope	and	peace	and	felt	confident	that
many	would	be	touched	by	such	wisdom. Smiling,	the	teacher	arose	and	faced
those	who	had	gathered	together	for	the	day’s	message. At	that	moment,	a	little	bird	came	and	sat	on	the	window	sill. It	began	to	sing
with	a	full	heart	for	a	few	minutes. Then	it	stopped	and	flew	away. The
teacher	was	silent	for	a	moment,	then	folded	the	pages	to	the	prepared	sermon
and	announced,	“The	sermon	for	this	morning	is	over.”
To	me,	this	story	reflects	what	gratitude	is:	being	able	to	fully	experience	and
embrace	the	spontaneity	of	a	moment	that’s	not	sought	after	or	anticipated. But	how	often	do	you	allow	that	to	happen? The	mad	rush	of	living,	the	mad
crush	of	places	to	go	and	people	to	see,	and	the	maddening	stream	of
problems	that	need	to	be	solved	and	conflicts	that	need	to	be	resolved	on	a
daily	basis	can	make	you	forget	that	there’s	a	world	teeming	around	you	with
wonders. Each	day	I	need	to	remind	myself	that	gratitude	is	awareness. My	day	begins
with	an	early-morning	run	on	dark	streets. My	concentration	is	often	dividedinto	many	directions,	from	paying	attention	to	the	dimly	lit	road	so	I	don’t
turn	an	ankle,	to	planning	how	my	day	will	be	organized. Before	I	learned
about	gratitude,	I	rarely	took	the	time	on	my	runs	to	notice	the	sky	above	me
—still	a	night	sky,	with	brilliant	stars	and	an	ever-changing	position	of	the
moon. But	one	morning,	I	happened	to	look	up	and,	at	that	moment,	saw	a
shooting	star. The	effect	this	fleeting	instant	had	upon	me	was	incredible. I
smiled. I	picked	up	my	running	pace. I	looked	around	me	and	noticed	other
beauty—the	silhouettes	of	trees	presented	against	the	indigo	background	of
the	sky,	the	way	mica	chips	in	rocks	glistened	in	the	beams	from	streetlights,
the	gurgling	sounds	that	water	made	while	running	down	a	roadside	stream. Throughout	the	day,	I	told	my	friends	about	the	shooting	star	I	had	seen. And
then	the	next	morning	I	set	off	on	my	run	ready	to	look	down	at	the	road,	as
well	as	to	shift	my	focus	from	time	to	time	to	look	around	and	above	me. Since	then,	I’ve	seen	two	more	shooting	stars. I’ve	also	heard	the	screech	of
an	owl	and	seen	clouds	pushed	aside	by	gentle	breezes. The	way	such	sensual
experiences	make	me	feel	inside	reminds	me	of	Alice	Walker’s	writing	in	
The
Color	Purple,
	when	her	character	records	in	her	journal:	
“I’ve	been	so	busy…
I	never	truly	notice	nothing	God	make. Not	a	blade	of	corn	(how	it	do	that? ),
not	the	color	purple	(where	it	come	from?). Not	the	little	wildflowers. Nothing.”
How	often	do	you	take	time	to	notice	the	wonders	of	the	natural	world	on	a
daily	basis—the	rainbow	after	a	storm,	the	birds	frolicking	around	your	bird
feeder,	or	the	silvery	brilliance	of	a	full	moon? Gratitude	is	slowing	down
your	pace,	opening	up	your	senses	to	the	world	around	you,	and	feeling	the
impact	such	awareness	has	in	how	you	feel	and	how	you	then	live	the	next
moment	of	your	life. Gratitude:	One	of	Life’s	Miracles
Dr.	Wayne	W.	Dyer
Dr.	Wayne	W.	Dyer
	
is	one	of	the	most	widely	read,	internationally	renowned
authors	today	in	the	field	of	self-development. He	has	written	numerous
bestselling	books,	including	REAL	MAGIC,	YOUR	ERRONEOUS	ZONES,
STAYING	ON	THE	PATH,	A	PROMISE	IS	A	PROMISE,	EVERYDAY
WISDOM	and	THE	POWER	OF	INTENTION;	and	has	appeared	on	more
than	5,000	television	and	radio	programs. This	essay	is	adapted	from	Wayne’s
book	YOUR	SACRED	SELF,	published	by	HarperCollins. Expressing	gratitude	for	the	miracles	in	your	world	is	one	of	the	best	ways	to
make	each	moment	of	your	life	a	special	one. As	you	progress	on	your	path
each	day,	have	conversations	with	God	in	private	and	important	moments. In
these	conversations,	rather	than	ask	for	special	favors,	affirm	your	willingness
to	use	all	of	your	inner	strength	to	create	solutions. Ask	for	the	inner	wisdom
to	do	so,	and	also	give	thanks	to	God	for	Her	help. Knowing	that	you	are	able	to	access	divine	guidance	is	more	than	a	Sunday
morning	practice. It	is	a	knowing	that	comes	from	within	that	can	never	be
doubted	or	shaken	because	these	moments	translate	to	how	you	lead	your	life. As	you	become	more	aware	of	the	divine	presence	flowing	through	you	at	all
times,	you	will	find	that	you	take	more	time	to	appreciate	the	beauty	around
you. As	you	contemplate	a	bird,	a	flower,	a	sunset,	a	mother	and	her	nursing
infant,	a	school	bus	of	children,	or	an	aged	man,	open	your	heart	to	them. Allow	the	love	to	circulate	from	you	to	them	and	feel	it	being	returned. The
more	you	practice	receiving	love	from	your	surroundings,	the	more	energized
you	will	become. There	is	energy	in	everything	and	everyone. The	way	that	you	receive	this
invisible	energy	is	through	the	actual	appreciation	of	the	beauty	and	wonder
of	our	universe.With	practice,	you	will	be	able	to	send	out	the	love	that	you	are	receiving
through	the	simple	act	of	beauty	appreciation. Try	it! Another	positive	result	of	being	grateful	for	your	world	is	your	increased
capacity	to	give. When	you	have	gratitude	in	your	heart,	you	will	find	a	new
willingness	to	give	to	others	so	that	they,	too,	might	experience	the	joys	that
you	feel. You	will	find	that	you	will	want	to	contribute	to	the	needs	and	wants
of	others	without	any	expectation	of	acknowledgment. But	it	is	important	to	distinguish	between	giving	and	sacrificing. A	sacrifice	is
generally	
for
	something. The	sacrifice	is	only	made	to	achieve	something. When	you	are	sacrificing,	you	are	giving	in	order	to	get,	and	you	are	in	an	ego
mode	that	programs	you	to	believe	that	you	are	so	important	and	special	that
you	deserve	something	for	your	giving. Ego	wants	you	pumped	up	and
believing	that	giving	indicates	your	superiority—as	if	your	generosity	sets
you	apart	from	others	who	are	not	as	munificent	as	you. Or,	if	you	give	because	you	feel	that	you	have	to,	you	are	not	authentically
motivated	by	your	higher	self. It	is	the	ego	at	work	here,	too,	telling	you	that
you	are	so	much	better	than	the	recipients	and	that	they	
should
	be	grateful	to
you. However,	giving	as	a	means	of	fostering	tolerance	and	love	through	your
sacred	self	is	different. As	you	cultivate	a	sincere	sense	of	giving,	stemming
from	your	own	gratitude	for	the	gifts	that	have	been	given	to	
you,
	you	will
experience	the	notion	that	
giving	is	receiving
	and	
receiving	is	giving
	in	all	its
splendor. The	experience	of	mindfulness	of	others’	needs	is	one	of	the	most
blissful	experiences	that	we	can	know. Recall	how	exciting	it	was	giving
presents	to	parents,	grandparents,	and	siblings. The	gratitude	you	felt	for	their
happiness	equaled,	and	may	have	surpassed,	your	own	excitement	about
receiving	gifts. Why? Because	you	were	receiving	when	you	gave. You	see,	it	is	your	sacred	self	that	enables	you	to	feel	gratitude	and	to	give
unconditionally. It	is	your	ego	that	wants	a	reward. But	that	is	only	because
that	is	what	ego	knows	as	long	as	you	continue	to	reward	it	for	keeping	you
separate	from	your	loving	presence. Give	your	ego	the	experience	of	knowing
the	love	and	tolerance	of	your	higher	self,	and	you	will	automatically	begin
functioning	the	same	way	in	your	outer	life. The	Meaning	of	True	Gratitude
Nicholas	Eliopoulos
Nicholas	Eliopoulos
	
is	an	Emmy	Award-winning	producer,	director,	film
editor,	and	sound	editor,	and	the	founder	of	the	motion	picture	companies
Earthlight	and	White	Rock	Entertainment. Nicholas	directed	VISIONS	OF	A
NEW	WORLD,	which	features	Louise	L.	Hay,	Ted	Danson,	and	Dennis
Weaver;	and	he	spent	over	a	year	in	Russia	directing	the	TV	special	“Russia
Today,	A	People’s	Journey.”	He	has	also	worked	on	numerous	feature	films,
including	FOUL	PLAY,	NINE	TO	FIVE,	and	OUT	OF	AFRICA. A	resident	of
Los	Angeles,	Nicholas	is	a	member	of	both	the	Motion	Picture	and	Television
Academies. I	have	been,	for	the	most	part,	a	very	grateful	person	all	my	life,	but	it’s	only
been	in	the	last	few	years	that	I’ve	come	to	know	the	concept	of	gratitude	in	a
larger,	fuller	meaning. I	have	lived	what	many	people	would	call	a	“charmed
life.”	I	had	a	happy	upbringing,	a	wonderful	education,	and	I	have	found
success	in	my	chosen	career. I	have	not	achieved	all	that	I	have	coveted	as
yet,	and,	like	most	people,	I	experience	the	pain	and	heartaches,	the	joys	and
exhilaration	of	this	wonderment	called	“life,”	but	I	am	fortunate	that	I	possess
many	good	and	loving	friends. I	have	much	to	be	grateful	for,	yet	one	day	I
realized	that	there	was	something	I	didn’t	know:	true	gratitude. The	meaning	of	gratitude	changed	for	me	when	I	began	to	look	at	the	“great
force	of	all	life”—beyond	my	taught	perception	of	God. A	dear	friend	of	mine
referred	to	that	force	as	God/Goddess/All	That	Is. Up	to	that	time,	the	concept
of	a	Mrs.	God	was	only	familiar	in	the	Goddess	stories	I	was	taught	as	a	child
about	ancient	Greece. My	friend	was	talking	about	a	“feminine	force”	that
together	with	God	gave	“birth”	to	all	material	matter—our	physical	Universe. It	wasn’t	until	I	took	this	concept	(which	is	all	“one”	force)	called
God/Goddess/All	That	Is	and	examined	it	for	myself,	that	my	concept	of	true
gratitude	expanded	immensely. I	realized	through	this	study	that	the	feminine
principle	of	the	Goddess	was	first—that	it	was	the	Goddess	who	created,	orbrought	forth,	God,	and	together	they	created	ALL	THAT	IS. I	know	that	this	does	not	fit	in	with	the	chauvinistic,	traditional	religious	view
of	God. Most	of	the	world’s	religions	don’t	even	acknowledge	a	Goddess
energy	at	all. And	if	they	do,	in	whatever	form,	She	definitely	came	after	God
Himself. The	idea	of	the	Goddess	giving	“life	itself	to	God,	I	had	never	heard
at	all,	anywhere. Whether	this	idea	is	wrong	or	right,	the	product	of	just
considering	it	suddenly	gave	me	a	whole	new	realization	of	what	true
gratitude	must	really	be	like. For	the	first	time,	I	saw	what	I	believed	to	be
God’s	gratitude—His	gratitude	to	the	Goddess	for	His	own	creation. I	thought	to	myself,	and	I	felt	for	myself,	the	immense	scope	of	love	and
gratitude	that	God	must	feel. It	was	then	that	I	truly	realized	that	“life	itself	is
a	gift. My	life	was,	and	is,	a	gift. The	immense	gratitude	that	poured	out	from
this	realization	was	colossal. I	thought,	If	I	could	somehow	feel	the	same
gratitude	for	my	life	that	God	Himself	had	for	His	own	gift	of	life,	then
everything	I	was,	everything	I	did,	everything	I	touched,	would	have	a	new
and	more	special	meaning. Some	people	whom	I	knew	back	in	my	college	days	were	cynical. They
would	say,	“God	is	dead,”	or	“God	does	not	exist.”	I	always	felt	that	they
were	talking	about	themselves. That	is,	something	within	them	didn’t	exist,
and	they	knew	it. My	favorite	author,	Ayn	Rand,	who	wrote	
The	Fountainhead
	and	
Atlas
Shrugged,
	was	often	accused	of	being	an	atheist. But	I	saw	her	on	TV	once,
and	she	said,	“No,	I	am	not	an	atheist. I	shall	never	die. When	I	pass	away,	it
is	the	world	that	will	end…a	beautiful	world	at	that.”	She	went	on	to	explain,
“On	the	contrary,	I	love	the	word	
God
	because	it	means	’the	highest	of	the
high.’	
God	bless	you
	is	a	wonderful	phrase.”
My	dear	friend	Lazaris	has	said,	“Life	is	a	gift,	and	our	job	is	to	learn	to
receive	it.”	For	me,	life	is	a	gift,	and	gratitude	is	its	magnet. With	my	friend’s
permission,	I	would	love	to	end	my	thoughts	with	what	Lazaris	has	expressed:
“Gratitude	is	a	tangible	force. The	more	you	feel	it,	the	more	reasons	you	will
find	to	feel	it. Gratitude	is	a	miraculous	force,	like	a	magical	magnet,
generating	and	then	attracting	so	much	more	than	you	have	already	received. It	is	like	a	living	energy,	clearing	the	way	for	you	to	become	so	much	more
than	you	have	already	experienced.”
The	Awesome	Design	of	Life
James	Eubanks
James	Eubanks
	
is	a	successful	author,	nationally	syndicated	columnist,	and
astrologer	who	consults	professionally	in	San	Diego. Raised	in	Birmingham,
Alabama,	James	holds	degrees	in	modern	foreign	languages	and	broadcast
journalism	from	Loyola	University	in	New	Orleans. Graduate	studies	in
linguistics	eventually	led	him	to	the	West	Coast,	where	he	discovered	the	New
Age	and	trained	in	a	variety	of	highly	specialized	disciplines. Expressing	gratitude	is	my	most	natural	inclination. As	a	child	in	rural
Alabama,	I	was	taught	to	be	polite,	generous,	and	grateful,	always. When	I
became	a	man,	I	adopted	this	practice	of	gratitude	and	refined	it	into	a	more
thought-out	and	examined	way	of	life. I’ve	always	seen	myself	as	different. Over	the	years	in	dealing	with	this,	I
have	come	to	appreciate	why	I	felt	this	way. I	stood	apart	from	the	crowd	for
many	years,	and	while	this	was	often	painful,	the	experience	allowed	me	to
see	others	more	clearly. Now	I	have	perspective	on	the	crowd	even	though	I
participate	in	its	activities. Members	of	the	crowd	usually	do	not	practice
gratitude	on	a	daily	basis. If	something	good	happens,	they	are	grateful. If	a
bad	thing	happens,	they	definitely	are	not. Often,	those	who	think	this	way	are
miserable,	worried,	upset,	tired,	strained,	and	resigned. We	can	choose	to
believe	that	the	tragedy	in	our	lives	is	fate	acting	against	us	if	we	want	to. The
powers	that	be	will	not	argue	with	us. And	yet,	there	is	another	way. Gratitude	is	an	emotional	response	of	love	that	wells	up	within	when	one	is
confronted	by	the	awesome	design	of	life. I	enter	the	world	each	day	with	an
expectant	mind,	searching	for	something	to	be	grateful	for	and	someone	to	be
grateful	to. Theology	defines	religious	experience	as	a	profound	human
awareness	of	a	grand	design. Gratitude	is	an	access	and	a	channel	of
consciousness	that	leads	to	this	peace	and	understanding. It	is	religiousexperience	lived	daily. Gratitude	is	not	the	same	as	relief. I	am	
grateful
	for	my	life,	the	people	I
know,	and	my	work. On	the	other	hand,	I	am	
relieved
	that	I	am	not	sick. The
first	statement	is	based	on	what	is	true	within	me. The	other	is	based	on	my
fears	and	dread. We	do	not	usually	make	this	simple	distinction. Relief
implies	that	something	could	go	wrong,	but	for	the	moment,	all	is	okay. In
practicing	gratitude,	however,	you	affirm	that	everything	is	already	right	and
that	nothing	can	go	wrong. There	is	nothing	to	do,	nothing	to	fix—for
example,	“I	am	grateful	for	my	health.”
Without	a	continual	affirmation	and	prayer	of	thanks	and	appreciation,	I	find
that	my	mind	becomes	bored,	and	my	heart	dulls. I	withdraw	from	the	world,
resigned	to	my	struggle	alone. Gratitude	is	a	way	out	of	difficulty,	pain,	and
isolation. In	the	face	of	adversity	and	distress,	practicing	gratitude	requires	us
to	give	up	our	own	ideas	about	what	we	think	is	happening	to	us. There	is	always	more	going	on	than	we	are	aware	of	in	any	situation,	and	this
is	what	gratitude	puts	us	in	touch	with. In	the	big	picture,	these	difficult
circumstances	in	front	of	me	might	be	the	missing	piece	of	a	greater	puzzle
that	I’m	not	yet	aware	of. I	must	give	up	my	fears	and	judgments	that
something	has	gone	wrong.
_OceanofPDF.com_Gratitude_-_Louise_Hay.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        ALSO	BY	LOUISE	L. HAY
Books
Colors	&	Numbers
Empowering	Women
A	Garden	of	Thoughts:	My	Affirmation	Journal
Heal	Your	Body
Heal	Your	Body	A–Z
Heart	Thoughts
I	Can	Do	It®
Inner	Wisdom
Letters	to	Louise
Life. Reflections	on	Your	Journey
Love	Your	Body
Love	Yourself,	Heal	Your	Life	Workbook
Meditations	to	Heal	Your	Life
(also	in	a	gift	edition)	
The	Power	Is	Within	You
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	(also	in	a	gift	edition)	
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	Companion	Book
Coloring	Books/Audiocassettes	for	Children
Lulu	and	the	Ant:	A	Message	of	Love
Lulu	and	the	Dark:	Conquering	Fears
Lulu	and	Willy	the	Duck:	Learning	Mirror	Work
Audio/CD	Programs
Anger	Releasing
Cancer
Change	and	Transition
Dissolving	Barriers
Feeling	Fine	Affirmations
Forgiveness/Loving	the	Inner	Child
Heal	Your	Body	(audio	book)	
How	to	Love	Yourself
Life. Reflections	on	Your	Journey	(audio	book)	
Loving	Yourself
Meditations	for	Personal	Healing
Meditations	to	Heal	Your	Life	(audio	book)	
Morning	and	Evening	Meditations101	Power	Thoughts
Overcoming	Fears
The	Power	Is	Within	You	(audio	book)	
The	Power	of	Your	Spoken	Word
Receiving	Prosperity
Self-Esteem	Affirmations	(subliminal)	
Self	Healing
Stress-Free	Affirmations	(subliminal)	
Totality	of	Possibilities
What	I	Believe/Deep	Relaxation
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	(audio	book)	
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life	Study	Course
Your	Thoughts	Create	Your	Life
DVDs
Dissolving	Barriers
You	Can	Heal	Your	Life,	the	Movie
Card	Decks
Healthy	Body	Cards
I	CAN	DO	IT
®
	Cards	(a	60-card	deck)
I	CAN	DO	IT
®
	Cards	for	
Creativity,	Forgiveness,
Health,	Job	Success,	Wealth,	Self-Esteem,	Romance,
a	Stress-Free	Life
	(each	deck	has	12	cards)
Power	Thought	Cards
Power	Thought	Sticky	Cards
Power	Thoughts	for	Teens
Wisdom	Cards
_______________________________
All	of	the	above	are	available	at	your	local
bookstore,	or	may	be	ordered	by	visiting:
Hay	House	USA:	
www. hayhouse. com
®
Hay	House	Australia:	
www.
Louise Hay
Who is the author of the book "YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE"?
I did not find a specific book title mentioned in the text, but Dr. Tom Costa is a speaker and has written for the Religious Science Church.
What is the title of the book written by Dr. Tom Costa?
I did not find a specific book title mentioned in the text, but the book is mentioned as a bestseller.
Who is the author of the book "The CELESTINE PROPHECY"?
Ayn Rand
Who is the author of the book "The Fountainhead"?
I did not find a specific book title mentioned in the text, but Sri Daya Mata is mentioned as a spiritual teacher.
What is the title of the book written by Sri Daya Mata?