Twenty-nine	years	ago,	both	of	my	lungs	were	covered	with	metastases
(secondary	cancer)	following	the	removal	of	a	kidney	tumor. I	was	told	that	I
had	less	than	a	year	to	live. My	informants	were	mistaken,	but	to	show	they
were	willing,	they	gave	me	an	experimental	drug	that	they	said	could	not
harm	me,	which	I	still	take	every	day. I	am	grateful	to	those	who	produced	it,
even	though	I	am	the	only	person	in	the	world	who	has	survived	the	treatment
for	more	than	five	years. But	I	am	also	grateful	for	the	intense	anger	that	my	condition	induced	in	me,
and	which,	I	am	sure,	was	influential	in	defeating	my	lung	cancer. If	I	did	not	have	two	titanium	hips,	I	would	not	be	able	to	walk. Nor	would	I
be	able	to	see	if	I	did	not	have	two	post-cataract	intra-ocular	lenses. Thank
you	to	those	who	made	this	possible. Shared	Blessings
In	the	1930s,	as	a	young	boy,	I	remember	two	friends	dying	of	scarlet	fever
and	diphtheria. Unknown	now,	I	remember	how	everyone	had	one	or	two
circular	scars	on	their	upper	left	arm:	vaccination	against	smallpox. It	has
been	fewer	than	20	years	since	a	vaccination	certificate	has	been	essential	for
overseas	travel. Yet	now,	
smallpox,	the	greatest	killer	in	history,
	has	been
eradicated. Not	so	much	a	cause	for	gratitude,	or	a	blessing,	as	it	is	a	miracle. I	remember	the	scourge	of	tuberculosis:	not	a	romantic	disease,	as	with	Keats
and	the	Brontës,	but	a	dreadful	scourge,	socially	and	medically. It	has	now
virtually	disappeared,	and	our	gratitude	is	owed	to	those	who	accomplished
its	elimination. I	remember	not	being	able	to	swim	at	the	local	pool	for	fear	of	contracting
polio! Remember	polio? Let	us	be	grateful	to	Dr.	Salk. Let	us	be	grateful	that	we	can	now	talk	openly	about	cancer,	where	30	years
ago	it	was	a	taboo	subject. Because	we	can	now	discuss	it,	we	get	treated
earlier	and	more	effectively. I	am	grateful	to	be	able	to	tell	cancer	patients	of
my	history	and	to	encourage	them	to	know	that	there	is	hope. Above	all,	as	a	father,	I	am	grateful	that	my	son	has	not	had	to	learn	to	kill	his
fellow	men	in	war,	as	both	I	and	my	father	had	to	do.It	will	be	clear,	I	hope,	that	I	believe	that	
the	world	has	become	a	better	place
during	my	lifetime,
	and	that	I	am	lucky	to	have	lived	when	I	have. I	am	deeply
grateful	to	those	of	my	fellows,	whether	I	know	them	or	not,	who	have	caused
this	to	be	so. Gratitude:	A	Healing	Attitude
Emmett	E.	Miller,	M.D. Emmett	E.	Miller,	M.D.,
	
has	had	more	than	25	years	of	success	teaching
people	how	to	enhance	their	health	and	well-being. His	relaxation	and
imagery	cassettes	(I	AM,	LETTING	GO	OF	STRESS,	and	HEALING
JOURNEY,	among	others)	are	the	accepted	standard	throughout	the	world
and	are	in	widespread	use	by	Olympic	athletes,	business	leaders,	physicians,
and	others	in	the	healing	arts. He	is	the	author	of	DEEP	HEALING:	THE
ESSENCE	OF	MIND/BODY	MEDICINE. Just	look	at	my	life! Should	I	be	feeling	gratitude,	or	have	I	been	ripped	off? Is	the	glass	half-empty	or	half-full? I	can	complain	that	rose	bushes	have	thorns,	or	I	can	be	grateful	that	some
thorn	bushes	have	roses. At	the	purely	intellectual	or	“scientific”	level,	these
two	attitudes	are	equivalent. But	in	real	life,	it	makes	a	huge	difference	which
we	choose. When	the	image	we	hold	of	ourselves	in	relationship	to	the	world	portrays	us
as	a	victim,	the	resulting	sense	of	helplessness	is	transmitted	through	the
entire	system. The	physical	consequence	of	this	can	be	failure	or	breakdown
in	an	organ	or	organ	system. Whether	we	feel	gratitude	and	fullness,	or	loss,	deprivation,	and	resentment,	a
corresponding	internal	chemical	state	is	created. This	state,	in	turn,	generates
characteristic	behaviors—health	or	disease,	empowerment/powerlessness,
fulfillment/dissatisfaction,	success/failure. In	my	medical	practice	(mind/body	medicine),	the	importance	of	gratitude	is
strikingly	clear	in	a	psychophysiological	way—grateful	people	heal	faster;
they	are	able	to	eliminate	harmful	behaviors	from	their	lives	with	greater
ease;	they	are	
happier.In	twentysomething	years	of	practice,	I	have	made	an	interesting	discovery. There	are	those	who	take	what	they	learn	from	me	and	make	profound
changes	in	their	lives;	there	are	others	whose	symptoms	and	diseases	are
exactly	the	same,	who	have	difficulty	healing	or	changing	their	behaviors. Patients	who	are	
grateful
	for	the	sessions	we	have,	who	appreciate	the	energy
and	focus	I	give	to	them,	are	the	ones	who	do	well. Those	who	are	suspicious
and	mistrusting,	who	think	the	sessions	should	be	longer	or	less	expensive,
who	wonder	whether	they	are	being	“ripped	off,”	are	much	slower	to	change. It	is	obvious	from	the	sequence	of	events	that	the	gratitude	(or	lack	of	it)
comes	
first. The	way	in	which	we	see	the	world	shapes	our	responses	to	the	challenges
life	presents	us. A	sense	of	gratitude	empowers	us	to	choose	wisely…how	we
feel,	what	we	say,	what	we	believe,	what	we	do. How	preposterous	for	us,
who	are	richer	and	consume	10	times	the	resources	than	95	percent	of	the
world’s	people,	who	routinely	live	25	years	longer	than	our
greatgrandparents,	who	bask	in	personal	freedom	and	potential,	to	focus	on
the	“half-empty.”	Gratitude	leads	us	to	see	what	is	available,	what	can
develop. After	all,	there	is	nothing	to	work	with	in	the	empty	part	of	the	glass. Without	the	attitude	of	gratitude,	there	results	a	feeling	of	deprivation	well
known,	for	instance,	to	America’s	overweight	60	percent. In	a	similar	way,
smokers,	drinkers,	and	drug	abusers—whose	quality	of	life	continuously
deteriorates—are	unable	to	enact	the	apparently	simple	choices	that	they	say
and	truly	
believe
	they	want	to	make. Such	people	are	in	an	involuntary	state
of	denial—a	denial	of	the	richness	that	is	within	them. Consciousness	of	the
fullness	of	Self	would	make	their	compulsions	pale	by	comparison. Without
the	sense	of	who	you	really	are,	it	is	difficult	to	discern	the	true	worth	of
anything	that	takes	place	in	your	life	except	at	the	immediate	and	transitory
level	of	instant	gratification. Vicious	Circle,	Virtuous	Circle
When	we	feel	grateful,	we	interact	with	other	people	from	our	fullness;	they
feel	appreciated	and	are	attracted	by	our	energy. Resentment,	bitterness,	and
victimhood	tends	to	repel	people,	and	we	experience	less	support	from	others. Similarly,	when	our	lack	of	gratitude	leads	to	helplessness	and	disease,	we
feel	“ripped	off	that	our	health	is	going	downhill	while	others	are	out	enjoying
themselves.Learned	Gratitude
In	the	field	of	psychoneuroimmunology,	we	are	now	certain	that	emotions,
beliefs,	and	interpretations	(our	map	of	the	world)	have	a	profound	effect
upon	the	body’s	functioning,	including	whether	we	become	ill	or	resist
disease. Most	dramatic	are	the	studies	on	“learned	helplessness.”	No	matter
what	the	challenges	or	crises	in	our	life	may	be,	if	we	feel	
helpless
	about
them,	we	are	much	more	likely	to	become	ill. The	state	of	mind	that	we	call	gratitude	is	not	inborn,	in	my	opinion,	but
something	we	learn. Gratitude	has	to	do	with	feeling	full,	complete,	adequate
—we	have	everything	we	need	and	deserve;	we	approach	the	world	with	a
sense	of	value. It	is	the	experience	of	the	range	of	fulfillment	that	is	possible
that	leads	to	a	capacity	for	gratitude. Without	gratitude,	the	tendency	is	to	feel
incomplete,	cheated,	deficient—in	a	word,	
helpless. If	you	were	not	fortunate	enough	to	have	been	taught	the	attitude	of	gratitude
as	a	child,	you	may,	from	time	to	time,	feel	yourself	slipping	into	despair,
feeling	resentful	and	unblessed. That	still	happens	to	me	sometimes	and,
when	it	does,	I	simply	remember	my	reasons	for	doing	the	things	I	do,	my
personal	life	mission	and	vision,	with	gratitude. It	may	take	a	little	while,	but
with	inner	focus	and	imagery,	my	attitude	always	comes	around. After	all,	just
like	you,	“I	am	what	I	think.”
Transcendental	Gratitude
Dan	Millman
Dan	Millman
	
is	the	author	of	seven	books,	including	WAY	OF	THE
PEACEFUL	WARRIOR,	NO	ORDINARY	MOMENTS,	THE	LIFE	YOU	WERE
BORN	TO	LIVE,	and	two	children’s	books. His	writings	(translated	into	16
languages)	have	inspired	millions	of	people. A	former	world-champion
athlete	and	college	professor,	Dan	now	trains	people	from	all	walks	of	life	in
areas	of	personal	and	spiritual	growth. Although	most	of	us	have	five	senses,	two	additional	ones	have	special
significance:	a	sense	of	humor	and	a	sense	of	perspective. Out	of	these	grows
a	natural	outpouring	of	gratitude. If	we	lack	perspective,	we	also	lack	humor;
we	may	become	upset	about	small	disappointments,	broken	expectations—
about	the	imperfections	or	mistakes	of	others. However,	those	of	us	who	have	encountered	strong	challenges	and	tests,	such
as	pain,	illness,	and	the	death	of	a	loved	one,	have	a	different	reference	point. We	don’t	“sweat	the	small	stuff;	we	feel	thankful	for	even	small	favors	and
blessings. Charles	Grodin,	the	writer	and	actor,	once	shared	with	me	that	after
his	father	died	when	Charles	was	18	years	old,	everything	else	was	“small
stuff.”	His	father’s	death	gave	him	a	sense	of	perspective	and,	with	it,	a
profound	sense	of	gratitude. Over	time,	with	an	expanded	perspective,	our	perceptions	change. We	begin
to	feel	grateful,	not	only	for	particular	favors,	acts	of	kindness,	or	pleasant
circumstances,	but	for	small	things—the	glimpse	of	a	sunrise,	the	beauty	of	a
tree	blowing	in	a	breeze. Perspective	also	leads	to	a	profound	kind	of
humility,	not	in	the	sense	of	meekness,	but	in	appreciating	our	place	in	the
larger	universe	and	the	opportunity	that	life	represents,	whether	or	not	it
happens	to	be	going	well	at	the	moment. As	children,	we	were	taught	conventional	gratitude:	“Say	thank	you	to	Aunt
Susan	for	the	nice	underwear,	dear.”	Or	we	might	have	been	“taught”gratitude	out	of	guilt:	“Just	remember	how	we’ve	sacrificed	for	you,	and	look
how	you	act!”	When	someone	calls	us	“ungrateful,”	we’ve	broken	one	of
their	social	conventions. Conventional	gratitude	may	carry	the	subtle	burden
of	obligation,	bartering	favors	or	keeping	score,	as	if	saying,	“You’ve	done
more	for	me	than	I	do	for	you,	so	I’m	in	the	red,	gratitude-wise:	I	owe	you
one.”	Usually	a	mixture	of	motives	underlies	altruistic	acts—a	sense	of	duty,
obligation,	social	conscience,	a	need	for	recognition,	attention,	and	only
rarely,	pure	altruism	or	self-sacrifice. If	someone	does	a	favor	for	me,	social	convention	tells	me	that	I	“should”	be
grateful. But	if	I’ve	allowed	them	the	opportunity	to	give,	to	serve,	and	to
raise	their	sense	of	self-worth,	perhaps	they	should	be	grateful	to	me. The
deeper	we	look	at	it,	the	more	elusive	the	“rules”	of	gratitude	become. Transcendental	gratitude,	however,	goes	beyond	social	conventions. Instead
of	feeling	grateful	to	someone,	we	feel	grateful	
for
	them—for	God	or	Spirit
working	through	them. We	begin	to	feel	grateful	for	everyone	and	everything
that	arises	in	our	lives. This	feeling	uplifts	us,	embraces	us,	and	helps	us	to
uplift	and	embrace	others	in	the	ultimate	recognition	that	we	are,	ultimately,
in	this	together. For	some	time	now,	I’ve	been	waking	up	grateful	each	morning,	and	I	go	to
sleep	grateful	each	night	with	a	tacit	and	growing	sense	of	the	presence,	love,
and	blessing	of	Spirit. I	feel	grateful	for	my	friends	and	adversaries,	for	both
the	joys	and	challenges	of	my	life,	because	the	joys	give	me	pleasure,	and	the
challenges	help	me	grow. Everything	serves	in	its	way. Falling	into	Gratitude
Mary-Margaret	Moore
Mary-Margaret	Moore
	
has	been	the	channel	for	the	Bartholomew	energy	for
more	than	20	years. She	spent	her	first	18	years	growing	up	in	Hawaii	and
the	next	five	obtaining	two	degrees	from	Stanford	University. She	has	been	a
seeker	of	clear	awareness	for	many	years,	using	techniques	ranging	from	the
study	of	the	power	of	Christian	saints	to	Zen	Buddhism	to	the	insights	of
Ramana	Maharshi. One	of	the	things	that	I	have	learned	in	these	last	17	years	working	with	the
Bartholomew	Awareness	is	that	gratitude,	like	love,	can	be	experienced	at
ever-deepening	levels. There	was	a	time	when	I	felt	that	being	grateful	just
meant	feeling	good	about	the	things	in	one’s	life,	the	people	in	one’s	life,	and
the	pleasure	in	one’s	life. But	Bartholomew	has	shown	us	something	far
vaster	than	this	limited,	linear	“what’s	in	it	for	me”	point	of	view. What	he	has
shown	repeatedly	is	that	gratitude,	at	its	deepest	level,	is	an	ever-present,
abundantly	peace-filled	energy	field	that	is	constantly	available	in	every
moment	of	our	life,	regardless	of	the	circumstances	manifesting	in	that
moment. He	has	turned	us	away	from	the	identification	of	“feeling	good	if
things	are	going	well,”	to	the	deep	and	heartfelt	reality	that	this	gratitude,	this
wonder,	this	peace,	is	a	constant	electromagnetic	tone	that	is	accessible	by
just	dropping	out	of	our	mental	and	emotional	drama	and	into	the	silent
constancy	of	gratitude	itself. It	is	an	exciting	moment	when	we	realize	that	whatever	comes	to	us,	whatever
is	present	now,	is	precisely	what	we	need	for	our	awakening	to	the	Vast
Infinite	Light	of	Being	Itself—God,	Love,	Light,	What	Is,	Our	True	Nature—
whatever	you	choose	to	call	it. Bartholomew’s	constant	words	to	us	are,
“Whatever	is	present	is	It. Whatever	you	are	experiencing,	if	you	will	simply
allow	it	to	be	fully	felt	and	experienced	without	thinking	about	it,	trying	to
change	it,	trying	to	understand	or	avoid	it,	you	will	find	at	the	core	of	all
experiences	the	peace	and	the	wonder	that	you	have	been	seeking.”In	these	last	years,	many	of	us,	on	all	spiritual	paths,	have	begun	to	truly
awaken	to	this	ever-present	reality. As	I	travel	the	globe,	I	find	that	this	is	true
in	all	countries	I	visit,	with	people	from	so	many	different	backgrounds. It	is	as	if	there	is	a	wellspring	of	hope	and	gratitude	and	insightful	awakening
happening	to	thousands	upon	thousands	of	seekers	from	all	paths,	named	and
unnamed. What	I	have	heard	again	and	again	is	people	voicing	their	gratitude
that	they	finally	know	that	God	exists;	that	somehow,	by	who	knows	what
grace,	we	are	beginning	to	truly	realize	that	we,	as	our	birthright,	have	the
potential	to	truly	experience	the	Godness	of	our	Being. And	that	this	is	the
potential	for	this	moment,	this	day,	in	this	life—not	in	some	future,	more
auspicious	rebirth	when	circumstances	are	more	favorable. We	all	seem	to	be
willing	to	finally	hear	the	“good	news”—that	we	are	That	which	we	seek,	we
have	never	been	separate	from	Who	We	Are,	and	that	this	Reality	is	ours
whenever	we	are	willing	to	drop	out	of	our	mental	and	emotional	temporary
creations	and	into	the	Eternally	Present	Presence. The	final	letting-go	comes	when	we	allow	ourselves	to	Real-ize	that	each
moment	can	be	filled	with	this	warmth	when	we	allow	things	to	be	exactly	as
they	are. We	can’t	“do	it,”	“find	it,”	or	“earn	it.”	But	we	can	Be	It. Because
we	already	are	It. What	could	be	easier	than	Being	what	we	really	are? We
need	to	just	stop	the	trying,	and	what	is	left	is	the	Vastness	of	Being. No
struggle,	no	striving—just	Being. My	Own	“Gratitude	Book”
Rev. Nancy	Norman
Rev. Nancy	Norman
	
is	dedicated	to	inspiring	people	to	discover,	develop,
and	achieve	their	highest	potential. Her	approach	is	clear,	practical,	sincere,
and	easily	transferable	to	everyday	life. Nancy	is	a	Unity	minister	and	has
enjoyed	successful	careers	in	real	estate,	fashion,	and	education. She	devotes
her	life	to	helping	people	live	better,	fuller,	more	abundant	lives. The	little	dark	cloud	seemed	to	hover	above	me	at	all	times,	ready	to	pour
down	its	doom	and	gloom. Recently	divorced,	unsure	of	my	future,	no	job	or
career	in	sight,	financially	insecure	and	feeling	very	alone,	the	little	dark
cloud	never	left	my	side. What	was	I	to	do? I	didn’t	even	know	where	to	start. Then	an	idea	came	to	mind. It	was	as	if	someone	was	telling	me,	“Stop
focusing	on	what	isn’t	right	about	your	life,	and	begin	seeing	what	is	good
and	positive.”	Not	an	original	idea,	I	admit,	but	one	that	had	not	occurred	to
me	before. A	plan	began	to	formulate. I	sat	down	and	started	to	list	every	good	and
positive	thing	I	could	think	of,	going	back	as	far	as	I	could	remember. As	I
wrote,	the	world	began	to	seem	friendlier,	and	I	realized	how	much	I	had	to
be	grateful	for. By	the	end	of	the	writing	session,	I	had	filled	pages,	and	the
feelings	of	doom	and	gloom	were	ebbing	away. I	decided	at	that	point	to	carry
this	idea	of	gratitude—of	focusing	on	what	was	good	and	right	in	my	life—a
step	further. My	plan	was	to	carry	a	small	notebook	with	me	at	all	times	and
list	the	things	I	was	grateful	for	as	they	occurred. I	took	my	morning	walk	and	saw	the	world	with	new	eyes. The	scenery	that	I
had	taken	for	granted	on	other	mornings	was	alive	with	beauty	and	color. The
dogs	I	passed,	the	birds	I	heard,	were	all	reminders	that	I	lived	in	an	abundant,
loving,	harmonious	Universe. I	recorded	all	these	wonders	in	my	“Gratitude
Book.”
As	the	day	progressed,	blessing	after	blessing	occurred. The	mail	arrived—rather	than	bills,	there	were	three	checks. Unexpected	income. A	neighbor
brought	me	a	wonderful	homemade	pie;	she	said	that	she	didn’t	know	why,
but	she	thought	of	me	as	she	was	baking. A	friend	gave	me	a	painting	he	had
commissioned	for	me	done	by	a	well-known	artist. I	continued	to	write	these
events	in	my	Gratitude	Book,	and	by	early	afternoon,	that	little	dark	cloud	of
doom	and	gloom	had	disintegrated. I	continue	to	use	my	Gratitude	Book. It	helps	me	see	beyond	my	self-
defeating	fears	and	doubts. Gratitude	is	a	powerful	magnetic	force	that
naturally	draws	joyous	people	and	events	to	me. It	attracts	the	hidden
potential	in	life. Gratitude	is	one	of	the	greatest	secrets	of	a	fulfilled	life—it	is
cooperating	with	the	Universe. Yes! I	do	live	in	a	loving,	abundant,	harmonious	Universe,	and	I	am	grateful! The	Gift	of	Gratitude
Robert	Odom
Robert	Odom,
	
the	author	of	YOUR	COMPANION	TO	12	STEP	RECOVERY,
is	a	metaphysical	counselor,	lecturer,	and	teacher	with	more	than	20	years	in
recovery. He	is	a	student	of	New	Mexico	history	and,	appropriately,	makes	his
home	in	both	Santa	Fe,	and	Las	Cruces,	New	Mexico. Learning	how	to	love	is	a	process	that	involves	remembering	who	we	really
are. The	bottom-line	reality	is	that	all	life	on	the	planet	is	a	manifestation	of
Spirit	in	physical	bodies. All	life	is	Spirit,	and	Spirit	is	sacred;	therefore,	all
life	is	sacred. Gratitude	involves	taking	time	to	consciously	appreciate	the	complexity	of
life. Often	we	can	get	so	busy	“doing”	that	there	is	little	time	left	for	living. Sometimes	we	can	only	be	grateful	for	obvious	blessings	while	we	wind	up
resenting	our	pain. We	live	in	a	culture	that	programs	us	to	expect	instant	gratification	and	to
devalue	processes	that	involve	large	amounts	of	time	and	close	attention. It	is
easy	for	us	to	read	a	few	books,	go	to	several	workshops,	and	expect
immediate	enlightenment. It	is	a	mentality	of	“microwave	spirituality.”	In
learning	how	to	love,	we	must	embrace	all	of	life’s	experiences,	both	the
horrible	and	the	sublime. So	often,	our	greatest	spiritual	knowing	comes
cloaked	in	confusion	and	pain. It	is	truly	a	challenge	to	become	grateful	for
our	pain	as	well	as	our	joy. Being	grateful	for	our	lessons	and	for	our	experiences	is	actually	a	way	of
responding	to	life,	flowing	from	a	full	heart. Being	grateful,	or	as	we	say	in
12	Step	programs,	adopting	an	“attitude	of	gratitude,”	keeps	us	in	touch	with
our	interconnectedness. It	reminds	us	that	we	are	all	part	of	the	great	spiral	of
creation,	on	a	spiritual	journey	back	to	the	Source. Everything	on	that	journey
is	a	part	of	bringing	us	closer	to	Spirit	by	making	us	aware	of	our	own
divinity.We	have	a	spiritual	responsibility	to	be	consciously	grateful	because	that
energy’s	frequency	flows	from	us	and	assists	in	our	own	healing,	our
brother’s	and	sister’s	healing,	and	ultimately	the	healing	of	the	planet,	our
EarthMother. Take	some	time	to	be	alone	out	in	nature. Quietly	watch	the	ants,	the	birds,
the	leaves	in	the	bushes	and	trees. All	the	life	forms	are	unself-conscious	in
their	enjoyment	of	the	world. The	ants	have	more	than	enough	sand	to	build
their	hills;	the	birds	have	an	abundance	of	twigs	for	nests;	there	is	far	more
than	enough	sunlight	for	the	leaves	to	produce	food	for	the	plants. While	you
are	out	there	in	nature,	remember	that	you,	too,	are	a	part	of	this	wonderful,
intricate	web	of	life. It	is	such	a	glorious	blessing	to	be	alive	in	this	wonderful
place. Take	a	deep	breath,	open	your	heart,	and	remember	that	gratitude	is
God	appreciating	the	gift	of	Itself	to	the	world. Be	consciously	grateful	for	every	person,	place,	and	thing	that	helps	you	learn
to	love. Gratitude:	The	Natural	Expression	of	a	Loving
Heart
Daniel	T.	Peralta
Daniel	T.	Peralta
	
is	a	metaphysical	teacher	with	a	degree	in	the	Psychology
of	Consciousness	from	Antioch	University. He	has	trained	extensively	with
Louise	L.	Hay. Daniel’s	work	reaches	a	diverse	group	of	people	ranging	from
children	in	our	public	schools	to	the	mentally	and	emotionally	challenged. He
is	currently	working	with	incarcerated	individuals	in	the	prison	system. Daniel	has	also	hosted	a	live	interactive	television	series	entitled	“Self-
Esteem:	Becoming	Empowered!”	on	the	Education	Channel. He	resides	in
Hawaii. Gratitude	focuses	our	attention	on
the	good	things	in	life. It	takes	our	blessings	and	multiplies	them. When	we	joyfully	express	appreciation,
it	opens	our	hearts	and	allows	us	to
experience	more	love. Love	is	the	power	that	heals	our	lives,	and	love	is	the	power	that	will
ultimately	heal	this	world. Gratitude	comes	from	love. It	is	the	natural
expression	of	a	loving	heart. Therefore,	whenever	we	express	gratitude,	we
align	ourselves	with	the	power	that	heals	us. Giving	thanks	and	praise	spreads
healing	energy	and	makes	our	lives	and	the	world	a	better	place	to	be	and	live. Every	time	we	express	appreciation,	we	help	heal	the	world. Gratitude
projects	positive	vibrations	out	into	the	atmosphere,	and	our	benevolent
Universe	responds	kindly. Therefore,	cultivating	an	“Attitude	of	Gratitude”	is	essential. And	it	begins	by
noticing	all	the	good	that	you	already	have. Counting	your	blessings	is	one	of
the	surest	ways	to	lift	your	spirits. It	always	shifts	the	energy	to	something
positive	and	desirable. If	you’re	feeling	depressed	or	sad,	you	can	startthinking	about	all	the	good	things	in	your	life. Begin	by	being	grateful	for	all
the	blessings	you	have. Look	for	them;	they’re	there. This	will	change	your
energy. Say	thank	you	to	Life	for	the	good	that	is	already	abundantly	present
within	you	and	around	you. The	fact	that	you	are	alive	and	are	experiencing	the	gift	of	life	is	a	tremendous
honor. Each	new	day	is	alive	with	new	possibilities	that	you	can	experience. Each	new	day	is	another	opportunity	for	you	to	begin	again. You	get	another
chance	at	being	the	wonderful	person	you	are. What	a	blessing! Thank	God
that	you	are	here,	willing	and	able	to	contribute	your	talents	and	gifts	to	this
world. The	world	needs	you,	and	Life	is	grateful	for	you. Now	it’s	time	to	be
grateful	for	yourself. When	you	express	gratitude,	you	raise	the	vibrations	around	you	to	a	higher
frequency. You	create	positive	energy	that	emanates	out	from	you	and	returns
to	you	as	wonderful	experiences. You	become	magnetic. Good	things	and
good	people	gravitate	toward	you	because	you	are	such	a	joy	and	delight	to	be
around. An	attitude	of	gratitude	is	naturally	attractive. It	has	the	power	to	turn
challenges	into	possibilities,	problems	into	solutions,	and	losses	into	gains. It
shifts	the	energy. It	expands	our	vision	and	allows	us	to	see	what	might
normally	be	invisible	to	someone	with	a	limiting	attitude. Even	in	our	darkest	hours,	we	can	cultivate	an	attitude	of	gratitude. No	matter
what	is	happening	around	us,	we	can	choose	to	respond	in	a	way	that	will
help	us	learn	and	grow. When	we	look	at	our	difficulties	as	opportunities	for
growth,	then	we	can	be	grateful	for	the	lessons	we	are	learning	from	these
difficult	experiences. There	is	always	a	gift	in	every	experience. Expressing
gratitude	allows	us	to	find	it. When	we	
are
	genuinely	appreciative	for	all	that
Life	has	to	offer,	we	see	the	Light	in	ourselves	and	everyone	else. We	see
everyone	and	everything	as	a	potential	blessing. Gratitude	is	a	prayer	for	goodness	to	abound. It	attracts	abundance	and
generosity. I	think	the	words	
thank	you	are
	two	of	the	most	beautiful	words	in
the	language. They	can	light	up	someone’s	face	and	help	the	other	person
know	that	he	or	she	is	appreciated. It	opens	the	door	to	our	hearts	and	allows
us	to	feel	connected. Every	morning	upon	waking	up,	the	first	words	out	of	my	mouth	are	“Thank
you.”	This	allows	me	to	feel	immediately	connected	with	God	and	fills	my
heart	with	love. I	am	grateful	that	I	am	alive	and	breathing	and	have	another
day	to	live	life	fully	and	richly. I	am	thankful	that	I	am	here,	participating	andpartaking	in	the	lavish	abundance	of	this	Universe. Life’s	bounty	is	here	for	all	of	us. When	we	express	love	and	gratitude,	we
harmonize	our	energies	and	awaken	to	the	knowing	that	our	very	own	lives
are	part	of	this	rich	bounty. Here	are	some	tips	for	cultivating	an	attitude	of	gratitude:
Throughout	the	day,	say	the	words
	thank	you	
either	silently	or	aloud. Let
God	know	that	you	are	happy	to	be	alive	and	participating	in	this
experience	called	Life. Say	thank	you	to	yourself,	others,	and	the	world. Let	the	attitude	of	gratitude	spread. Keep	a	gratitude	book. Write	down	all	the	things	you	are	grateful	for	in
your	life. Remember	to	include	things	such	as	electricity,	water,
plumbing,	technology,	and	all	those	modern	conveniences	we	often
overlook. If	you	can’t	physically	write	them	down,	then	do	it	mentally. Praise	the	progress	we	have	all	made. When	you	’re	having	hard	times,	look	at	the	experiences	and	say,	“I	know
that	this	has	come	to	bless	me,	and	I	am	willing	to	see	the	gift	in	this
experience. May	the	lessons	be	revealed	to	me,	and	may	I	become
stronger	and	clearer.”
Thank	you….Thank	you…Thank	you…	Thank	you…
Gratitude:	A	Lifestyle
Marcia	Perkins-Reed
Marcia	Perkins-Reed
	
is	a	nationally	known	motivational	speaker	and
seminar	presenter. She	brings	to	her	audiences	a	combination	of	25	years	of
varied	business	experience,	degrees	in	psychology	and	law,	ten	years	in	New
Thought,	and	the	success	and	fulfillment	experienced	by	her	and	her
consulting	clients. Marcia	is	the	author	of	the	book	WHEN	9	TO	5	ISN’T
ENOUGH:	A	GUIDE	TO	FINDING	FULFILLMENT	AT	WORK. Gratitude	isn’t	always	easy	to	invoke. If	our	circumstances	are	unpleasant,	or
if	we	are	concentrating	more	on	what	we	lack	than	on	what	we	have,	it	may
seem	ludicrous	to	try	to	find	something	to	be	thankful	for. But	gratitude
comprises	more	than	simply	being	thankful. Thankfulness	is	directed	toward	a
specific	object	or	event	that	has	just	happened,	as	in	“I	am	thankful	for	the
new	sweater	I	just	received.”	Gratitude,	by	contrast,	is	a	lifestyle—a	way	of
living. People	who	live	in	a	state	of	gratitude	have	developed	the	ability	to
embody,	moment	by	moment,	a	sense	of	wonder	and	contentment	with	their
lives	just	as	they	are. And	as	they	do	so,	they	paradoxically	seem	to	attract
more	and	more	blessings	into	their	lives	in	the	form	of	money,	fulfilling	jobs,
deeply	satisfying	personal	relationships,	and	other	things	that	they	desire. Expressing	thankfulness	on	a	regular	basis	can	lead	to	a	gratitude-filled
lifestyle. I	have	developed	a	practice,	every	time	something	good	happens—
whether	expected	or	not!—to	say	(to	myself	or	out	loud):	“Thank	you,	God!”
But	as	you	do	this	regularly,	you	will	begin	to	notice	yourself	changing. Things	that	used	to	bother	you	don’t	bother	you	as	much	anymore. You	see
someone	less	fortunate	than	yourself,	and	as	you	thank	your	Source	for	what
you	have,	you	also	reach	out	to	help	the	other	person	and	to	give	him	or	her
what	you	can	of	yourself	and	your	substance. Practicing	gratitude	is	simply	recognizing	that	there	is	infinite	substance	all
around	us,	throughout	the	universe	and	beyond. And	we	must,	as	Eric
Butterworth	urges	us	in	his	book	
Spiritual	Economics,
	“Get	it	into	yourconsciousness	that	you	live	in	substance	as	a	fish	lives	in	water.”	We	can
never	lack	substance,	even	if	we	lose	all	of	our	assets	in	a	financial	crisis—for
substance	is	the	nonmaterial	essence	of	the	things	we	see. So	we	can	always
invoke	gratitude	for	the	invisible	substance	around	us,	knowing	that	as	we	do
so,
	we	will	draw	its	manifestation	to	us. Gratitude	leads	to	two	delightful	results	in	our	lives. First,	it	creates	a	deep
sense	of	joy. It	is	said	that	if	we	pursue	happiness	as	our	goal,	it	will	elude	us. The	same	is	true	of	joy:	If	we	seek	it	for	its	own	sake,	we	will	not	find	it. But
if	we	practice	gratitude—living	in	a	consciousness	of	contentment,	being
thankful	for	what	we	have	(even	if	it	is	meager),	and	cultivating	inner	peace
through	times	of	quiet	meditation—we	will	find	that	joy	appears
spontaneously. The	second	result	of	gratitude	is	a	personal	experience	of	abundance	and
prosperity. It	is	an	accepted	principle	that	“what	we	focus	on	expands.”	If	we
spend	most	of	our	time	thinking	about	what	we	don’t	have,	or	how	we	wish
our	life	was	different,	or	what	we	just	lost,	that	will	expand—and	we	will
have	more	loss,	more	lack,	and	more	discontent	with	our	current	situation. If,
on	the	other	hand,	we	focus	on	what	we	have—food	on	the	table,	friends
and/or	family	who	care	about	us,	the	sunshine	outside—that,	too,	will	expand. The	energy	of	gratitude	in	our	lives	draws	more	and	more	of	the	things	we
desire	to	us,	almost	by	magic. So	begin	your	practice	of	gratitude	today. As	you	awaken,	immediately	ask
yourself,	“What	can	I	be	thankful	for	today?”	Spend	time	in	the	silence	of
your	own	inner	self,	appreciating	the	wonder	of	who	you	are. And	remember
to	always	acknowledge	the	good	that	comes	to	you. Gratitude:	A	Powerful	Force
John	Randolph	Price
John	Randolph	Price
	
is	the	author	of	numerous	bestselling	books,	including
THE	SUPERBEINGS,	THE	ABUNDANCE	BOOK,	THE	ANGELS	WITHIN
US,	and	PRACTICAL	SPIRITUALITY. He	is	the	board	chairman	of	The
Quartus	Foundation,	and	with	his	wife	Jan,	he	conducts	workshops	and
intensive	gatherings. In	recognition	of	their	work	in	initiating	the	Global
Mind-Link	and	World	Healing	Day,	the	Prices	were	named	the	1986
recipients	of	the	“Light	of	God	Expressing	Award”	by	the	Association	of
Unity	Churches. John	was	also	given	the	1992	Humanitarian	Award	by	the
Arizona	District	of	the	International	New	Thought	Alliance. The	common	meaning	of	gratitude	is	to	be	thankful	for	benefits	received. While	this	is	important,	I	feel	that	the	energy	of	gratitude	is	one	of	the	most
powerful	
attracting
	forces	in	the	universe. A	heart	filled	with	thanksgiving,
even	when	appearances	tell	us	that	we	are	mired	in	scarcity,	conflict,	and
affliction,	moves	us	to	a	higher	frequency	in	consciousness—and	we	soon
witness	reality	shining	through	the	illusion. To	paraphrase	what	I’ve	written	in	my	book	
Empowerment,
	our	desires	are
first	fulfilled	in	consciousness,	and	then	they	come	forth	in	the	outer	world	as
the	ideal	experience	and	form—so	the	secret	is	to	be	thankful	while	our	good
is	still	invisible. Gratitude	releases	a	dynamic	current	of	spiritual	energy	to	go
before	us	to	exert	a	mighty	influence	in	our	world. It	not	only	eliminates
negative	patterns	in	the	subconscious	caused	by	ingratitude,	it	also	forms	a
connecting	link—a	bridge—to	every	possible	source	of	good. Of	course,	there
is	only	one	Source,	but	Divine	Mind	works	in	mysterious	ways	to	perform
magnificent	wonders	through	an	infinite	number	of	channels. And	through	a
feeling	of	gratitude,	we	put	ourselves	in	alignment	with	universal	riches,
loving	relations,	and	the	healing	power	of	Spirit	radiating	from	within. My	wife	Jan	and	I	have	proved	the	power	of	gratitude	many	times	in	our
lives. In	the	1970s,	I	was	having	a	difficult	time	in	a	business	situation	andhad	spent	days	praying	and	meditating	for	a	solution. Then	one	morning	as	I
was	getting	out	of	bed,	I	heard	an	audible	voice	boom	through	our	bedroom
with	the	words	
“Quiet	trust.”
	To	me,	that	meant	that	the	problem	had	been
solved,	and	my	role	in	the	scheme	of	things	was	to	still	my	mind	(that	is,	stop
worrying)	and	trust	the	divine	process. A	feeling	of	intense	gratitude	came
over	me,	and	for	the	next	several	days,	my	constant	expression	in	mind	and
heart	was	
Thank	you,	God! And	then	suddenly	out	of	chaos	came	perfect
order	and	harmony. On	December	30,	1993,	when	Jan	had	a	heart	attack	and	died	on	the	EMS
gurney	in	our	home,	I	felt	a	sense	of	detachment	and	little	emotional	response. Even	when	the	paramedic	said	to	me,	“I’m	sorry,	we’ve	lost	her,”	I	wouldn’t
accept	it. On	some	level	of	consciousness,	I	knew	she	would	come	back	and
would	recover	quickly. After	more	than	four	minutes	on	the	other	side,	she
did	return,	and	later	at	the	hospital	while	waiting	for	a	report	from	the	doctors,
I	let	that	feeling	of	gratitude	rise	up	as	never	before. My	prayer	in	the	waiting
room	was	one	of	great	thankfulness	for	the	Lifeforce	within	her	that	was
healing	and	perfecting	her	body. The	next	morning,	Jan,	too,	was	expressing
gratitude	for	life,	her	incredible	experience,	and	how	wonderful	she	felt—and
the	doctor	was	shaking	his	head	in	thankful	awe	of	her	rapid	recovery. Gratitude,	which	combines	the	energies	of	love	and	joy,	had	filled	that
hospital	to	overflowing,	and	it	would	not	have	surprised	me	to	learn	that	other
miraculous	healings	had	taken	place	during	that	time. When	we	live	with	grateful	hearts,	fear	cannot	enter,	guilt	is	dissolved,	and
there	is	only	peace,	love,	forgiveness,	and	understanding. To	me,	that’s	what
life	is	all	about. A	Shortcut	to	a	Miracle
Rev. Michael	C.	Rann
Rev. Michael	C.	Rann
	
is	the	minister	of	the	First	Church	of	Religious	Science
in	Chicago,	and	the	author	of	several	books,	including	EFFECTIVE	RADIO
ADVERTISING,	SOMETHING	GOOD	IS	ABOUT	TO	HAPPEN,	and	THE
POWER	OF	COMMITMENT. Michael	is	a	charismatic	and	dynamic	speaker
whose	philosophy	of	life	is	one	of	success	for	himself,	for	his	clients,	and	for
all	those	with	whom	he	comes	in	contact. If	there	is	a	shortcut	to	manifesting	a	miracle,	it	is	though	an	
attitude	of
gratitude. When	individuals	learn	to	be	thankful,	they	are	opening	their	lives
to	receptive	action. Thankfulness	evokes	the	
Law	of	Receptivity. Learning	to	use	two	simple	words,	
thank	you,
	helps	you	accomplish	things
you	desire. For	example,	if	you	would	like	a	particular	table	in	a	restaurant,
thank	the	host	or	hostess	in	advance;	it	usually	gets	you	a	seat	at	a	table
positioned	exactly	where	you	want	to	be	seated. I	could	go	on	with	more
examples,	but	I’m	sure	you	understand	the	point	that	I	am	making. Did	you	ever	think	of	what	happens	when	you	say	thank	you	when	you	are
grateful? Let’s	think	about	it	for	a	moment. You	say	thank	you,	and	in	a	split
second,	there	is	a	closeness	established	between	you	and	the	person	you
thanked. For	the	person	you	say	it	to,	it	makes	him	or	her	feel	wanted,
appreciated,	and	even	important. In	other	words,	saying	thank	you	makes	the
person	feel	good. The	simple	fact	is	that	you	cannot	give	without	receiving. This,	all	the	learned
philosophers	tell	us,	is	a	Law. “We	give	what	we	choose,	and	we	receive	back
that	which	we	give. So,	in	fact,	we	choose	what	we	receive	in	life.”	How	sad
for	those	who	have	not	learned	this	simple	truth. Don’t	take	my	word	or	anyone	else’s	word	for	it. Try	it	yourself! Say	thank
you,	and	watch	the	results	in	your	life. Then	try	saying	thank	you	even	beforethe	desired	results	occur. You	will	be	amazed	by	how	quickly	your	life
becomes	filled	with	wonderful	outcomes	that	some	choose	to	call	
miracles. What	does	saying	thank	you	do	for	you? When	you	make	another	person	feel
good,	you	also	feel	good. When	you	make	another	person	feel	important,	you
also	feel	important. How	wonderful	it	is	to	help	yourself	feel	good,	important,
and	even	appreciated. Saying	thank	you	to	others	gives	you	the	same	respect
and	satisfaction	that	you	expressed	to	the	one	whom	you	thanked. Following	this	way	of	life	is	a	wonderful	adventure. To	know	any	Law	is	to
respect	it,	and	the	
Laws	of	Gratitude	and	Receptivity
	are	an	established
science. To	have	faith	in	these	Laws	and	to	practice	them	on	a	regular	basis
allows	the	Creative	Power	to	work	for	you. The	possibilities	are	awesome	when	you	learn	to	appreciate	and	respect	the
things	that	others	do	to	make	your	life	more	enjoyable. You	create	your	own
experience,	so	let	it	be	one	filled	with	respect	and	appreciation. Since	it	is	up
to	you	to	choose	what	your	experience	will	be,	you	have	an	opportunity	to
demonstrate	this	form	of	love,	and	love	
always
	produces	constructive,
creative	action. It	all	starts	with	an	
attitude	of	gratitude
	and	with	saying	the	two	simple	words,
thank	you. You	cannot	give	good	away. It	keeps	coming	back	bigger	and
better	than	when	you	gave	it. Now	it’s	up	to	you! Prove	the	power	of
gratitude,	and	you	will	be	practicing	what	some	refer	to	as	the	highest	form	of
prayer. Oh,	by	the	way,	thank	you	for	reading	this	essay. I	appreciate	your	time,	and	I
appreciate	YOU! Gratitude:	Its	Healing	Properties
Dr.	Frank	Richelieu
Dr.	Frank	Richelieu
	
is	pastor	of	the	Church	of	Religious	Science	of	Redondo
Beach,	California,	and	a	past	president	of	Religious	Science	International. He
received	much	of	his	religious	training	from	Ernest	Holmes,	the	founder	of	the
Religious	Science	movement. Dr.	Richelieu’s	dynamic	talks	are	heard	over
radio	daily	on	the	“Living	Ideas”	program,	which	has	been	broadcast	for	25
years. He	is	the	author	of	THE	PROSPERITY	CONNECTION,
REINCARNATION:	THE	INHERITANCE	OF	A	SOUL,	and	THE	ART	OF
BEING	YOURSELF. Gratitude	is	more	than	an	ennobling	attitude. It	is	one	of	the	most
empowering,	healing,	dynamic	instruments	of	consciousness	vital	to
demonstrating	the	life	experiences	one	desires. When	you	are	focused	on
gratitude,	you	are	filled	with	the	awareness	of	the	good	and	desirable	fabric	of
your	life. You	are	literally	praising	and	blessing	what	you	know	you	already
have. This	knowing	is	the	fulfilling	of	a	cosmic	law:	WHAT	YOU	ADORE
BECOMES	MORE. Gratitude	is	like	a	magnet. It	draws	and	attracts	to	you	that	which	is	equal	to
it. If,	for	example,	you	happen	to	be	flat	on	your	back	in	pain,	practice
gratitude	in	the	area	of	health. Be	grateful	for	the	health	you	do	have. Focus
on	the	feeling	of	peace	and	well-being	that	still	exists	in	other	parts	of	your
body. When	experiencing	illness	of	any	kind,	it	is	especially	essential	to	let
your	mind	dwell	on	health	with	gratitude	and	acceptance	for	the	good. See
that	the	greater	part	of	your	body	is	doing	what	you	want	it	to. Praise	and
bless	it. Your	body	is	renewable	and	rechargeable. Your	gratitude	is	like
fertilizer	to	the	tree	of	your	life. It	stimulates	health	and	growth. When	you	are	seemingly	overwhelmed	by	a	chaotic	condition	or	situation,
that	is	the	time	to	think	of	the	peace	at	the	heart	of	the	infinite. That	is	the
time	to	flood	your	mind	and	emotions	with	peace	in	grateful	thanks	for	the
Divine	Law	and	Order	that	exists	throughout	the	universe,	making	Law	andOrder	a	possibility	for	you,	as	well. As	you	become	filled	with	gratitude	for
health	and	peace,	the	solutions	and	the	healing	fall	right	into	place. When	you
do	not	know	how	you	are	going	to	meet	next	month’s	financial	obligations
and	you	become	filled	with	tension	and	the	idea	of	lack,	realize	that	the	divine
antidote	is	to	be	thankful	for	abundance. When	in	the	midst	of	any	problem	or
situation,	say	to	yourself:
I	am	thankful	for	perfect	health	and	abundant	good	that	finds	its	way	to
me	by	means	of	the	avenues	in	my	life	that	I	have	made	open	and
available	for	the	divine	flow. I	am	thankful	for	all	the	joy	that	arises	in
my	consciousness. I	am	thankful	for	the	abundant	health	that	is	mine
now. I	am	grateful	for	the	opportunity	to	know	more	and	grow	more	in
consciousness. What	you	give	your	attention	to	is	what	you	manifest	in	your	life. The	teacher
Jesus	knew	this	to	such	an	extent	that	he	could	give	thanks	for	that	which	was
not	visible,	knowing	that	it	would	become	tangible	and	factual	by	means	of
the	Law	of	Cause	and	Effect. What	we	call	problems	are	very	close	to	us. They	trap	us	on	every	level—physically,	mentally,	and	emotionally. They	are
so	“visible”	that	it	is	difficult	for	us	to	be	objective	about	them. It	is	necessary
to	take	our	attention	from	them	and	place	it	on	the	desired	result,	which	is
already	complete	in	Infinite	Mind. We	must	see	beyond	problems	to	the	answered	prayer. We	must	bring	the
invisible	into	the	visible	by	dwelling	on	what	we	want	within	consciousness
instead	of	dwelling	on	what	appears	to	be. This	is	the	way	in	which	we	turn
problems	into	opportunities. This	is	the	way	we	release	the	tension	and
congestion	and	move	through	whatever	appears	to	be	creating	trouble. As	we
do	so,	we	move	into	the	realm	of	the	solution. Many	of	us	give	thanks	and	are
grateful	for	what	we	have,	but	how	many	of	us	give	thanks	for	what	we	are
about	to	receive? Try	to	form	a	practice	of	saying:
I	am	thankful	for	the	blessings	I	am	about	to	receive. I	am	thankful	for
the	increased	harmonious	conditions	in	my	home. I	am	thankful	for	the
wonderful	experiences	that	exacerbate	my	growth. I	am	thankful	for	the
newness	that	I	am	about	to	receive. I	am	thankful	that	I	have	an	attitude
of	gratitude	about	the	living	of	life. My	attitude	of	gratitude	opens	the
portals	to	richer	living. By	doing	so,	you	will	not	be	working	on	things	and	conditions,	but	on	your
own	consciousness.You	will	be	programming	it	to	expect	the	best. You	cannot	have	an	attitude	of
gratitude	and	also	be	bitter. You	must	be	free	of	the	idea	that	people	or
situations	are	against	you. You	must	also	be	free	of	the	belief	that	you	have
made	a	mess	of	your	life	and	there	is	nothing	you	can	do	about	it. When	gratitude	rises	within	you	like	a	fountain,	it	brings	in	its	wake	greater
health,	greater	joy,	greater	supply,	greater	prosperity,	and	greater	opportunity
for	living	life	than	you	have	ever	experienced	before. If	you	seem
overwhelmed	by	a	situation	or	problem	and	cannot	see	your	way	clear	to
think	and	feel	gratitude,	do	this:
Sit	down	and	go	back	in	consciousness	to	the	memory	of	things	for
which	you	can	be	truly	grateful. Think	how	God	has	guided	and
directed	you	through	past	problems. Once	you	have	a	sincere	feeling	of
gratitude	for	those	past	blessings,	realize	that	the	same	God	is	with	you
today,	guiding,	directing,	renewing,	and	restoring. Then	project	your
thoughts	beyond	the	present	situation,	and	be	grateful	for	what	you	are
about	to	receive. The	Psalms	are	songs	of	praise	and	thanksgiving	and	were	sung	during	times
of	trouble. In	the	midst	of	dire	conditions	and	situations,	the	Psalmist’s	faith
never	wavered. He	praised	and	blessed	and	was	thankful,	for	he	knew	that
God	was	ever-present,	running	the	universe	and	creating	ultimate	good. Perhaps	he	did	not	always	understand	why	such	conditions	were	occurring;
the	human	viewpoint	is	very	limited	in	times	of	trouble,	but	his	faith	never
wavered. Gratitude	is	important	because	it	is	not	just	a	cold,	mental	acceptance	of
something. It	is	warm	like	the	sunshine	that	makes	the	flowers	grow. It
unfreezes	the	condition	and	makes	it	possible	for	the	desired	good	to	become
manifest. Rejoice	in	your	freedom	of	choice. You	are	a	law	unto	yourself. Say	to
yourself	right	now:
Gratitude	is	a	healing	power	that	enters	into	every	part	of	my	being,
transforming,	strengthening,	renewing,	and	making	it	whole. Gratitude
is	ever	flowing	through	me	now. I	am	filled	with	a	deep	inner	feeling	of
gratitude	that	enriches	my	every	experience. Thank	You,	God
Murray	Salem
The	late	
Murray	Salem
	was	an	actor	and	screenwriter	who	wrote	the	Arnold
Schwarzenegger	hit	film	KINDERGARTEN	COP. My	paternal	grandmother,	long	since	passed	away,	was	a	simple	Syrian
peasant	woman	who	could	neither	read	nor	write. Yet	she	was	devoutly
religious. No	matter	what	she	was	doing,	God	was	always	on	her	lips. But
more	than	just	His	name,	she	would	say,	“Thank	you,	God;	thank	you,	God”
at	least	a	hundred	times	a	day. And	
not
	just	when	good	things	happened. The
soup	would	boil	over,	making	a	terrible	mess. As	she	cleaned	it	up,	she	would
be	saying,	“Thank	you,	God. Thank	you. Thank	you,	God.”
I	asked	her	why	she	was	thanking	God	for	something	bad. She	laughed	and
said	because	when	something	bad	happens,	that’s	when	we	forget	our
connection	to	God	(that	is,	our	Higher	Power). At	the	time,	it	seemed	very
bizarre	to	me,	since	she	insisted	that	I	do	it,	too. I’d	scrape	my	knee,	and
she’d	tell	me	to	say,	“Thank	you,	God.”	Oddly	enough	it	seemed	to	work,	and
my	knee	would	feel	better. Then	I	turned	five	and	started	school. Since	I	was	from	an	ethnic	background,
the	blue-eyed,	blond-haired	kids	used	to	make	fun	of	me. Because	of	my	dark
complexion,	their	nickname	for	me	was	“Nigger.”	I	hated	school,	and	I
begged	my	parents	not	to	make	me	go	anymore. They	felt	bad	for	me,	but
they	couldn’t	protect	me	forever. Then	my	Situ	(Syrian	for	
grandmother)
heard	what	was	happening	and	told	me	that	I	should	say,	“Thank	you,	God”
every	time	the	kids	called	me	horrible	names. At	the	time,	I	thought	that	was
the	dumbest	suggestion	I’d	ever	heard. But	a	few	days	after	she	talked	to	me,	when	a	whole	group	of	boys	started
shouting,	“Nigger! Nigger! Nigger!,”	something	happened. I	was	holding
back	the	tears,	trying	with	every	ounce	of	strength	in	my	body	not	to	be	a
“sissy”	and	let	them	see	me	cry. But	I	couldn’t	stop	myself. The	tears	weregoing	to	burst	out	anyway. Then	I	remembered	Situ’s	“Thank	you,	God.”	I	started	repeating	it	silently	to
myself. Thank	you,	God. Thank	you,	God. It	helped! I	don’t	know	exactly
what	happened,	but	the	tears	subsided. Suddenly,	I	didn’t	care	so	much	what
they	thought. Maybe	that’s	because	I	felt	that	I	now	had	a	friend,	too—God. That	was	all	a	very	long	time	ago. Since	then,	I’ve	become	a	successful
screenwriter. I’ve	traveled	the	world	and	met	hundreds	of	wonderful	people. My	life	is	more	than	I	ever	expected. And	through	it	all,	I’ve	kept	on	saying,
“Thank	you,	God.”	Sometimes	I	say	it	a	hundred	times	a	day,	just	like	my
dear	grandmother. I	even	feel	like	saying	it	now. “Thank	you,	God. Thank	you. Thank	you,	God.”
In	All	Things	Give	Thanks
Dr.	J.	Kennedy	Shultz
Dr.	J.	Kennedy	Shultz
	
is	founder	and	pastor	of	the	Atlanta	Church	of
Religious	Science. He	is	well	known	as	a	teacher	and	lecturer	in	the	field	of
New	Thought,	with	his	lectures	and	seminars	widely	distributed	on
audiocassettes	throughout	the	United	States	and	abroad. Dr.	Shultz	holds	a
master’s	degree	in	counseling	from	New	York	University,	and	Religious
Science	International	awarded	him	recognition	as	Doctor	of	Religious
Science	in	1987	when	he	was	first	elected	president	of	that	organization. He	is
the	author	of	A	LEGACY	OF	TRUTH	and	YOU	ARE	THE	POWER. The	great	German	philosopher	Goethe,	toward	the	end	of	his	long	life,	said
that	there	would	be	very	little	left	of	him	if	he	were	to	discard	all	that	he	owed
to	others. As	I	get	older,	and	hopefully	wiser,	I	am	certain	that	this	is
absolutely	true	for	me,	also. Everything	substantial	about	me	is	made	out	of
the	good	that	people	have	given	me	along	the	way,	which	I	have	had	the	good
sense	to	accept;	and	the	harm	people	have	done	me	along	the	way,	which	I
have	had	the	grace	to	forgive. I	learned	much	from	every	bit	of	it	once	I
became	grateful	for	the	power	in	me	that	lets	me	own	the	experience	beyond
the	event. This	means	that	we	need	to	be	grateful	that	we	have	received	some	enduring
good	from	the	wonderful	things	people	have	given	us	or	done	for	us	and	from
whatever	harm	done	unto	us	that	we	have	survived. You	don’t	survive	real
harm	without	a	growth	in	wisdom. And	sometimes,	it	seems,	we	require	that
our	wisdom	comes	to	us	the	hard	way	through	survival	of	the	worst. It	is	not	possible	to	take	our	wisdom	back	in	time	and	do	it	all	over	again	the
right	way. It	is	only	possible	to	take	wisdom,	however	it	comes,	and	go
forward	with	it,	doing	things	better	than	we	did	before. But	no	good	thing
belongs	to	us	until	we	own	it. And	we	do	not	own	anything	that	we	do	not
accept	with	gratitude. In	other	words,	it’s	not	yours	until	you	say	thank	you. Thank	who? Thank	God! It	is	not	always	easy	to	thank	people	for	what	wehave	gotten	out	of	our	relationship	with	them. But	it	is	always	possible	to
thank	God	that	we	have	come	out	of	it	with	something	of	value. And	once
you	get	used	to	thanking	God	for	all	life	on	a	regular	basis,	it	becomes	clear
who	else	you	ought	to	be	thanking,	and	it	becomes	easy	to	do	so. When	we	subscribe	to	the	old	admonition	to	“in	all	things	give	thanks,”	we
are	not	agreeing	to	give	thanks	
for
	all	things. It	is	not	sensible	to	be	thankful
for	bad	things,	harmful	things. Rather	than	be	carried	mindlessly	away	with
the	good	things	or	driven	into	the	ground	by	the	bad	things,	take	the	time	in
the	midst	of	all	things	to	be	grateful	to	God	that	you	are	greater	than	both	the
best	of	them	and	the	worst	of	them,	and	that	you	will	find	a	way	to	come	out
of	any	of	them,	somehow	enhanced	by	the	experience. An	attitude	of	gratitude	in	the	midst	of	all	things	will	allow	us	to	make	all
things	new. It	will	allow	us	to	make	something	better	out	of	both	the	best	and
the	worst	that	comes	our	way,	because	an	attitude	of	gratitude	puts	us	in	right
relationship	with	God,	the	creative	power	of	our	lives. And	our	creative
power	flows	forth	best	into	our	minds	and	hearts	when	we	are	open	to	it. So
don’t	clog	up	the	Divine	wavelengths	of	your	consciousness	by	fears	that	the
good	that	is	coming	your	way	won’t	last	forever,	or	that	the	bad	you	are
experiencing	will. Just	take	the	time	in	the	midst	of	it	all	to	be	thankful	that
there	is	an	eternally	durable	wisdom	at	work	within	you	that	knows	how	to
use	it	all	to	your	ultimate	advantage. If	you	do	this,	you	make	yourself	a
person	who	moves	through	life	retaining	the	best	and	discarding	the	rest	as	a
matter	of	course. This	takes	the	struggle	out	of	daily	living	in	this	funny	old
world	of	ours	and	sets	us	free	to	live	more	easily. The	more	easily	we	forgive,
the	more	easily	we	live. And	the	more	naturally	grateful	we	become	for	what
life	really	is,	the	freer	we	become	of	the	kind	of	nonsense	that	used	to	trip	us
up	and	demean	our	existence. I	am	quite	taken	by	this	quotation	from	the	great	Meister	Eckhart:	
“Be	always
ready	for	the	gifts	of	God,	and	always	for	new	ones
—
and	always	remember,
God	is	a	thousand	times	more	ready	to	give	than	you	are	to	receive.”
The	stuff	that	blocks	our	readiness	to	receive	is	all	the	stuff	that	clogs	up	our
consciousness	when	we	do	not	know	how	to	respond	to	life	with	gratitude	for
our	God-given	power	to	make	the	best	out	of	both	the	good	and	the	bad. A
sincere	and	inspired	religious	effort	to	develop	a	relationship	of	perpetual
thanksgiving	with	God	will	clear	out	that	fearful	stuff	and	“make	ready	the
way	of	the	Lord.”	This	is	the	mind	that	in	all	things	remembers	to	give	thanks.The	Power	of	Gratitude
Ron	Scolastico,	Ph.D.
Ron	Scolastico,	Ph.D.,
	
is	a	distinguished	academic	psychologist,	spiritual
counselor,	and	author	with	over	25	years’	experience	in	the	study	of	human
consciousness. Since	1978,	Ron	has	been	the	voice	for	the	profound	wisdom
of	“the	Guides,”	loving	spiritual	beings	who	exist	beyond	physical	reality. He
is	the	author	of	THE	EARTH	ADVENTURE;	HEALING	THE	HEART,
HEALING	THE	BODY;	and	DOORWAY	TO	THE	SOUL. The	power	of	gratitude	can	often	be	overlooked	in	the	complexity	of	day-to-
day	life. Many	people	do	not	know	that	feelings	of	gratitude	can	set	into
motion	potent,	beneficial	changes	within	the	human	personality. For	example,	feelings	of	gratitude	can	create	an	emotional	softening	and	a
deepening	of	love	in	your	experience	of	yourself	and	your	life,	bringing	about
greater	joy	and	happiness	in	your	human	expression. Gratitude	can	also
stimulate	strong	inner	energies	within	you	that	can	lead	to	a	blossoming	of
your	intuitive	abilities,	enabling	you	to	eventually	have	a	deeper	spiritual
experience	and	to	become	more	aware	of	your	existence	as	an	eternal	soul. To	gain	a	clear	understanding	of	gratitude,	you	can	look	at	such	feelings	in
relation	to	two	general	areas	of	life. The	first	area	is	gratitude	for	
permanent
aspects	of	your	existence,	which	include	the	spiritual	realities	of	life	that
interact	with	your	human	expression. The	second	area	is	gratitude	for
temporary,
	transitory	experiences	in	the	physical	world. To	be	grateful	for	permanent	aspects	of	your	life,	you	can	begin	to	pay
attention	to	your	ability	to	experience	yourself	as	one	individual	living	within
a	physical	body. You	have	the	extraordinary	capacity	to	be	aware	of	your	Self
—to	feel,	“I	am	me.”	You	have	the	capacity	to	think,	to	feel,	and	to	act	in	the
physical	world. These	aspects	of	your	existence	are	often	taken	for	granted. If
you	can	become	aware	of	the	incredible	complexity	of	energies	that	have	been
wielded	by	eternal	souls	to	make	it	possible	for	you	to	live	in	your	physicalbody	in	this	moment,	you	will	be	filled	with	an	overwhelming	feeling	of
gratitude	and	love	for	your	body,	for	your	Self,	for	other	human	beings,	and
for	all	of	life. Your	permanent	magnificence	is	also	tied	to	beautiful,	powerful,	spiritual
energies	that	constantly	flow	into	you	from	the	forces	that	have	created	life. You	are	not	usually	aware	of	these	divine	forces	of	creativity,	but	if	you	set
aside	a	few	moments	of	silence	each	day	to	attune	to	them,	you	can	learn	to
feel
	them. Such	experiences	can	stimulate	a	great	awakening	within	you. You
can	fully	appreciate	and	celebrate	the	constantly	occurring	miracles	in	the
spiritual	dimensions	that	enable	you	to	continue	to	live	a	human	life	in	the
physical	world. Through	such	experiences,	you	will	find	it	easy	to	awaken	the
power	of	gratitude	within	your	personality. The	second	area	of	gratitude	is	related	to	your	human	expression,	which	is
rooted	in	desire,	ambition,	fulfillment,	pleasure,	displeasure,	and	other
important	aspects	of	your	subjective	experience. If,	on	a	certain	day,	you	have
negative	experiences,	such	as	a	loss	of	money	or	a	disappointment	in	love,
then	you	are	not	likely	to	feel	much	gratitude. If,	on	another	day,	you	are
given	millions	of	dollars	as	a	prize,	it	will	be	very	easy	to	feel	grateful. Thus,
you	will	usually	feel	gratitude	when	you	have	pleasing	experiences	and	your
desires	are	fulfilled,	and	you	will	find	it	difficult	to	be	grateful	when	your
subjective	experiences	are	negative. These	are	quite	“natural”	responses	in
which	the	affairs	of	the	human	world	tend	to	
dictate
	when	you	will	feel
grateful. What	is	important	here	is	to	encourage	as	many	experiences	of	gratitude	as
you	can,	no	matter	what	is	happening	in	your	day-to-day	life,	so	that	you	are
not	manipulated	by	circumstances	and	by	your	feelings	about	them. In	other
words,	if	you	only	feel	grateful	for	your	life	when	everything	goes	well,	then
during	periods	of	challenge	you	will	be	devoid	of	the	important	feelings	of
gratitude. You	can	learn	to	take	a	few	moments	in	each	day	to	feel	grateful	for	life,	even
when	you	are	feeling	challenged. You	can	say	to	yourself:
No	matter	what	I	might	be	feeling	about	the	events	in	my	life	in	this
moment,	I	do	not	need	to	be	manipulated	by	my	feelings. I	have	the
freedom	to	release	my	normal	thoughts	and	feelings,	open	my	heart	to
the	magnificence	of	my	soul,	and	of	God	itself	and	begin	to	feel	deeply
grateful	for	the	opportunity	to	be	alive	in	human	form	in	this	moment.It	is	also	of	great	benefit	for	you	to	try	to	extend	the	range	of	things	that	you
are	willing	to	be	grateful	for,	beyond	experiences	that	please	you. You	can	be
grateful	for	experiences	that	help	others,	even	when	they	require	effort	on
your	part. You	can	be	grateful	for	growth,	even	when	they	require	effort	on
your	part. You	can	be	grateful	for	growth,	even	when	it	is	brought	about	by
challenging	circumstances. At	times,	challenging	life	situations	can	stimulate
you	more	than	pleasurable	experiences	to	express	greater	courage,	strength,
commitment,	and	creativity. You	can	be	grateful	that	challenging	situations
bring	you	closer	to	other	human	beings,	encouraging	you	to	more	fully
express	your	capacity	for	empathy	and	compassion. By	extending	your	range	of	appreciation	to	more	and	more	life	situations,	you
can	feel	grateful	for	your	life,	even	when	your	own	desires	are	not	being
fulfilled. Learning	to	create	strong	feelings	of	gratitude	during	many	different
life	situations	can	help	you	feel	more	powerful,	more	creative,	and	more
fulfilled. In	each	day,	whether	your	momentary	human	experience	is	joyful	or
challenging,	you	can	stimulate	more	of	the	power	of	gratitude	by	saying	to
yourself:
I	rejoice	that	I	have	the	extraordinary	opportunity	to	live	the	miracle	of
human	existence	on	the	physical	earth. I	am	grateful	for	the	variety	of
experiences	that	are	available	to	me	in	my	human	life. And	I	celebrate
the	loving	forces	of	my	soul,	and	of	God,	that	make	my	life	possible. Gratitude:	A	State	of	Mind
Bernie	S.	Siegel,	M.D. Bernie	S.	Siegel,	M.D.,
	
is	a	retired	general/pediatric	surgeon	who	is	now
involved	in	humanizing	medical	care	and	medical	education. He	is	the
founder	of	EcaP	(Exceptional	Cancer	Patients)	and	is	the	author	of	LOVE,
MEDICINE	&	MIRACLES;	and	PEACE,	LOVE	&	HEALING. I	believe	that	gratitude	is	a	state	of	mind,	rather	than	a	condition	of	life	related
to	health	or	wealth. Let	me	say	that	some	of	my	greatest	gratitude	teachers	are
the	people	I	call	the	prisoners	of	life. What	do	I	mean	by	that? I	mean	the
people	who	are	imprisoned	in	bodies	or	institutions	and	yet	are	grateful	for
life. I	believe	that	once	you	are	grateful	for	life,	seeing	it	as	an	opportunity	to
give	love,	your	life	is	changed	and	lived	as	it	was	meant	to	be	lived	by	our
Creator. Examples	of	this	are	people	I	know	with	a	variety	of	diseases	and	handicaps
whom	I	call	healthy. Why	are	they	healthy? They	have	learned	what	my
associate’s	father	(a	general	practitioner)	once	said:	“True	good	health	is	the
ability	to	live	without	it.”
Sam	Keen	tells	of	a	friend	of	his	with	Lou	Gehrig’s	disease. He	is	severely	ill,
and	even	breathing	is	a	problem. Sam	was	visiting	him,	and	he	complimented
his	friend	on	his	attitude. The	friend	asked,	“What	choice	do	I	have?”	and
Sam	said,	“You	could	piss	and	moan	a	little.”	His	friend	said,	“It	never
occurred	to	me.”	Yet	most	people,	if	you	ask	them	if	life	is	fair,	will	shout
NO	at	you. The	richer	they	are,	the	louder	they	shout. What	we	have	to	realize
is	that	while	life	is	difficult,	it	is	not	unfair. We	all	have	our	problems. The
key	is	to	learn	how	to	live	with	them	and	even	how	to	use	them. My	mother’s	message	to	me	was,	“It	was	meant	to	be. God	is	redirecting	you. Something	good	will	come	of	this.”	She	was	much	like	Carl	Jung,	whom	I	am
told,	would	tell	those	friends	who	reported	a	tragic	event,	“Let	us	open	abottle	of	wine. Something	good	will	come	of	this.”	If	they	reported	some
wonderful	event,	he	would	say,	“That’s	too	bad,	but	if	we	stick	together,
maybe	we	can	get	you	through	this.”	You	may	laugh,	but	over	90	percent	of
lottery	winners,	three	to	five	years	after	winning,	are	complaining	that	it
ruined	their	lives. What	does	the	Bible	or	the	Talmud	tell	us? The	Bible	says	that	the	son	of	man
comes	not	to	be	served,	but	to	serve	and	to	ransom	his	life	for	the	good	of	the
many. The	Talmud	tells	us	that	he	who	rejoices	in	the	afflictions	that	are
brought	upon	the	self	brings	salvation	to	the	world. Other	religions	also	teach
us	of	the	gift	or	lesson	that	may	be	found	in	an	affliction	or	adversity. Even	in
Job	we	learn	that	afflictions	heal,	and	adversity	opens	you	to	a	new	reality. Over	God’s	desk	are	Her	favorite	sayings	that	will	help	you	to	lighten	your
burden	and	feel	grateful	for	life	as	an	opportunity	to	give	love	in	your	unique
way. The	first	one	says,	“Don’t	feel	totally,	personally,	irrevocably,	eternally
responsible	for	everything. That’s	my	job.”	And	it’s	signed	“God.”	The	other
says,	“Everything	you	remember	I	forget,	and	everything	you	forget,	I
remember.”
So	here	we	are	living	among	all	the	difficulties	and	pain,	and	what	is	it	that
really	makes	us	grateful	and	teaches	us	what	a	treasure	life	is? Our	mortality. Yes,	without	our	physical	and	emotional	pain,	we	would	not	survive. They
protect	us	and	awaken	us	to	care	for	our	needs	and	the	needs	of	those	we	love. Our	mortality	teaches	us	of	our	limited	time	here	and	heightens	our	awareness
of	what	a	treasure	life	is. As	Peter	Noll	shared	in	his	final	journal,	“Time	isn’t
money. Time	is	everything. Seeing	something	for	the	last	time	is	almost	as
good	as	seeing	it	for	the	first	time,	and	you	spend	more	time	with	the	things
and	people	you	love	and	less	with	the	things	and	people	you	don’t	love.”
I	can	only	share	with	you	that	I	am	grateful	for	life	and	the	chance	to	share	in
all	the	wonder	of	creation,	at	the	same	time	feeling	and	knowing	much	pain. Most	of	all,	I	am	simply	grateful	to	awaken	in	the	morning	and	be	aware	of
the	world	around	me. I	know	that	there	are	others	who	would	choose	not	to
awaken	the	next	morning,	and	why	do	we	differ? I	think	that	underlying	the	difference	is	the	love	I	have	received	from	the
moment	of	my	birth,	and	that	makes	it	easier	for	me	to	feel	grateful. I	ask	all
of	you,	please	treat	each	other	the	way	a	loving	mother	would,	so	we	can	all
be	grateful	for	life. How	you	love	I	leave	up	to	you. Just	choose	your	way	of
serving	out	of	love,	and	whenever	you	meet	people,	please	express	that	love.If	we	do	this,	then	every	child	will	be	grateful	for	life	and	the	opportunity	to
serve	and	make	a	difference	in	the	lives	of	others. Despite	all	this,	remember
that	gratitude	is	always	a	choice	and	must	come	out	of	free	will. The	Garden
of	Eden	didn’t	last	because	there	were	no	choices. We	have	a	choice. Let	us
love	life,	our	fellow	living	things,	and	be	grateful. Looking	Through	the	Eyes	of	Gratitude
Rev. Christian	Sorenson
Rev. Christian	Sorenson
	
is	the	senior	minister	at	Seaside	Church	of	Religious
Science	in	Del	Mar,	California. He	is	past	president	of	the	clergy	in	Southern
California	and	has	served	on	the	International	Board	of	Trustees	for	the
Religious	Science	Movement. As	a	world	traveler	and	seeker	of	Truth,	he	has
guided	hundreds	on	spiritual	explorations	through	China,	India,	Africa,	and
other	exotic	lands. As	a	lifelong	student	of	metaphysics,	Christian’s	intention
is	to	see	Spirit	in	all	things. For	the	holidays,	in	my	fifth	year	of	life,	my	grandmother	gave	me	a	bow	tie
that	said	“Happy	New	Year”	across	the	front. It	was	not	my	favorite	gift. In
fact,	I	prayed	that	I	would	never	have	to	wear	it. But	the	thank-you	letter	I	had
to	write	is	my	earliest	memory	of	gratitude. As	I	wrote	that	letter,	I	connected
in	mind,	as	we	do	in	any	letter	writing,	with	my	grandmother,	who
represented	all	love	and	all	caring	to	me. And	I	also	experienced	a	sense	of
appreciation	for	even	the	least	of	my	holiday	booty. Such	early	lessons	in	gratitude	instilled	in	me	a	lifelong	habit	of	extending
thanks	that	has	paid	rich	dividends	in	my	world. When	we	see	the	good,	we
can’t	help	but	focus	on	the	affirmative,	which	naturally	frees	us	from	the
heavy	negatives	that	seem	to	dominate	some	people’s	thinking. As	I	talk	with
successful	people,	I	hear	individuals	who	are	focused	on	opportunity	and
possibility,	not	risk	and	difficulty. These	are	people	who	are	grateful	for	their
success	thus	far	and	are	expecting	life	to	treat	them	well. And	so	it	does. Ernest	Holmes,	the	founder	of	Religious	Science,	writes	in	his	book	
Science
of	Mind:
	“Within	us	is	the	unborn	possibility	of	limitless	experience. Ours	is
the	privilege	of	giving	birth	to	it!”	Life	is	waiting	for	you	to	trust	in	its
dreams. When	we	choose	to	align	with	the	positive	flow,	then	we	can	be
grateful	for	the	difficulties	that	present	themselves	and	see	them	as
opportunities	to	bring	forth	greater	good. And,	all	the	while,	we	are	growing
and	learning	in	the	process.A	grateful	heart	recharges	the	soul	and	revitalizes	the	body. It	releases	our
soul	from	bondage,	lifts	our	awareness	to	a	comfortable	place	where	the
wings	of	consciousness	can	let	us	soar	in	harmony	with	the	Creative
Intelligence. A	wonderful	practice	to	perform	first	thing	in	the	morning,	even
before	opening	your	eyes,	is	to	see	and	feel	all	the	good	things	in	your	life. Instead	of	saying,	“Oh,	God,	it’s	morning,”	try	“Thank	God	for	this	good
morning”	or	“It’s	another	wonderful	day. I’m	so	glad	to	be	alive. This	is	the
day	the	Lord	has	made. I	will	rejoice	and	be	glad	in	it.”	Count	at	least	a	dozen
of	your	blessings	before	you	get	out	of	bed. You’ll	be	amazed	at	how	much
better	your	day	will	go. (But	beware! Being	cheerful	before	others	have	had
their	coffee	is	not	always	appreciated!) Life	is	an	abundant	broadcasting	system,	just	waiting	for	us	to	tune	in	to	its
infinite	varieties. As	we	turn	our	attention	to	the	positive	side	through	praise
and	appreciation,	we	bring	ourselves	into	harmony	with	this	giving	frequency. There	seems	to	be	a	magnetic	force	that	draws	our	awareness	to	the	ever-
present	and	expanding	good. It’s	as	if	our	conscious	and	subconscious	work
diligently	to	attract	only	those	experiences	that	support	our	state	of	mind. Looking	through	the	eyes	of	gratitude,	we	become	a	channel	to	bring	forth
more	things	to	be	grateful	for. We	are	told	to	“be	thankful	for	all	things.”	This
includes	bow	ties,	our	body,	and	our	daily	breath. It’s	easy	to	be	grateful	for	the	grand	things	in	life,	but	to	be	appreciative	for
“all	things”	puts	you	in	a	powerful,	harmonious	place.
_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:

        Twenty-nine	years	ago,	both	of	my	lungs	were	covered	with	metastases
(secondary	cancer)	following	the	removal	of	a	kidney	tumor. I	was	told	that	I
had	less	than	a	year	to	live. My	informants	were	mistaken,	but	to	show	they
were	willing,	they	gave	me	an	experimental	drug	that	they	said	could	not
harm	me,	which	I	still	take	every	day. I	am	grateful	to	those	who	produced	it,
even	though	I	am	the	only	person	in	the	world	who	has	survived	the	treatment
for	more	than	five	years. But	I	am	also	grateful	for	the	intense	anger	that	my	condition	induced	in	me,
and	which,	I	am	sure,	was	influential	in	defeating	my	lung	cancer. If	I	did	not	have	two	titanium	hips,	I	would	not	be	able	to	walk. Nor	would	I
be	able	to	see	if	I	did	not	have	two	post-cataract	intra-ocular	lenses. Thank
you	to	those	who	made	this	possible. Shared	Blessings
In	the	1930s,	as	a	young	boy,	I	remember	two	friends	dying	of	scarlet	fever
and	diphtheria. Unknown	now,	I	remember	how	everyone	had	one	or	two
circular	scars	on	their	upper	left	arm:	vaccination	against	smallpox. It	has
been	fewer	than	20	years	since	a	vaccination	certificate	has	been	essential	for
overseas	travel. Yet	now,	
smallpox,	the	greatest	killer	in	history,
	has	been
eradicated. Not	so	much	a	cause	for	gratitude,	or	a	blessing,	as	it	is	a	miracle. I	remember	the	scourge	of	tuberculosis:	not	a	romantic	disease,	as	with	Keats
and	the	Brontës,	but	a	dreadful	scourge,	socially	and	medically. It	has	now
virtually	disappeared,	and	our	gratitude	is	owed	to	those	who	accomplished
its	elimination. I	remember	not	being	able	to	swim	at	the	local	pool	for	fear	of	contracting
polio. Remember	polio. Let	us	be	grateful	to	Dr. Salk. Let	us	be	grateful	that	we	can	now	talk	openly	about	cancer,	where	30	years
ago	it	was	a	taboo	subject. Because	we	can	now	discuss	it,	we	get	treated
earlier	and	more	effectively. I	am	grateful	to	be	able	to	tell	cancer	patients	of
my	history	and	to	encourage	them	to	know	that	there	is	hope. Above	all,	as	a	father,	I	am	grateful	that	my	son	has	not	had	to	learn	to	kill	his
fellow	men	in	war,	as	both	I	and	my	father	had	to	do. It	will	be	clear,	I	hope,	that	I	believe	that	
the	world	has	become	a	better	place
during	my	lifetime,
	and	that	I	am	lucky	to	have	lived	when	I	have. I	am	deeply
grateful	to	those	of	my	fellows,	whether	I	know	them	or	not,	who	have	caused
this	to	be	so. Gratitude:	A	Healing	Attitude
Emmett	E. Miller,	M. D. Emmett	E.
Emmett E. Miller
Who is the author of the book "DEEP HEALING: THE ESSENCE OF MIND/BODY MEDICINE?
The author's intense anger and frustration with his condition, which he believes helped him survive for more than five years.
According to the author, what is the key to defeating lung cancer?
The author believes that gratitude is a powerful force that can heal and transform one's life, and that it is essential to cultivate a sense of gratitude and appreciation for all experiences, good and bad.
What is the author's perspective on the importance of gratitude?
The author suggests that one should focus on the positive aspects of their life and write down three things they are grateful for each day, and also to give thanks and praise to God.
What is the author's advice for cultivating gratitude?
There is no author mentioned for this book.
Who is the author of the book "Spiritual Economics"?
The author believes that gratitude is a powerful force that can attract abundance and positivity into one's life, and that it is essential to cultivate a sense of gratitude to align with the divine and receive guidance and healing.
What is the author's view on the relationship between gratitude and the universe?