This	morning,	as	I	sat
on	the	bluffs	of	Del	Mar	in	front	of	my	house,	greeting	the	day,	I	was
immersed	in	so	much	beauty	that	it	filled	me	with	a	sense	of	awe. I	felt	a
oneness	with	the	pelicans	as	they	glided	inches	above	the	water. I	sensed	the
joy	of	the	dolphins	surfing	the	big	waves. And,	as	I	caught	a	glimpse	of	the
whales	lifting	their	majestic	fins	above	the	water,	I	knew	the	majesty	of	God. But	this	morning,	in	the	rapture	of	the	moment,	I	also	caught	a	glimpse	of
myself	breathing	in	unison,	it	seemed,	with	the	ebb	and	flow	of	the	tide	that
appeared	to	be	in	perfect	rhythm	with	the	wind,	the	grass	rippling	in	perfect
concordance	with	the	rest. And	in	this	moment,	I	was	acutely	aware	of	every
grain	of	sand	which,	I	sensed	in	the	pit	of	my	stomach,	was	resonating	in
perfect	balance	with	the	whole	of	the	universe. When	I	returned	to	a	state	of	individuality,	what	else	could	I	say	about	that
experience	but…	
thank	you. The	Manifestation	of	Gratitude
Hal	Stone,	Ph.D.,	and	Sidra	Stone,	Ph.D.
Hal	Stone,	Ph.D.,
	
and	
Sidra	Stone,	Ph.D.,
	both	clinical	psychologists,	are
the	authors	of	EMBRACING	OUR	SELVES,	EMBRACING	EACH	OTHER,
and	EMBRACING	YOUR	INNER	CRITIC. Hal	founded	the	Center	for	the
Healing	Arts	in	Los	Angeles	in	the	early	’70s,	one	of	the	first	holistic	health
facilities	in	the	country. Sidra	directed	Hamburger	in	Los	Angeles,	a
residential	treatment	center	for	adolescent	girls. Since	1982,	they	have	been
traveling	and	teaching	in	the	U.S.	and	abroad,	in	addition	to	their	training
and	writing	activities,	which	take	place	at	their	home	on	California’s	north
coast	in	Mendocino	County. There	is	no	human	emotion,	no	matter	how	positive	it	may	appear,	that	is
inherently	good	or	bad. Everything	depends	on	how	we	use	or	channel	these
emotions	and	feelings. It	is	our	ability	to	be	aware	of	a	particular	energy,	as
well	as	to	make	appropriate	choices	in	regard	to	how	this	energy	manifests	in
the	world,	which	determines	how	we	use	any	idea	or	feeling	or	experience. It
is	only	in	this	way	that	we	can	judge	whether	or	not	a	particular	emotion	or
idea	is	manifesting	in	a	way	that	is	a	force	for	good	or	evil	in	the	world. Gratitude	is	no	exception	to	this	kind	of	rule. Gratitude	and	love,	so	often	experienced	together,	are	both	relational	in
nature. That	is	to	say,	it	requires	someone	to	feel	the	gratitude,	and	it	requires
someone	or	some	group	of	persons	to	be	doing	something	that	produces	the
gratitude. The	issue	of	gratitude	is	also	very	basic	in	transformational	work
because	it	is	generally	a	core	feeling	found	in	individuals	who	are	helped	by	a
consciousness	teacher	of	any	kind,	Used	in	this	way,	it	is	a	part	of	the
transference	relationship	that	exists	between	the	student,	on	the	one	hand,	and
the	teacher,	on	the	other	hand,	in	any	teaching,	training,	or	therapeutic
relationship. For	the	purposes	of	this	essay,	the	word	
teacher
	will	include	any
therapeutic	modality	such	as	therapist,	healer,	or	writer. Student
	will	include
any	recipient	of	help,	whether	it	is	a	client,	subject,	patient,	or	seeker.One	of	the	confusing	things	about	gratitude	is	that	it	can	be	experienced	by	an
individual	in	a	number	of	different	ways. How	it	is	experienced	and	how	it
manifests	over	time	has	a	strong	effect	on	how	someone’s	process	goes. We
want	to	focus	on	how	gratitude	manifests	with	and	without	awareness	and
what	the	consequences	are	of	each	condition. We	also	plan	to	focus	on	the
issue	as	it	specifically	applies	to	the	teacher/student	relationship	in	therapy,
healing,	and	small	and	large	group	work	with	individuals	who	are	seeking	a
greater	consciousness. Without	awareness,	gratitude	tends	to	manifest	through	the	child	side	of	a
person. What	we	mean	by	the	child	side	is	that	there	is	a	parent/child
interaction	between	the	teacher	and	student	and	that	the	student	is	in	the	role
of	son	or	daughter	to	the	teacher. The	feelings	that	occur	here	can	be	very
strong,	but	they	occur	within	the	parameters	of	the	parent/child	interaction. We	refer	to	this	parent/child	interaction	as	a	bonding	pattern. For	example,	someone	who	is	helped	by	a	spiritual	teacher	tends	to	fall	into	a
particular	kind	of	emotional	relationship	with	the	teacher. The	student	is	filled
with	gratitude	and	love,	and	truly	his	or	her	cup	runneth	over. This	is	a
natural,	organic	part	of	the	teacher/student	relationship	and	the	love	and
gratitude	that	are	a	part	of	spiritual	initiation	in	general. It	is	not	meant,
however,	to	remain	in	this	form	forever. What	are	the	consequences	of	such	a	parent/child	interaction? How	could
something	so	beautiful	possibly	become	something	negative? If	there	is	too
much	gratitude	from	a	child	space,	empowerment	becomes	much	more
difficult	to	attain	because	the	underlying	vulnerability	remains	unconscious. What	happens	then	is	that	the	Inner	Child	(vulnerability)	of	the	student	is
cared	for	by	the	teacher. In	such	a	situation,	the	student	may	continue	to	grow
on	a	spiritual	level,	but	there	will	be	fostered	a	dependency	on	the	teacher	and
a	tendency	to	keep	the	relationship	too	positive. The	student	will	be	fearful	of
reacting	to	the	therapist	teacher,	of	bringing	in	any	kind	of	negativity	because
there	will	be	a	deep	fear	of	losing	the	love	and	intimate	connection	that	the
Inner	Child	so	desperately	craves. As	we	have	pointed	out,	this	is	a	very	natural	part	of	the	consciousness
process. If	it	is	understood	by	the	teacher,	the	student	is	helped	to	become
aware	of	his	or	her	vulnerability	and	is	trained	to	recognize	that	the	ultimate
responsibility	for	one’s	Inner	Child	belongs	to	oneself. Once	the	seeker	is	able
to	begin	to	move	in	this	direction,	then	we	have	a	condition	of	awareness
beginning	to	develop,	and	the	person	begins	to	be	able	to	embrace	both	powerand	vulnerability. As	this	process	develops,	the	nature	of	the	gratitude	begins	to	go	through	a
major	shift. The	seeker	is	still	grateful	for	the	help,	love,	good	feeling,	and
everything	else	that	was	given	to	him	or	her. In	addition,	however,	there	is	a
development	of	personal	power,	a	willingness	to	take	risks	in	showing
feelings	and	having	reactions	that	might	rock	the	boat. It	is	safer	now	to	take
such	risks	because	the	outer	teacher	is	no	longer	the	parent	of	the	Inner	Child. It	is	ourselves	now	with	our	own	awareness	who	is	parent	to	our	own	child. Gratitude	is	an	emotion	that	generally	opens	up	the	pores	of	love	and
compassion. In	the	healing	arts,	it	is	basic	to	the	emotional	bonding	of	the
teacher/student	interaction. Without	awareness,	it	can	lead	to	an	excessive
emphasis	on	positive	feeling,	with	a	resulting	dependency	and	overemphasis
on	love	and	gratitude	and	compassion. With	awareness,	these	emotions	can	be	fully	experienced	and	appreciated
without	interfering	with	the	ultimate	empowerment	process	of	the	student,
which	should	properly	be	our	ultimate	goal	as	teachers. Gratitude	As	a	Way	of	Being
Dr.	Sharron	Stroud
Dr.	Sharron	Stroud,
	
the	International	Woman	of	the	Year	in	1991-92,	has
been	a	Jungian	the-ologian,	inspirational	speaker,	counselor,	and	teacher	for
25	years. She	is	also	the	founder	of	the	Center	for	the	Celebration	of	Life,	a
spiritual	center	that	teaches,	heals,	empowers,	and	supports	causes	such	as
World	Peace,	abused	women	and	children,	and	aids;	and	The	Challenge
Center,	a	treatment	center	where	paraplegic	and	quadriplegic	individuals
rebuild	their	lives. She	has	also	served	as	president	of	the	United	Clergy	of
Religious	Science. I	have	discovered	that	gratitude	is	a	way	of	being. When	we	become
cognizant	that	everything	in	this	life	is	a	gift	from	the	universe,	and	what	we
make	of	this	thing	called	“life”	is	our	gift	back	to	the	universe,	our	awareness
is	deepened. Gratitude	is	a	tangible	substance	emanating	from	the	person
feeling	this	emotion. This	substance	permeates	and	pervades	environments,
clothing,	and	objects. Gratitude	as	a	“way	of	being”	begins	to	manifest	itself	as	the	art	and	science
of	blessing. It	makes	sense	when	we	realize	that	all	life	operates	on	a
vibrational	frequency	of	energy. The	energy	that	we	bring	to	life	is	the	same
energy	that	returns	to	us. This	gets	tricky	when	we	don’t	receive	the	results	in
life	that	we	want. However,	each	experience	redeems	itself	through	our
willingness	to	get	its	message	and	accept	the	gift	it	offers	in	its	wake. This
creates	the	space	for	miracles. When	I	was	a	child,	we	lived	on	a	half-acre	of	walnut	trees,	and	I	had	a
“special”	tree	that	I	could	climb	up	and	be	cradled	by. The	tree	was	such	a
special	friend,	and	I	was	so	grateful	to	have	its	companionship. The	tree
always	listened	to	my	every	thought	and	allowed	me	to	climb	her	limbs	so	I
could	have	a	“bird’s-eye	view”	of	the	world	around	me. If	I	were	hungry,	she
gave	me	her	sweet	meat,	and	I	was	satisfied. I	could	also	make	little	boats
from	the	walnut	shells	with	a	paper	sail	and	a	toothpick	pole	to	hold	it	upwith. Yes,	the	tree	was	my	friend,	and	I	was	grateful. When	there	was	no	external	means	of	support	in	our	family,	my	mother	would
hire	migrant	workers	to	shake	the	trees,	and	she	and	I	would	fill	the	gunny
sacks	full	of	the	most	beautiful	walnuts	on	God’s	green	earth. The	sale	of	the
walnuts	always	provided	us	with	the	most	glorious	Christmas. At	the	time	all
of	this	was	going	on,	I	did	not	have	an	appreciation	for	my	mother’s
resourcefulness. Walnuts	carry	a	dark	skin	around	them	that	literally	dyes
one’s	hands	black! It	has	to	wear	off	gradually,	so	the	kids	at	school	would
make	fun	of	me,	and	the	teachers	would	tell	me	to	go	and	wash	my	dirty
hands! Years	later,	I	would	reflect	on	this	experience	and	feel	an	overwhelming	sense
of	gratitude,	for	it	taught	me	to	look	at	what	is	available	in	the	immediate
moment,	to	bless	it,	and	watch	its	essence	increase	for	my	good! It	also	gave
me	a	deep	compassion	for	those	who	need	our	understanding	and	love	in
difficult	situations—and,	most	importantly,	to	see	the	love	that	generates	the
activity	before	us. The	“attitude	of	gratitude”	has	served	me	well	during	my	20	years	in	the
ministry. The	art	of	blessing	comes	through	in	our	willingness	to	let	go	and
surrender	to	the	Angel	of	the	Presence	who	carries	Beauty	in	Her	wings—
realizing	that	something	is	operating	under	the	surface,	and	we	must	trust	the
process. Being	Authentic	Sets	Us	Free
Angela	Passidomo	Trafford
Angela	Trafford
	
is	the	author	of	THE	HEROIC	PATH:	ONE	WOMAN’S
JOURNEY	FROM	CANCER	TO	SELF-HEALING. When	Angela	was	first
given	the	“gift”	of	cancer,	she	saw	that	it	was	soon	to	become	a	pathway	to
the	transformation	in	her	life. After	going	through	a	series	of	chemotherapy
and	radiation	treatments,	she	discovered	Dr.	Bernie	Siegel’s	book	LOVE,
MEDICINE	&	MIRACLES	and	began	to	practice	the	visualization	techniques
outlined	in	it. As	a	result	of	her	extraordinary	healing	experience	(recounted
in	Dr.	Siegel’s	book	PEACE,	LOVE	&	HEALING),	Angela	developed	the	gift
of	“seeing	into	people”	to	help	them	transform	their	own	lives,	their	health,
and	their	way	of	living. She	currently	teaches	people	how	to	live	through	the
power	of	belief	and	love. “The	quality	of	mercy	is	never	strain’d;	it	falleth	as	a	gentle	rain	from
heaven….”
These	words	come	to	mind	when	I	feel	gratitude	for	the	unconditional	love	in
my	heart—love	that	flows	from	the	source	of	creation	because	I	know	I	am
forgiven. Why	do	I	need	forgiveness? Why	do	I	need	to	forgive? Because	I	am	human. As	I	practice	forgiving	myself	and	others,	I	feel	the	swell	of	gratitude	moving
within	me,	humbling	me	each	moment	in	the	proof	of	God’s	generosity. Gratitude	moves	my	heart,	bringing	tears	to	my	eyes. It	is	humbling	to	realize
that	I	am	loved. This	realization	opens	me	up	and	allows	me	to	grow. I	feel	a	deep	connection
—communion	with	God	and	deep	love	for	another	human	being. Someone
has	taken	the	risk	to	care	about	me,	and	for	this	miracle,	I	am	grateful! Gratitude	links	us	with	God	and	our	fellow	human	beings. When	I	perceive	alack	of	gratitude	in	the	world,	I	realize	that	in	our	woundedness,	we	have
become	isolated	human	beings,	fearful	of	connection. We	are	rejecting	the
experience	of	intimacy	that	will	truly	engage	us	heart	to	heart	in	spiritual
union	with	a	fellow	human	being;	we	are	rejecting	our	soulfulness. In	the	early	days	of	my	healing	work,	I	became	despondent,	perceiving	a	lack
of	gratitude	in	some	of	my	clients	who	came	to	me	for	help. I	read	the	words	of	Albert	Schweitzer	in	a	sermon	given	at	his	mission	in
Africa. Quite	simply	stated,	he	said	that	if	you	feel	a	lack	of	gratitude,	look
within	yourself	and	see	if	you	are	expressing	gratitude. I	began	living	these	words	and	found	that	my	world	changed. Being	authentic
is	the	only	thing	that	truly	works	and	sets	us	free. Once,	years	ago,	I	was	walking	with	a	friend	in	a	beautiful	garden. I	stopped,
horrified	to	see	a	dragonfly	quivering	in	the	web	of	a	large	black	spider. As	I
watched,	the	movements	of	the	trapped	dragonfly	awakened	the	spider,	who
began	to	creep	slowly	toward	its	unfortunate	prey. I	could	feel	the	plight	of
the	dragonfly. It	was	fighting	for	its	life! Compassion	drove	me	to	reach	quickly	for	a	stick,	and	in	an	instant,	I	had
freed	the	dragonfly,	much	to	the	dismay	of	the	hungry	spider. I	brought	my
new	friend	to	a	nearby	bench	and	carefully	removed	the	sticky	web	from	its
feelers	and	legs. The	sunlight	glinted	in	pools	of	iridescence	from	its
gossamer	wings. I	had	always	feared	dragonflies;	now	I	found	this	one
fascinatingly	beautiful. The	dragonfly	perched	on	my	finger,	in	no	hurry	to	fly	off. I	found	this
amazing. After	a	long	while,	I	wished	it	well	and	blew	it	away,	as	you	would
a	ladybug. It	flew	off	and	then	returned,	lighting	on	my	shoulder,	where	it	stayed	most	of
the	afternoon. You	might	think	I’m	silly,	but	I	could	swear	it	was	thanking
me! Since	then,	I	have	had	a	close	relationship	with	the	dragonfly	kingdom. In	my
secret	heart,	I	imagine	that	I’ve	rescued	the	king	of	the	dragon-flies	and	now,
wherever	I	go,	I	am	a	welcome	guest	in	their	natural	sanctuary,	the	earth. I
don’t	know,	but	experiences	such	as	these	make	me	feel	good	inside.A	friend	tells	me	he	once	rescued	an	owl,	and	it	visited	the	tree	by	his
bedroom	window	for	years. I	wish	we	humans	could	be	as	natural. Gratitude:	A	Silent,	Unspoken	Prayer
Rama	J.	Vernon
Rama	J.	Vernon
	
is	the	founder	of	the	California	Yoga	Teachers	Association,
which	is	the	founding	organization	and	publisher	of	the	YOGA	JOURNAL. Rama’s	international	work	as	president	of	the	Center	for	International
Dialogue	(founded	in	1984	to	create	a	framework	in	which	the	citizens	of	the
US	and	the	USSR	could	overcome	their	differences	through	dialogue)	and	her
vast	background	in	yoga	has	led	her	to	co-found	the	Institute	for	Conflict
Resolution	and	Peace	Studies. The	Institute	uses	East-West	psychology,
spiritual	principles,	and	Patanjali	Yoga	Sutras	as	the	basis	of	inner/outer
nonviolence	training	to	create	international	teams	of	conflict-resolution
specialists. A	great	seer	once	said,	“The	angels	hover	over	the	earth	looking	for	the	rays
of	thanksgiving	and	gratitude	that	radiate	from	a	selfless	heart.”
The	word	
gratitude
	is	defined	by	Webster	as	the	quality	of	feeling	or	being
grateful. (Great-full)	or	(thankful)	means	filled	with	greatness	or	grace. Gratitude	is	the	giving	of	thanks,	not	one	day	a	year,	but	every	day,	every
minute,	and	with	every	breath. Its	expression	within	our	lives	and	with	others
blossoms	into	the	realization	that	we	are	whole	and	complete	within
ourselves. Gratitude	has	always	been	like	a	prayer,	silent	and	unspoken	for	me. When
sent	forth	from	the	center	of	our	soul,	it	acts	like	a	winged	messenger
transforming	personal	ambitions	and	petitions	of	needs	and	wants	into	a
transcendent	view	of	life’s	cycles	and	patterns. When	gratitude	and	thanksgiving	become	a	way	of	life,	all	abundance—
physical,	spiritual,	and	material—co-exist	simultaneously;	our	personal	power
mingles	with	the	powers	of	the	universe	to	heal	the	world	as	we	heal
ourselves. Gratitude	carries	us	to	the	heights	of	the	higher	vibratory
frequencies	transforming	cellular	pockets	of	tension	and	dis-ease.As	we	express	gratitude	with	every	breath,	we	become	a	symphony	of
compassion,	love,	and	understanding,	Borders	of	separation	within	dissolve
into	an	awareness	of	our	Oneness	with	All. Even	in	life’s	darkest	moments,	we	can	open	ourselves	with	reverence	and
great-fullness,	knowing	that	crises	give	birth	to	new	opportunities. With	the
joy	of	acceptance	and	thanksgiving,	life’s	events	flow	like	a	steady,	gentle
stream	of	consciousness,	transforming	stumbling	blocks	into	stepping	stones. Gratitude	is	our	offering	to	a	higher	power,	having	faith	that	there	is
something	greater	than	ourselves	that	is	guiding,	holding,	and	protecting	us. The	practice	of	gratitude	is	an	offering	that	creates	a	field	of	resonance	that
unifies	and	empowers	our	vision	of	personal	and	global	transformation. How	does	one	practice	gratitude? You	can	practice	gratitude	each	day	with
each	word,	each	thought,	and	each	gesture. Even	though	you	may	have	lists	of
needs	and	wants,	ask	yourself	what	it	is	you	have	to	be	grateful	for	now. Look
for	things	that	trigger	gratitude	in	your	life,	even	if	they	may	seem
insignificant	at	first. Soon	you	will	automatically	begin	to	feel	buoyant	and
joyful. Practice	celebrating	thanksgiving—not	once	a	year,	but	every	day. Make	a	gratitude	list,	and	watch	it	grow. Focus	on	the	abundance	now
existing	in	your	life,	rather	than	the	lack. Hold	the	vision	of	your	life	as	being	complete	and	whole. Affirm	it. Realize
it. Be	it. There	is	nothing	to	reach	for	beyond	yourself. You	are	the	universe,
contained	in	its	own	perfection. As	Shakespeare	once	said,	
“Assume	the
attitude,	tho’	you	have	it	not,	and	it	shall	be	yours.”
You	can	practice	gratitude	anytime	or	anywhere. To	do	this,	simply	become
conscious	of	your	breathing. As	you	breathe	in,	imagine	the	universal
consciousness	being	pulled	in	from	all	directions	simultaneously	into	the
center	of	your	Being. Hold	your	breath	comfortably	as	you	allow	yourself	to
luxuriate	in	a	sensation	of	fullness	and	completeness. As	you	breathe	out,
spread	your	inner	fullness,	joy,	and	abundance	to	all	within	your	life	and
within	the	world. A	few	other	suggestions	that	I	have	found	helpful	over	the	years	in	cultivating
a	spirit	of	gratitude	are:
See	all	people	in	the	light	of	universal	love	while	you	work	and	walk
beside	them.Let	your	words	heal	rather	than	wound. Be	the	first	to	forgive	and	take	the	first	step. Hold	every	person	within	your	life	with	love	and	thanksgiving
(especially	those	with	whom	there	have	been	past	or	present
difficulties). Be	a	spontaneous	channel	for	the	outpouring	of	unconditional	love
wherever	you	are,	whomever	you’re	with. Embody	the	peace	you	would	like	to	see	within	the	world. For	me,	gratitude	is	an	attitude	of	mind	and	heart. It	starts	from	within	and
flows	through	every	part	of	my	soul. It	leaves	no	area	of	my	being	untouched. It	encompasses	all	that	I	am	and	asks	for	the	highest	and	best	that	I	can
envision	and	aspire	toward. For	me,	gratitude	is	a	state	of	being	rather	than
doing. It	is	unending	love	for	the	Creator	and	all	of	life’s	creations. Unconditional	Gratitude
Doreen	Virtue,	Ph.D.
Doreen	Virtue,	Ph.D.,
	
is	a	metaphysician	and	spiritual	doctor	of	psychology. She	is	the	author	of	numerous	bestselling	books,	including	ANGEL	VISIONS;
and	appears	often	on	radio	and	television	shows. She	is	a	frequent
contributor	to	a	number	of	publications	and	gives	workshops	around	the
country	every	weekend. “Every	situation,	properly	perceived,	becomes	an	opportunity	to	heal.”
—A	Course	in	Miracles
It’s	easy	enough	to	feel	gratitude	during	the	obvious	moments,	like	when	a
friend	goes	out	of	her	way	to	help	you,	or	when	you	receive	a	gift	especially
suited	to	your	liking. We	readily	ooze	gratitude	during	spiritual	moments:	a
powerful	church	service,	an	intense	meditation	session,	or	when	a	problem	is
miraculously	resolved	in	the	nick	of	time. But	what	about	those	other	moments—the	ones	not	so	obviously	calling	for
gratitude? Is	it	possible	to	stay	centered	in	appreciation	when	we	really	don’t
appreciate	what’s	going	on	around	us? So	often,	our	gratitude	skips	beats	like	a	record	with	a	gash	across	its	center. When	situations	seem	to	warrant	it,	our	hearts	swell	with	appreciation. The
other	moments,	though,	we	forget	the	eternal	powers	that	are	constantly
wafting	through	our	lives. We	figure,	“What’s	to	be	grateful	for?”—that	is,
unless	we	are	open	and	aware	of	the	delicate	and	subtle	lessons	and	miracles
backdropped	against	everyday	moments. Because,	in	truth,	there	is	
always
something	for	which	to	be	grateful. God’s	awesome	power	is	constantly	at	work,	giving	us	exactly	what	we	need
in
	order	to	learn	and	grow. Universal	law	automatically	and	instantly	gives	us
steady	streams	of	opportunities	to	discover	valuable	truths	about	ourselves.We	always	attract	the	perfect	lesson	that	suits	our	current	blockages,	desires,
or	questions. We	don’t	need	to	do	anything	except	notice	these	lessons	as	they
come	to	us. If	we	don’t	recognize	the	opportunities	inherent	in	these
situations,	we’ll	continually	repeat	them	over	and	over	again	until	we	finally
get	it. Gratitude	is	our	way	of	saying	to	all	situations,	“Welcome! I’ve	been
expecting	you! Thank	you	for	being	here	to	help	me	learn	and	grow.”	We	are
always	stronger,	wiser,	and	filled	more	with	peaceful	power	when	we	face
each	of	life’s	lessons	with	this	sort	of	grace. Gratitude	demonstrates	to	us	and
to	the	universe	that	we	trust	in	Spirit’s	law	of	cause	and	effect. We	fearlessly
face	each	situation	with	the	certain	knowledge	that	it	is	merely	an	effect	of
our	thoughts. No	situation	is	a	punishment	or	a	reward. It	is	simply	an	effect. Therefore,	every	situation	in	which	we	find	ourselves	is	an	opportunity	to
look	in	the	mirror	and	see	a	perfect	reflection	of	our	thought	patterns. All	our
situations—whether	we’d	label	them	negative	or	positive—are	products	of
our	thoughts. It	is	impossible,	in	this	orderly	universe,	to	randomly	attract	a
situation	not	suited	to	your	thoughts. If	we	don’t	care	for	the	pattern	of
situations	we	are	attracting,	we	can	confront	its	source:	our	thought	patterns. Spiritual	growth	comes	from	discovering	thought	patterns	that	don’t	suit	you,
and	then	deciding	to	replace	them	with	healthier	thoughts. It’s	a	little	like
weeding	a	garden. No	matter	what	the	form	or	physical	appearance	of	situations	in	your	life,	see
them	as	teachers	lovingly	sent	to	you	for	your	highest	and	best	good. These
teachers	are	your	guides	to	help	you	identify	and	break	free	of	limiting	and
fear-based	beliefs. Through	these	teachers,	you	learn	to	trust	and	lean	on
God’s	reliability	and	love. And	the	more	you	lean	on	God,	the	more	you	open
the	floodgates	to	your	supply	of	harmony	and	abundance. One	of	my	clients	dramatically	discovered	the	benefits	of	unconditional
gratitude. Immediately	before	our	telephone	counseling	session,	I	had	been
meditating,	and	so	was	very	centered	in	Love. The	first	thing	she	told	me	was
that	her	car	had	suddenly	fallen	into	mechanical	disrepair,	and	that	she	could
not	afford	to	pay	the	several	hundreds	of	dollars	required	to	fix	the	car. Spontaneously,	I	declared,	“Wonderful! God	must	have	something	great
planned	for	you. Let’s	give	thanks	to	Him.”
My	client,	a	woman	of	great	faith,	took	a	deep	breath	and	hesitated	for	maybea	moment. Then	the	spirit	of	my	request	swept	through	her. She	replied,
“Okay,	I	want	to	have	faith	that	this	will	work	out	for	the	best. But	I	have	no
idea	how…”
“The	
how
	is	up	to	God,	not	us,”	I	counseled. “Let’s	just	give	thanks	and	know
that	all	your	needs	have	already	been	supplied.”	She	and	I	joined	in	prayerful
thanks	to	our	Creator. We	both	knew	that	this	situation	was	a	doozy	and	that
these	types	of	situations	always	result	in	unforgettable	demonstrations	of
Spirit’s	power. We	talked	until	she	honestly	felt	at	peace	with	the	situation	and	was	truly	able
to	trust	that	her	needs	were	already	supplied. The	basic	principles	of
manifesting	echo	Jesus’s	words	in	the	Bible:	
“Whatsoever	ye	shall	ask	in
prayer,	believing,	ye	shall	receive.”
	Successful	manifestation	depends	upon
three	factors:	affirming	that	your	needs	have	already	been	met,	believing	that
this	is	true,	and	being	grateful	for	your	supply. When	my	client	was	able	to
peacefully	hold	these	three	factors	in	her	thoughts,	I	asked	her	to	then	release
the	situation	to	God. At	that	point,	her	manifestation	of	resolving	her	car
situation	was	inevitable	because	she	had	just	demonstrated	unconditional
gratitude. I’m	always	grateful	when	a	client	attracts	something	akin	to	walking	through
a	ring	of	fire. I	know	that	once	a	person	faces	a	frightening	situation	while
holding	Spirit’s	hand,	she’ll	never	again	think	she’s	alone	in	the	Universe. She’ll	know—from	first-hand	experience—that	she	can	always	trust	in	God. Following	the	resolution	of	these	emotionally	wrought	situations,	everyone
always	ends	up	trusting	themselves	and	God	more	than	they	did	previously. My	client	called	me	soon	after	our	session	with	good	news. “You	were	right,
Dr.	Virtue!”	she	practically	screamed	into	my	ear	with	enthusiasm. “Out	of
the	blue,	one	of	my	co-workers	gave	me	her	used	luxury	car	for	a
bargainbasement	price,	and	she	only	wanted	$100	as	a	down	payment!”
Ever	since	my	client’s	demonstration	of	putting	her	trust	in	God,	she’s	never
been	the	same. She	now	recognizes	challenges	as	the	opportunities	for	growth
that	they	truly	are. Her	life	has	zoomed	ahead	at	light	speed	because	she	no
longer	fears	that	she’s	alone	or	in	danger. She	now	knows	the	truth	that	is	true
for	all:
Gratitude	gives	us	altitude	above	all
earthbound	concerns	and	worries.With	unconditional	gratitude,	we	are	assured
of	eternal	abundance	and	growth. Step	to	the	Infinite	Self	Within
Stuart	Wilde
Author	and	lecturer	
Stuart	Wilde
	is	one	of	the	real	characters	of	the	self-help,
human	potental	movement. His	style	is	humorous,	controversial,	poignant,
and	transformational. He	has	written	16	books,	including	those	that	make	up
the	very	successful	Taos	Quintet,	which	are	considered	classics	in	their	genre. They	are:	AFFIRMATIONS,	THE	FORCE,	MIRACLES,	THE	QUICKENING,
and	THE	TRICK	TO	MONEY	IS	HAVING	SOME. Stuart’s	latest	book	is
INFINITE	SELF:	33	STEPS	TO	RECLAIMING	YOUR	INNER	POWER. Stuart’s	books	have	been	translated	into	12	languages. Our	spiritual	process	through	life	is	the	journey	from	ego	to	spirit. Because
the	ego	is	usually	insecure,	it	has	many	needs	and	impulses	to	gratify,	and
many	fears	it	must	assuage. The	ego	has	to	sustain	its	ideas	and	the	precious
image	it	has	of	itself. Attitudes	become	sacrosanct. It	is	natural	that	the	human	personality,	and	the	ego	that	dwells	within	that
personality,	would	gradually,	through	self-confirmation,	crown	itself	king	or
queen	of	all	it	surveys. Over	time,	orders	and	desires	of	that	royal	personage
become	edicts	that	cannot	be	challenged	or	broken. Keeping	the	king	happy
and	giving	the	ol’	slob	what	he	wants	become	“Job	One.”
If	a	person	is	very	bright	or	quite	successful	in	human	terms,	it	doesn’t
usually	take	him	or	her	long	to	elevate	oneself	to	the	status	of	a	demigod. Once	the	ego/personality	has	invested	itself	as	a	god,	then	extremes	of	self-
importance	flow	from	that. Orders	are	given,	demands	are	made,	and
situations	are	manipulated. Softness,	spirituality,	and	appreciation	are
repressed. Anyone	defying	the	king	and	queen’s	edicts,	or	the	image	they	hold
of	themselves,	will	feel	the	full	wrath	of	a	despotic	regime. Our	modern	society	breeds	despots. Compared	to	our	ancestors,	things	are
cozy	and	self-indulgent. All	the	ego	will	ever	need	is	at	its	fingertips. We
don’t	dig	for	food,	chop	trees,	haul	sewage—things	are	provided	almosteffortlessly. In	these	conditions,	it	is	natural	that	humans	would	lose	sight	of
gratitude,	investing	instead	in	accolades	and	importance;	we	become	slaves	to
the	effort	of	trying	to	keep	the	ego-king	or	queen	happy. And	there	you	were,	suddenly,	a	spiritual	being	in	a	diaper,	born	into	a	strange
world	of	gratification	and	self-importance,	indulgence	and	mayhem. One	so
young	has	no	way	of	challenging	the	collective	legislation	of	the	ego. Soon
you	were	trained	to	compete	and	strive	and	demand. You	were	taught	the	need
to	keep	the	ego	happy	at	all	costs. History	is	the	story	of	conflicting	political	egos	and	their	struggle	for
importance	and	power. Your	personal	history	tells	of	the	same	wars	and
struggles,	treaties	that	were	written,	territories	that	were	conquered,	the
struggles	you	went	through	sustaining	the	kingdom	of	
self. In	the	turmoil	of
these	self-centered	laws,	the	sight	of	God	is	lost,	and	the	reason	and	meaning
of	life	are	set	aside. Spirituality,	for	most,	is	an	underground	resistance
movement	that	scurries	about	in	dark	alleys	when	the	ego	sleeps. So	what	of	the	quest	for	the	holy	grail,	the	sacred	journey? To	me	it	seems	to
be	a	journey	of	just	under	12	inches,	as	we	travel	from	the	head	to	the	heart,
from	thinking	into	feelings,	from	demands	and	gratification	to	appreciation
and	humility. The	spiritual	journey	culminates	in	the	death	of	the	ego	and	the
crowning	of	spirit. As	I	mentioned	in	my	book	
Whispering	Winds	of	Change,
	the	story	of	the
crucifixion	is	a	symbolic	teaching	that	represents	our	spiritual	journey. You
see	the	ego/personality	epitomized	by	the	Nazarene,	dying	on	the	cross,
racked	with	anguish. Mary	Magdalene	and	the	other	women	at	the	foot	of	the
cross	represent	the	
yin
	softness	of	our	infinite,	spiritual	self	that	can	do
nothing	to	save	the	ego. The	women	can	only	wait. Once	the	Nazarene	dies,	he	is	placed	in	a	tomb	for	three	days. That	is
symbolic	of	silence,	meditation,	and	prayer. It	represents	introspection,
discipline,	humility	and	gratitude—qualities	you	take	on	as	you	journey
inward	through	the	dark	caverns	of	the	inner	self. During	the	introspection
and	healing,	you	prepare	for	the	awesome	presence	of	the	Holy	Spirit,	the
return	of	God	in	your	life. After	the	three-day	period	in	the	tomb,	the	Nazarene	rises	from	death	to
ascend	into	heaven,	at	which	point	he	assumes	a	new	identity—he	becomes
Christos,
	the	Divine	Light—infused	with	the	living	spirit,	immortal,	returnedonce	more	to	the	presence	of	God. Our	journey	is	the	same. On	this	holy	journey,	we	heal	ourselves,	and	we
contribute	to	the	overall	healing	of	the	planet,	for	nothing	will	be	right	until
the	ego	is	deposed. Put	away	foolish	things	that	cannot	last. Embrace	spirit	with	humility	and
gratitude,	and	step	to	the	infinite	self	within. It	seems	to	me	a	beautiful	thing,
that	deep	within	us	all,	we	each	know	how	to	make	that	sacred	journey. I	feel	truly	thankful	to	live	in	this	modern	age,	so	cozy	and	fairly	effortless. It
is	such	a	perfect	time	in	history	for	making	personal	breakthroughs	and
spiritual	transitions. Cool,	utterly	cool,	in	my	view. The	Most	Amazing	Day
Margaret	Olivia	Wolfson
Margaret	Olivia	Wolfson
	
is	an	internationally	acclaimed	storytelling	artist
and	personal	growth	consultant. Her	unique	performances,	presented	with
music,	have	delighted	audiences	at	the	Kennedy	Center,	the	United	Nations,
the	Sydney	Opera	House,	the	National	Theater,	and	Princeton	and	Harvard
Universities,	to	name	just	a	few. She	is	the	author	of	THE	TURTLE	TATTOO:
TIMELESS	TALES	FOR	FINDING	AND	FULFILLING	YOUR	DREAMS,	and
MARRIAGE	OF	THE	RAIN	GODDESS. Margaret	lives	in	New	York	City. I	thank	you	God	for	this	most	amazing
day:	for	the	leaping	greenly	spirits	of	trees
and	a	blue	true	dream	of	sky;	and	for	everything
which	is	natural	which	is	infinite	which	is	yes. —e.e. cummings
Outside	my	window	is	a	scene	of	breathtaking	beauty. Tree-topped	cliffs
tower	along	the	river,	and	each	time	the	sun	tumbles	loose	from	the	summer
clouds,	it	splashes	the	leaves	with	light	and	glitters	the	river	with	gold. Inside,	more	images	nourish	my	eye. A	Buddha,	his	eternal	belly	laugh
masterfully	captured	by	a	Filipino	woodcarver,	stands	on	a	cherrywood	table
—a	cluster	of	quartz	crystals	twinkling	at	his	feet. A	grouping	of	photos—
family,	friends,	and	faraway	places—rounds	out	the	charm	of	this	display. Further	contributing	to	this	most	amazing	day	is	a	feeling	of	contentment—
arising	from	the	fact	that	I	am	engaged	in	a	cherished	activity. I	sit	and	write
in	a	clean	and	peaceful	apartment,	a	cup	of	apple	blossom	tea	nearby,	its
steam	swirling	upward,	sweetening	the	air. Taking	all	this	in,	I	am
overwhelmed	with	a	soul-warming	feeling	that	can	best	be	described	as
gratitude.It	is	also	important	for	us	to	express	gratitude—within	reason—for	all	those
things	that	challenge,	sadden,	anger,	or	frustrate	us. As	the	poet	Theodore
Roethke	writes,	“In	a	dark	time,	the	eye	begins	to	see.”	As	a	storytelling
artist,	I	have	encountered	many	myths	and	tales	that	vivify	this	idea. Many	of
these	stories	teach	us	that	serpents	and	toads—creatures	often	associated	with
the	repugnant—are	in	fact	the	guardians	of	precious	jewels	and	gold. Similarly,	painful	experiences	are	not	meaningless. When	we	crack	open
pain’s	shell,	we	almost	always	discover	spiritual	pearls. I	once	had	a	workshop	participant	whose	story	beautifully	illustrates	the
power	of	gratitude. This	woman,	Marisol,	bore	the	scars	of	inner-city	life. Despite	the	fact	that	one	parent	was	a	hard	and	steady	worker,	the	other	was
alcoholic	and	mostly	absent. The	abuse	Marisol	suffered	at	the	hands	of	this
parent,	when	combined	with	her	childhood	education	in	the	dog-eat-dog	mean
streets	of	the	city,	eventually	led	to	her	downfall. Her	soul	collapsed,	and	she
slid	into	the	hellish	underworld	of	drugs. When	Marisol	turned	30,	she	became	pregnant. She	also	learned	she	was	HIV
positive. Motivated	by	fear	and	imminent	motherhood,	she	suddenly	had	one
dream—to	change	her	life. Toward	this	end,	she	began	seeking	help. Because
she	expressed	profound	gratitude	to	the	administrators,	counselors,
facilitators,	clergy,	peers,	and	medical	practitioners	involved	in	her	case,
many	went	out	of	their	way	to	assist	her. Their	support,	when	combined	with
her	own	formidable	powers,	worked	a	miracle. As	of	this	writing,	Marisol	is	well	on	her	way	to	a	recovery	from	substance
abuse,	and	in	spite	of	the	HIV,	her	health	is	good. The	energy	she	once	freely
burned	in	the	bowl	of	a	crack	pipe	is	now	being	used	to	create	a	future—
however	long	or	short	it	may	be—for	herself	and	her	daughter—a	sparkly-
eyed,	chubby-legged	toddler	of	two. Feeling	and	expressing	gratitude	for	the	good	we	have	in	our	lives	doesn’t
give	us	permission	to	passively	accept	the	aspects	of	our	lives	that	are	not
working. However,	as	we	labor	to	spin	the	straw	of	lack	into	gold,	we	must
focus	on	our	wealth,	not	our	poverty. And	while	we	must	consciously	make
an	effort	
not
	to	push	away	or	avoid	our	problems,	it	is	imperative	that	we
simultaneously	find	things	to	praise. Complaining	only	focuses	our	mind’s
attention	on	what	is	missing,	and	what	we	mentally	focus	on	gradually	takes
shape	in	the	outer	world. One	way	we	can	develop	our	sense	of	gratitude	is	to	pay	closer	attention	tothe	beauty	around	us. Even	seemingly	small	events	such	as	quenching	our
thirst	with	a	frosty	glass	of	water,	luxuriating	beneath	a	quilt	on	a	blustery
morning,	watching	the	breeze	undo	a	dandelion	puff,	or	listening	to	a	chorus
of	crickets	croaking	and	singing	on	a	moon-gold	night,	are	things	that,	if
respectfully	regarded,	can	summon	up	our	gratitude. Sadly,	our	lack	of	gratitude	manifests	itself	in	myriad	ways,	some	of	them	not
always	obvious. For	example,	too	many	of	us	rush	through	life—ignoring	its
splendors	as	we	plow	through	mind-boggling	lists	of	activities. We	pass
through	landscapes	exploding	with	color,	but	hardly	notice. We	wolf	down
our	food,	without	even	so	much	as	a	silent	thank	you	to	the	living	thing	that
gave	its	life	for	our	nourishment. Others	do	kind	or	helpful	things,	and	we
minimize	their	efforts	or	express	inadequate	appreciation	for	the	services
performed. We	fling	beautiful	books	to	the	floor,	taking	their	creamy,	crisp,
wisdom-packed	pages	for	granted. Wrapped	up	in	the	demands	of	our
personal	lives,	we	too	often	ignore,	or	speak	harshly	to,	the	web	of	friends,
family	members,	and	colleagues	who	support	us	in	our	journey	through	life. The	very	source	of	existence,	the	sun,	is	all	too	often	greeted	with	a	curse,	a
grumble,	and	a	groan;	it	is	seen	as	a	demanding	intruder	who	orders	us	to
throw	off	the	covers	of	sleep	and	begin	the	activities	of	an	unwanted	day. Many	Native	American	traditions	emphasize	the	importance	of	expressing
gratitude,	particularly	to	the	earth. Like	many,	I	am	drawn	to	the	solemn
beauty	of	the	Navajo	Blessingway	Chants. It	is	said	that	the	power	of	these
ceremonial	songs	is	so	great	that	they	can	bring	the	afflicted	individual	back
into	harmony	with	the	world. Not	long	ago,	I	saw	a	documentary	that	featured	a	Navajo	singer	reciting	a
version	of	the	Beautyway	Chant	to	an	elderly	woman. The	chant,	meant	to
quell	the	woman’s	anxiety,	described	the	patient’s	connection	to	the	spirit	of
the	mountains,	herbs,	evergreens,	morning	mists,	clouds,	gathering	waters,
dew	drops,	and	pollen. By	helping	this	person	feel	kinship	with	the	rich	and
wild	beauty	around	her,	the	singer	contributed	to	her	healing. In	a	similar	way,	the	act	of	feeling	and	expressing	gratitude	
is
	good	and
powerful	medicine. When	we	feel	connected	to	the	richness	surrounding	us,
we	feel	blessed. And	although	life	and	suffering	are	intertwined—paired
together	as	rainbows	and	storm	clouds,	sunlight	and	shadow,	sickness	and
health—gratitude,	like	faith,	helps	us	understand	that	suffering	is	not	the
whole	picture.Gratitude	Prayer
by	Louise	L.	Hay
Deep	at	the	center	of	my	being	there	is	an	infinite	well	of	gratitude. I	now
allow	this	gratitude	to	fill	my	heart,	my	body,	my	mind,	my	consciousness,
my	very	being. This	gratitude	radiates	out	from	me	in	all	directions,	touching
everything	in	my	world,	and	returns	to	me	as	more	to	be	grateful	for. The
more	gratitude	I	feel,	the	more	I	am	aware	that	the	supply	is	endless. The	use
of	gratitude	makes	me	feel	good,	it	is	an	expression	of	my	inner	joy. It	is	a
warm	fuzzy	in	my	life. I	am	grateful	for	myself	and	for	my	body. I	am	grateful	for	my	ability	to	see
and	hear,	feel	and	taste	and	touch. I	am	grateful	for	my	home,	and	I	take
loving	care	of	it. I	am	grateful	for	my	family	and	friends,	and	I	rejoice	in	their
company. I	am	grateful	for	my	work,	and	I	give	it	my	best	at	all	times. I	am
grateful	for	my	talents	and	abilities,	and	I	continually	express	them	in	ways
that	are	fulfilling. I	am	grateful	for	my	income,	and	I	know	that	I	prosper
wherever	I	turn. I	am	grateful	for	all	my	past	experiences,	for	I	know	that	they
were	part	of	my	soul’s	growth. I	am	grateful	for	all	of	nature,	and	I	am
respectful	for	every	living	thing. I	am	grateful	for	today,	and	I	am	grateful	for
the	tomorrows	to	come. I	am	grateful	for	Life
now	and	forever	more.We	hope	you	enjoyed	this	Hay	House	book. If	you’d	like	to	receive
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_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:

        This	morning,	as	I	sat
on	the	bluffs	of	Del	Mar	in	front	of	my	house,	greeting	the	day,	I	was
immersed	in	so	much	beauty	that	it	filled	me	with	a	sense	of	awe. I	felt	a
oneness	with	the	pelicans	as	they	glided	inches	above	the	water. I	sensed	the
joy	of	the	dolphins	surfing	the	big	waves. And,	as	I	caught	a	glimpse	of	the
whales	lifting	their	majestic	fins	above	the	water,	I	knew	the	majesty	of	God. But	this	morning,	in	the	rapture	of	the	moment,	I	also	caught	a	glimpse	of
myself	breathing	in	unison,	it	seemed,	with	the	ebb	and	flow	of	the	tide	that
appeared	to	be	in	perfect	rhythm	with	the	wind,	the	grass	rippling	in	perfect
concordance	with	the	rest. And	in	this	moment,	I	was	acutely	aware	of	every
grain	of	sand	which,	I	sensed	in	the	pit	of	my	stomach,	was	resonating	in
perfect	balance	with	the	whole	of	the	universe. When	I	returned	to	a	state	of	individuality,	what	else	could	I	say	about	that
experience	but…	
thank	you. The	Manifestation	of	Gratitude
Hal	Stone,	Ph. D. ,	and	Sidra	Stone,	Ph.
The passage discusses the importance of gratitude and its transformative power in our lives.
What is the main theme of the passage?
The authors mentioned are Hal Stone, Sidra Stone, Angela Passidomo, Doreen Virtue, and Stuart Wilde.
Who are the authors of the books mentioned in the passage?
The author defines gratitude as the quality of feeling or being grateful, and emphasizes the importance of expressing gratitude in every moment, not just in obvious or significant situations.
What is the author's definition of gratitude?
The author views gratitude as a powerful tool for personal growth, spiritual awakening, and manifestation of abundance. They emphasize the importance of expressing gratitude in every moment, and encourage the reader to focus on the positive aspects of their life.
What is the author's view on the concept of gratitude?
The author suggests that one should focus on the abundance in their life, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, and express gratitude for it. They also recommend cultivating gratitude by paying attention to the beauty in nature and the universe, and to find the lesson or message in every situation.
What is the author's suggestion for practicing gratitude?
The author's message is that gratitude is a powerful tool for personal growth, spiritual awakening, and manifestation of abundance. They encourage the reader to cultivate gratitude in every moment, and to focus on the positive aspects of their life, rather than dwelling on what's lacking.
What is the author's message to the reader?