Give thanks for both the little and the much
Finding time for gratitude is something that truly transforms your time.
But when we express gratitude, why do we express it? I mean, is gratitude about size or quantity or is it about something else entirely?
If you make me dinner, it seems obvious that I’ll appreciate it. If you give me a drink of water on a hot day, do I do the same? me I would, but maybe some wouldn’t.
Why is that?
Today I would like to focus on an aspect of gratitude that is summed up in the following proverb:
Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.
Estonian proverb
Gratitude has to do, not so much with the actions of others, but with the expectations we have about life.
If I expect others to give me what I need or want, then when they do, I am not as thankful as I am. satisfied that my expectations are being met. On the other hand, if I don’t have that expectation, I am often pleasantly surprised by kind or generous gestures… and I am grateful for them.
On the other side of this coin, if I expect others to give me what I need or want, when they do NOT, I am likely to feel cheated and disappointed. This is a huge waste of energy. If I don’t harbor that unrealistic expectation, I don’t set myself up for disappointment.
Approaching each moment with minimal expectations helps us realize the small and large gifts that are presented to us almost constantly in our lives. The key is not in the size of the other person’s gesture but in the expectations that we bring to our lives.
The attitude of gratitude enriches our moments and relieves us of the perpetual disappointment that unrealistic expectations bring.
Do you find time to feel grateful and say thank you? i would love to hear
Let’s explore time together…
