subject: What Is The Meaning Of Gratitude [print this page] In personal development what is the meaning of gratitude is defined as a means to enhance life through appreciation and giving thankfulness as a result of personal endeavor and effort in any type of self improvement, which helps to promote growth in achievement of better self- awareness by awareness of what gratitude does. That is to say self awareness in relations with others and society, including any other area of life where it serves to raise a conscious awareness of sharing through giving and receiving.
Gratitude when it is being consciously used has been recognized as contributing towards greater mental health and positivity in life through self acceptance, purpose and greater control over ones life. There are also various times when gratitude and appreciation are known to cause certain benefits in relations such as:
When it fosters growth in good relations with others on account of exchange in sharing through cooperation and harmony and also where their has been a measure of good faith and kindness given in relation to someone or a group who does a favor to help someone out and who are returned back the kindness by the person not because they are indebted to them but instead by simple gratitude and appreciation in return for the help given.
Gratitude is an attitude that can bridge individual relations in friendship with another. For example when we go out of the way to help another without any thought of self gain or ulterior motives and they return it back by being grateful in the form of acknowledgement and thanks for the help given.
In such an example the gratitude or the thanks that is returned back in acknowledgement, is a purely natural response of appreciation on behalf of the other person. Consequently the same applies to the other person who went out of their way to help. Their feelings are uplifted and reciprocated back in appreciation because they see that their behavior in helping has caused a good response in thanks to happen. The end result works out well--- because in both minds there is gratitude and thanks, which leaves no doubt as to the intentions or misinterpretation of the meaning or act of appreciation shared between them.
There are also specific moments where we can choose to be grateful. For instance being grateful too much or at the wrong time or not enough at other times, can weaken ones own self reliance and cause over dependency on another or even worse taking advantage of someone elses kindness and generosity.
Or we may find at other times gratitude or appreciation are neither appropriate nor necessary to use at all. Unless warranted or it has been deemed worthy to use them in consideration of the circumstances. Also there are special times when through extra awareness of their perceived value there is good reason for their use in the form of healing and guidance. Or for example when thankfulness is given or received in the form of a gift where we were not expecting to receive one, either from our own higher awareness or as a result of anothers sense of gratitude. Yet again there are other times where it can be used as means for understanding personal values. As for example, in some form or token of thanks and respect in appreciation for the things we have in life or have been given---or when it is used in prayer or to give thanks to the universe or the spirit of divinity for taking care of us and for being alive and in wellbeing.
What is the meaning of gratitude is further understood when we recognize what we are giving thanks or showing appreciation for. The power or forces of gratitude and thankfulness are part of the forces which come under the laws of attraction and polarity. It is a magnetic and attractive force and therefore any results of gratitude are received through what is given out. When it is understood why and how gratitude and appreciation work the way they do, it gives extra knowledge as to the value and frequent use of them as a means for greater appreciation of a person, or nature or things and as a means for wholeness and enhancement of wellbeing in general.
The value of being appreciative and giving thanks where it is due has many rewards and benefits. Sometimes just a simple thank you used at the right time can do wonders to bring out the human spirit of goodwill and right self awareness in relations with another. When something is given from the awareness of gratitude and the law of attraction and cause and effect, or even higher still--- purely without thought of reward or thanks---- then the return power of gratitude and appreciation, truly inspires and lifts the heart to where the goodness of its use is shown as one of the highest values of human nature and freedom where sharing and appreciation are given in the spirit of grace.
Finally in the spiritual sense if we look truly to see what the meaning of gratitude is we could define it simply as food for the soul. True recognition of gratitude is given as a result in appreciation of awareness to give and receive thanks naturally. What is received in thanks and appreciation as a result of the awareness to give--- is returned as a greater sense of self worth in gratitude for what has been truly appreciated.
