To Be Truly Happy, Be Truly Grateful

"Gratitude is a choice that leads to a positive mindset, opening doors to divine love and abundance. Forgiveness and faith amplify our blessings, allowing us to embrace life's experiences with heartfelt appreciation."

Michael Corthell

I deeply appreciate my life in its entirety, along with every individual and aspect that has played a role in it. The totality of my experiences has shaped me into the person I am today, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Now, let's explore the reasons behind gratitude. Why should we choose to be grateful? When I was younger, though not too long ago, I didn't truly comprehend the essence of genuine gratitude. However, as time passed, I came to understand its significance.

Gratitude is a conscious choice, just like adopting a positive mindset. In fact, practicing gratitude directly leads to cultivating a positive outlook on life. Naturally, I wasn't inclined towards being a thankful person, so it took considerable time and effort to develop this trait within me. It took countless unstructured experiences over the years to reach the point where I could sincerely say, "Thank you, God, for everything." Even now, I find it necessary to remind myself of the numerous reasons I have to be grateful.

Among all my experiences, the one thing I am most thankful for is Grace. I am profoundly grateful for the indescribable love that emanates from the divine. The depths of God's love are beyond human comprehension; they can only be embraced and surrendered to.

Our Creator guides, inspires, and encourages us to utilize our creativity for purposes that may elude our complete understanding, all the while loving others with a compassion that mirrors His own.

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus

I am grateful for learning the significance of forgiveness and the process of granting it, as forgiveness is an integral part of gratitude. Finally comprehend God's instruction, as demonstrated by Jesus (God incarnate), when teaching us how to pray to God the Father: "Forgive our sins, just as we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us."

This understanding opened up a universe of possibilities for me. When I combined this teaching with another, I was bestowed with wisdom: "Have faith in God... The truth is, you can say to this mountain(problem or obstacle), 'Go, mountain, fall into the sea,' and if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you. So I tell you, ask for what you want in prayer. And if you believe that you have received those things, then they will be yours. When you are praying and you remember that you are angry with another person about something, forgive that person. Forgive them so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins." This is how we can all be blessed with abundance.

“True forgiveness is when you can say, "Thank you for that experience.”  

―Oprah Winfrey

I am grateful for the grace of God that allowed me to put away my bad habits. Vices that distracted me and hurt the people who loved me. As I said at the beginning I am truly grateful for everything, all my experiences, both positive and negative because they all had a net positive effect on my soul and spirit. 

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”  

―Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am grateful for the knowledge of good and evil, but for also knowing and understanding that the Universe operates on the laws of duality and compensation. I am also grateful for Karma, for it is the fulfillment of ''Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.'' Finally understanding this frees me of the burden of revenge and resentment. 

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” 

―Maya Angelou

I am grateful that I learned that every cloud has a silver lining. And from Abraham Lincoln, that I can keep positivity in the face of extreme adversity.

“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.” 

―Abraham Lincoln, 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

I am very grateful that I came to know how to trust God and to thank Him for everything, because He has The Plan for Man, I do not.

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.”  

―Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

I am grateful for the people who protect others' freedom.

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”  ―Winston Churchill

I am grateful that I learned to love myself and enjoy my own company.

“It is better to be alone than in bad company.” ―George Washington

I am grateful that I finally came to realize and fully understand, not too long ago either, that, 'actions do speak louder than words' and that 'Faith without works is indeed dead'.

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” 

―Barack Obama

I am grateful that I learned that loneliness will never plague me again.

“And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” ―Jesus Christ

I am grateful to my mother, Betty Jean, a good woman, and a nurse, who taught me that everything has a purpose and that there is nothing that can't be corrected.

“If I could give you information of my life, it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do In His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing” 

―Florence Nightingale

Last, certainly not the least of the things I have learned in my life is that dreams do come true. And that the power of prayer is real. That patience is a requirement for happiness to manifest itself in our lives―in God's good time.

Patience 'realized and rewarded' manifested itself in my life this year(2016) when my one true love arrived ― my soulmate and partner―the woman I asked God to put in my life. A godly woman who knows who God is and how to recognize Him, my wife Caroline:

“You can see God every day. You can see Him in all the things He created. You can see Him in the wings of birds as they fly through the air. You can see Him in the hug that your Mom gives you when you're sad. You can see Him in the stern look your Dad gives you when you do something wrong. You can see Him in the fireflies that light up the night. You can see Him in the raindrops that water the flowers. You can see Him when the wind rustles the leaves. You can see Him in the smile of your friend. He is always with you, and He always loves you every day of your life.'' 

―Caroline D. Grimm, in God's Own Mouse

I am grateful for the lessons that God kept putting in front of me and that He didn't stop.

''I am grateful for my life, all of it, the good, the bad, and everyone in it.''

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Want to be happy? Be grateful | David Steindl-Rast

The one thing all humans have in common is that each of us wants to be happy, says Brother David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar. And happiness, he suggests, is born from gratitude. An inspiring lesson in slowing down, looking where you're going, and above all, being grateful.