How Do You Get More of What You Want?

By Showing Gratitude for What You Already Have.

Gratitude is one of the single most important and powerful virtues. We need to be grateful for what we already have in order to not only keep what we have but to obtain more of it.

It is really simple if you think about it. For example, let’s say you have a flower garden. If you are grateful for it’s beauty, you will take care of it by watering it and weeding it. If you are not grateful for your flower garden, you will ignore it and soon it will become filled with weeds which, over time, will kill the flowers.

Now, how do we apply that scenario into our personal and business relationships? The same theory applies really. Show your gratitude towards people and you will receive gratitude back. On the contrary, ignore your spouse day after day and see how long he/she sticks around. Same goes for business relationships.

Supportive People From Your Past

Whether you are just getting started in your business or you are a CEO of a fortune 500 company, I am sure there are people who have helped you get where you are today. Someone believed in you, encouraged you, reached out to inspire or help you. That act of kindness played a part in your achievements. Maybe it was your pastor, your parents, your spouse, a teacher, a friend, a colleague, coach or neighbor. Maybe they offered to loan you some money, equipment or supplies. Maybe they gave you some good advice or shared an experience they had in order to help you. Maybe it is as simple, yet powerful, as praying for you. Regardless of how big or small the gesture, you need to be grateful.

Employees

Don’t forget the glue that is holding your business together. Your employees also need to be appreciated. Be the kind of person you’d like to work for. Be kind and courteous and show them your grateful for the job they are doing. Not only will it make the work environment uplifted and positive but your employees will want to work hard for you and will care about your business.

Customers

What about the fuel that fires your business and keeps it running? Without customers, you have no business, so naturally, you are grateful. How do you show your gratitude? For regular paying customers, maybe throw in a freebie in their next order with a "thank you" note attached or offer them a discount on their next order.

People in Your Personal Life Now

The virtue of gratitude is also important in your personal life, maybe more so. As I mentioned earlier, there are people throughout your life who have encouraged or helped you in some way. What about the people in your life currently? Your spouse, children, family and friends also need to be shown gratitude.

God designed humans to connect and have relationships. Nobody can do everything on their own, nor do we want to. Therefore, showing gratitude is natural.

Ask yourself "What if I woke up this morning with only the things I gave thanks for yesterday"…….that is powerful. I have a sign hanging in my studio where I can see it every day that reads, "What am I grateful for today?" Take a moment and think about it, do this every day for 3-5 minutes. If you practice gratitude every day it won’t take long before gratitude is your natural state of being, and when that happens you will have unlocked one of the greatest secrets to life.

Challenge for You

I’m sure as you were reading this article, people came to mind from your past and present time. My challenge for you is to write their name on a list and every Monday, take 30 minutes to hand write thank you notes. As more people come to mind, add them to the list. Be specific in your thank you note and tell them why you are thanking them. In this day of social media and email, people seem to have forgotten the art of letter writing. Who doesn’t LOVE receiving real mail?…..and something other than bills! Not only will sending thank you notes make you feel amazing and full of gratitude, but the recipient will feel loved and appreciated. "The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated."  – WIlliam James

Gratitude Quotes

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. — Albert Schweitzer

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

We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. — John F. Kennedy

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

To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference. — Thomas Merton

Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses. — Alphonse Karr

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

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. — Marcel Proust

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. — Thornton Wilder

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

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.  – Oprah Winfrey

For bible verses about thanksgiving and gratitude, visit HubPages.