A Gift for You

Heena Parikh
Sep 18, 2021
3 min read

Do you recollect those days? When you find yourself dysfunctional in every way, physically or/and mentally. I go through such days too! Days when my feet and head hurt, and I search for something to comfort me. It could be any food that I enjoy eating or taking a nap to wake up refreshed. This happens a lot among people of a certain age during which they have to take up responsibilities, which is very unlike the days we spend in childhood.

When we were very young, we cherished even the small candy that we were given. But as we grew up, we might not have found value in the small candy and would rather enjoy having big chocolates. This happens with many other things also. The external things to which we give value are a reflection of what is going on within us. So if we cannot enjoy a small candy, it clearly says that we have become the stories.

Which stories am I talking about? The stories that each one of us has. Observing them while realizing each moment that there is a presence within that is constant can start our journey of Self-Love. If we cannot experience Self-Love, we search for something to love externally. Self-Love also teaches us to appreciate everything externally, which is gratitude. Presently, it has become a huge mantra to grow in life. When self-love is not experienced, it becomes difficult to understand and experience gratitude. But at times, it can be the other way round too.

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash

Gratitude can be experienced every moment. The other way is by reminding oneself each day. It is becoming a popular practice now to pen down everything that one is thankful for each day. Eventually, there are many things that we start to realize towards which we can show gratitude. Amidst all the odds, we are focusing on the positive. Eventually, we start observing more and more of it, which can change one’s life.

Photo by ABDULLA M on Unsplash

Below are the few benefits that we can experience through the daily practice of gratitude.

Breathe well: Our breath is connected to our emotions. So, when we practise gratitude, we experience positive emotions, which help in breathing well. This might seem like an insignificant outcome, but it is quite the opposite. Breathe is the basis of one’s life and a regulated breath helps in a disease-free body and clarity in mind.
Reduce consumerism: By practising and experiencing gratitude, we see that our desires reduce. We start feeling that we have enough to live well and be happy. We start choosing consciously. Presently, this is a very important aspect given that the desires of individuals are increasing each day. To reach those demands, there is large-scale production due to which there is a huge negative impact on our environment. So gratitude is not just helping oneself enjoy all that we own but also helping our planet.
Improved quality of relationships Gratitude helps in being content with whatever we receive and have. This reflects in our relationships as well. It helps us to cherish every relationship that we hold, give more than just receive. Every relationship has its flaws. But by practising gratitude, we start seeing the positive side of any relationship outweighing the flaws leading to building a healthier relationship.
Economic value Human welfare is ignored in today’s environment, where businesses look forward to gaining more recognition and income. Suppose gratitude is practised by the individuals care taking an establishment. In that case, a huge difference can be observed in the internal and external lives of the human capital. So the output is much larger than the budgets, improving the collective lives and environment.
“We look into mirrors, but we only see the effects of our times on us-not our effects on others.” - Pearl Bailey

When we look in the mirror, we either look at how we are looking or observe how we are feeling inside. If we look in the mirror, in our messed up state, early morning and yet give a smile, it speaks a lot about where we stand. Self-Love and gratitude are also reflected while we are looking in the mirror. It is like a chain, you experience gratitude, and someone near and dear will value it and thrive on experiencing that. Similarly, we put forward, is what we eventually get more of.