On being grateful

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1.      Be grateful to people who contribute to your life and are part of it – you want to be applauded publicly. You want people to praise you for your looks, tastes, your work, talent and what not. But, when it comes to praising others for what they do – why lack behind? Why do you give an excuse saying “but, that person will become arrogant”. “Praise harms a person”, “she’s good but she didn’t do this work” what she did she did. Why do you negate it with what she’s supposed to do, didn’t do? Think about it. It doesn’t talk about her. It talks about your character. Offer a word of appreciation to all who are around you. A simple thanks to your sub-ordinate, auto-driver, conductors and just about everyone. Praise them (only genuinely) if they do their job well. Just a sentence like ‘your driving is very good’, ‘your presentation is very good’, your handwriting is good’. There are so many good things that you can find if you wish to praise others. Do it on regular basis. Atleast start with ‘I’ll observe and appreciate 5 people from today’. It can be total strangers. But, thank them and appreciate them for what they do. Just 5/day. Say after 6 months or when you become comfortable you can raise the number to say 7-10 persons. But, start today. Be a ‘giver of smile’. Spread goodwill around. More you appreciate; more will come your way. Please try this and get back to me with your experience after 1 month of practice.

2.      Validate nature: yes. Look around yourself daily. Take just 10-15 mts daily without fail and look at nature – trees, animals, wind (feel this), sky anything. See their contribution in your life and then I don’t need to tell you ‘say thanks to them’ – you’ll automatically do. They bring smile on your lips without fail. By doing nothing too. Just by being themselves.

3.      Appreciate children and old people: Any child you see you can appreciate them for what they say or talk. Make them see their strengths. Encourage them to think of their possibility. For today’s children are tomorrow’s adults. And these adults will build the nation.

Whenever you come across old people in neighbourhood or in public places and if you hear them say something like ‘but we can’t walk etc’ remind them of their achievements and make them feel as role models. This is just one example. But appreciate their worth and their contribution to the society. Encourage them to share it with little ones in their colony or an NGO.

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