Day 10 - Gratitude Expands Every Relationship

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

In today’s meditation, we explore how gratitude can transform all our relationships. It starts when you express gratitude or appreciation to another person. The transformation begins when you have the thought of gratitude and your brain translates that feeling into beneficial biochemical and neurological changes in your body. The feeling of gratitude also expands the heart, which has the effect of erasing old grievances and soothing resentments and petty differences we may have been holding onto. 

Gratitude is wonderful in that it gives these same benefits to the body and heart of the giver as well as the receiver of gratitude. When someone is thanked or appreciated, they generate the same biochemical changes and feel the same expansion and healing of the heart. This back-and-forth flow of grace uplifts and opens every aspect of our relationship with that person.

Daily Journal

1. Bring to mind one relationship in your life that is difficult for you to feel appreciation for and would benefit from more gratitude. Describe the challenge or obstacle that makes it difficult to express gratitude towards that particular person.

2. Now, write about the good qualities of that person and relationship that you admire and enjoy.

3. Now, journal about some things you could do with this person that would bring out these positive qualities and make it easier to feel gratitude for them. For example, if you have a family member with a fiery personality who feels calm by the water, take a beach walk with them or spend the day by a pristine lake together.

4. Use this space to reflect further on your experience today.