We need to reflect on what “gift-giving” is meant to be. When someone gives a gift to another, the gift is a symbol of the presenter’s giving of himself to you, so giving a gift should never be forced. Without the love of the giver in the gift, the gift has no meaning. Whenever a gift is received, there should be gratitude.
When someone gives a gift to another, the gift is a symbol of the presenter’s giving of himself to you, so giving a gift should never be forced. Without the love of the giver in the gift, the gift has no meaning. Whenever a gift is received, there should be gratitude. Gratitude is the moment when the gift and the giver are CELEBRATED. Grateful people are happier, less depressed and less stressed. Grateful people have more positive ways of coping with difficulties they experience in life. They are more likely to seek support from other people, reinterpret circumstances and grow from the experience. Gratitude strengthens the immune system, lowers blood pressure, reduces symptoms of illness, and makes us less bothered by aches and pains. Grateful people sleep better, and this seems to be because they think less negative and more positive thoughts just before going to sleep.Gratitude is an affirmation of goodness. Gratitude encourages us to appreciate gifts ands to pay them forward.
Gratitude is not the same as indebtedness which occurs when a person perceives that they are under an obligation to make repayment of the gift. Indebtedness can motivate the recipient of the gift to avoid the person who gave it.
The quality of being thankful can be developed:
Start a gratitude journal, recording three to five things for which you are grateful everyday.
Write a “gratitude letter” to an important person in your life whom you have never properly thanked.
Teach gratitude to children.
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