With the year coming to a close, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the relationship between gratitude and generosity, remembering why it’s so important to express one just as frequently as the other.
Gratitude and generosity are interdependent attitudes of mindfulness that engender and strengthen one another. They are powerful forces that act in the opposite direction of destructive emotions such as hatred, jealousy, greed, resentment and ill-will. Just as with the other attitudes of mindfulness, they can be cultivated through practice.
Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness for what we have received – acknowledging the good, especially that which comes from or exists outside of us. If we consider closely, we begin to realize that nothing good we possess, tangible or intangible, has been generated by ourselves alone. Gratefulness involves accepting what is, being in the now, and getting unhooked from “I, me and mine”.
Generosity has been described as the act of giving oneself over to life. We can be generous with ourselves and with others, but acting generously with regard to the welfare of another acknowledges our interconnection and brings a special kind of joy. Generosity doesn’t always have to involve material things. One of the greatest gifts we can give is our attention. Giving thanks and encouragement, easing human suffering, acting in a way that helps equalize inequities, and creating social justice are all forms of generosity.
Practicing gratitude and generosity are important for all who seek true happiness.
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