Giving Thanks. M. J. Ryan

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      INTRODUCTION

      If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happi-

       ness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with

       what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing

       lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

      —LAO TZU

      Do you know that happiness, the sheer joy in being alive, is within your reach?

       All you need is an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude creates happiness because it

       makes us feel full, complete; it’s the recognition that we have all we need, at least

       in this moment.

       Recent scientific research has begun to indicate that positive emotions, such

       as gratitude and love, strengthen and enhance the immune system, enabling the

       body to resist disease and recover more quickly from illness, through the release

       of endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers.

       Among other effects, they stimulate dilation of the blood vessels, which leads to a

       relaxed heart.

       What this means is that the more we experience a sense of gratitude, we lit-

       erally bathe ourselves in good hormones and feel happier and more content with

       our lives. Like most great spiritual truths, gratitude is stunningly simple. This is

       not to say it’s necessarily easy to practice. All kinds of distractions, obfuscation,

       and negative attitudes from our upbringings may get in the way. But all you really

       have to do to receive gratitude’s gifts is make a commitment to be thankful on a

       daily basis, and the world will be suddenly transformed into a beautiful wonder-

       land in which you are invited to play.