Why Give Thanks?

Historically, the fall has been known as the trigger point for settlers and colonists to prepare themselves for the coming harsher weather ahead.

Crops were harvested in a flurry of activity before the coming frost, game was hunted in sufficient quantities to last through the winter, and frantic production of preserves were made to ensure nothing was wasted and the earth’s bounty would last for months.

The end of this intense period of productivity was capped with a celebration to give thanks to God and the earth for providing all that was needed to live through another year…

I wrote a post earlier this year about social entrepreneurship because a smiling homeless man got me thinking about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It illustrated how it is important to ensure our basic needs are satisfied to achieve happiness and that true happiness has nothing to do with what many of us believe.

“Give thanks even for the small things”

To take that perspective a bit further, I think a key to true happiness is to take a step back and reflect upon our lives and to give thanks for what we have, however small or insignificant that may be.

I found this wonderful post on The Knowledge Hound site that provides tips and examples of things we probably take for granted that we should be thankful for. It goes on to explain the positive outcome when we get in the habit to give thanks.

Sure, we may not be as wealthy as we want to be…. We may be stuck working in a job that is not satisfying…. We may have some relationship issues that are irritating, or pasts that are regrettable, but consider this for a moment…

No matter what your circumstances are, no matter what your financial situation, no matter how difficult you may consider your life is at this moment, there will always be someone, somewhere, in a worse situation than you!

Give thanks for the little things. Give thanks for your basic needs.
Just give thanks!

You will find that by giving thanks, even if your life isn’t perfect, or where you want it to be. Give thanks and you will put yourself on a positive foundation to make it through the “winter”, like the settlers and colonists of yesteryear, with a renewed hope and energy to move forward to live fulfilled.

Have a happy thanksgiving!

Living with Purpose. Live Fulfilled.

p.s. Please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear about what you do to give thanks and how it helps you to live fulfilled.

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