Article from the book ‘Are You A Super Leader?’ by Manoj J Lekhi (Amrut Vivek).

I was introduced to being in gratitude, in 1989 when I did the course Siddha Samadhi Yoga (SSY). This was imparted to me by my Master – exhorting me to live a life in gratitude for all that we have, rather than crave for things we don’t

have. Being in gratitude 24*7*365 has transformed my life magically.

As Rhonda Byrne puts it in her book ‘The Magic’, ‘Whoever has gratitude will be given more, and he will have abundance. Whoever does not have gratitude, even what he has will be taken from him’. That’s how gratitude works. The one with gratitude receives more of what he has and the one without gratitude finds everything taken away, sooner or later.

This also goes with the law of attraction or the law of karma which states – what we give is what we receive. What we give, we receive back a hundred fold. Similarly if we complain; we receive reasons to complain a hundred fold.

Gratitude and Relationships

You can see the importance of gratitude working all the time in relationships.

In all relationships, it is about what we see in each other. For instance in a husband-wife relationship, if they continuously nag and pick at each other; they have mastered the art of finding faults in each other. This would only increase the distance between them. If both develop the art of appreciating the uniqueness in each other and be in gratitude of each other; their relationship will blossom and the love factor will increase every moment. This is the reason why friendships last long. If a husband and wife can transform their bonding like that of friends, the relationship would be elevated to a completely different level. 

Gratitude is nested in our basic nature. It is our birth right and our natural way of living. This is how nature works. It is all about giving, giving and giving. We see the sun that continues to give light to whomsoever that comes under it. When we visit the doctor with a broken leg, he simply puts the plaster and instructs us, ‘Let nature take care of it’. 

Gratitude and Forgiveness

One also observes that nature always forgives. If one forgives, then gratitude comes magically. 

Gratitude cannot step out without forgiveness. Most people find it very difficult to forgive people, events and situations and even their own selves. But when one forgives, one feels tremendously unburdened and experiences relentless freedom.

When does one forgive? Forgiveness is the natural state of a person who has taken total responsibility of his life. Once we take full responsibility, forgiveness comes naturally. When we don’t take responsibility, we pass the buck to each other. The constraints are felt in our relationships whether it is husband-wife, parent-child, boss-employee etc. There are two ways to live life. One is ‘I am responsible’ and the other is pointing fingers to others and saying ‘He is responsible’.

This is the first lesson I learnt from my master in 1989. I was in my early twenties when I learnt this. ‘I AM RESPONSIBLE for all the things that happen in my life’,

this mantra transformed me deeply. Forgiveness came out naturally. Once forgiveness happens then gratitude follows naturally. And the more we live in gratitude, the more we attract beautiful things around us.

Relationships blossom when we are in gratitude. Two brothers liking each other, appreciating each other will take that relationship to better levels. Two partners appreciating each other, being in gratitude of each other will take the business to newer heights. Two lovers appreciating each other will elevate their relationship to the next blissful level. Suppose, someone has disturbed me. He has said or done

something I did not like. Whenever such situations occur in my life, I say, ‘Thank you, you are just a reflection of my inner state. Thank you, you are just a projection of my inner world. Thank you, because of you I am able to see myself so

clearly. Thank you that you have shown me my ‘somebodyness (ego)’. Thank you that you made me realize that I am actually a ‘nobody’ who is getting stuck. Thank you, you give me the chance to introspect about my life. Thank you’.

This changes my perspective immediately and brings about an instant shift within myself. This approach of being in gratefulness every moment of our life has an invaluable effect on all our relationships. We soon start experiencing oneness

with all people around us. We attract situations and events in our lives which resonate with our energies. We attract more beautiful people and souls around us.

The truth is that a happy relationship starts with you. When you bring positivity and gratitude into the relationship your relationship will flourish. When both partners see greatness in each other, feel appreciative and have gratitude towards

each other, the relationship is filled with connection, harmony and true love.

We conduct this workshop called the ‘Magic of Gratitude’. I welcome you to transform your life in one day by attending this workshop (details can be seen online on Youtube).

A Super Leader is appreciative in every moment. He/She thanks every moment. He/She experiences the magic in all areas of health, wealth and relationships by being in gratitude 24*7*365.