One single gift acknowledged in gratefulness has the power to dissolve the ties of our alienation.
David Steindl-RastRead
As I express my gratitude, I become more deeply aware of it. And the greater my awareness, the greater my need to express it. What happens here is a spiraling ascent, a process of growth in ever expanding circles around a steady center.
Interpretation
Gratitude enhances awareness and fosters personal growth through continuous expression.
In this quote, David Steindl-Rast emphasizes the transformative power of gratitude. He suggests that as we express our thankfulness, we develop a deeper awareness of the things we are grateful for, which in turn fuels our desire to express that gratitude even more. This creates a virtuous cycle of growth and appreciation that strengthens our connection to the world around us.
In practice
In a speech about personal development, one could use this quote to illustrate the importance of gratitude.
One single gift acknowledged in gratefulness has the power to dissolve the ties of our alienation.
There is no closer bond than the one that gratefulness celebrates, the bond between giver and thanksgiver. Everything is a gift. Grateful living is a celebration of the universal give-and-take of life, a limitless yes to belonging. Can our world survive without gratefulness? Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: to say an unconditional yes to the mutual belonging of all beings will make this a more joyful world. This is the reason why Yes is my favorite synonym for God.
Joy is that kind of happiness that does not depend on what happens.
By looking up, by raising our eyes above our limited horizon, we are more likely to perceive the blessings hidden in affliction.
Any place is sacred ground, for it can become a place of encounter with the divine Presence.
One can learn to focus on "opportunity" as the gift within every given moment. This attitude towards life always improves the situation. Even in times of sickness, someone who habitually practices grateful living will look for the opportunity that a given moment offers and use it creatively.
Banality is like boredom: bored people are boring people, people who think that things are banal are themselves banal. Interesting people can find something interesting in all things.
I have met so many people who say they've got a book in them, but they've never written a word. To be a writer - this may seem trite, I realize - you have to actually write.
Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.
When you expand your awareness, seemingly random events will be seen to fit into a larger purpose.
The first favourite was never heard of, the second favourite was never seen after the distance post, all the ten-to-oners were in the rear, and a dark horse which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed in the list, rushed past the grand stand in sweeping triumph.
And thou my minde aspire to higher things;_x000D_ _x000D_ Grow rich in that which never taketh rust.
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