One of the SEVEN principles of life that goes hand-in-hand with the SEVEN Universal Laws is GRATITUDE. Its most clear and direct expression is the use of the magical words: THANK YOU!
When I go to banks, restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries – those public places in our daily lives that require our interaction with others – it amazes me how infrequency I observe people saying, Thank You. This is true even though the importance of personal recognition in any and all life situations has been reiterated again and again in various organizations. It has been stressed that a leader, especially, must have the ability and skill to recognize and express gratitude for work well done. Still, that deplorable opinion, that is what they are being paid for, persists. The first key commitment for People Interaction is underestimated and sometimes even made an object of mockery and disrespect.
Maintaining and reinforcing self-esteem in others is one of the most powerful methods for gaining the willingness of others, instead of always striving with their resistance, which, of course, negatively impacts productivity and the very well being and health of organizations. In fact, the ROI (return on investment) of any business can be steadily improved when each human being is well supported by simple appreciation. Those of us who have given our best effort to guide companies onto more solid ground have vigorously emphasized this fact. It has been widely and experimentally demonstrated that the most productive companies are those in which there exists an organizational climate of motivation and satisfaction, where recognition and good humor are the blood that gives it oxygen.
I remember a time when I went to have dinner with a group of people with whom I was involved in a training activity. There were about a dozen and a half of us sitting around this big table that had been so diligently prepared for us by some waitress or hostess. They came and went, serving and satisfying each of our requests with much attention. I observed with continuous amazement that during the three hours we spent in that place, not one of the persons in the group would look at any of them and express their gratitude. They were too busy in their own conversations. When they arrived at my place, the face of each of them would lighten up when I looked at them with a smile and said, “THANK YOU!”
“You’re welcome,” some of them replied, while others just smiled shyly, apparently surprised by receiving the unexpected recognition. In fact, I observed with interest that when we left the place almost all of them told me that my return would be welcome.
One of the people in our group observed this and addressed me with some humor: “Oh Gisela, they liked you!”
I replied, “Nothing of the sort… I simply thanked them for their service.”
The guy laughed and made an invalidation movement with his hands, as if brushing me off. He said, “You always do your strange things!”
I just smiled at him and said, “Strange… but they give me good results! You should try it sometime.”
This was inherited or learned from my wise father who used to tell us, “Always be grateful with everyone for everything.” He taught us never to look down at anybody’s action, no matter how small it was and no matter how insignificant a person may seem to us. He helped me understand that not one person is unimportant; and now I know that nothing in life is trivial. Everything, absolutely EVERYTHING that occurs around us is significant; but we can be blind to these small things because our attention is fixed on our daily tasks and the worldly happenings of our daily life. It’s as if we have blinders on that make us unable to see the value of anything. We find it easier to get involved with criticism and judgment instead of positively appreciating things. Because of this we keep loosing contact with nature and with the simple fact that God and life give us so much through the expressions and actions of our loved ones. Very Sad! Time goes on and we arrive at a point, often many years later, when there is sourness, unhappiness, apathy, anxiety and lack of love for life itself. Some people stop at this point and start pondering these things, and often become aware. These put their effort in transforming the quality of their life through personal and spiritual growth. It’s never late for this! Others just bury their feet more and more into this obscure mud where circumstances, others, life and even God, are to be blamed for their feelings of unpleasantness and emptiness.
In my experience, the most powerful action to pull us out of any state of apathy, depression, pain or sourness is to develop a constant attitude of GRATITUDE. It’s amazing how this heals the wounds progressively, no matter what they may be, and transforms with certainty the person that practices this conduct consciously and with discipline, making it a habit. I have witnessed a person being healed of a sickness in her body by simply making a clear choice every day to make a list of the things she was grateful for. The doctors asked her what she was doing – besides the recommended treatment. Because of her evolving awareness, she was getting better much more quickly, and the secondary effects of the strong medicines she had to take were minimal in comparison to the norm with similar patients.
I always invite people not to believe anything I tell them. I simply invite you to practice and discover for yourself, by your own experience. Each morning, as soon as you open your eyes, express gratitude: THANK YOU (God, Life, the Universe…) for being alive! (Some do not even get to see a new day.) THANK YOU for this new day that unfolds before me. THANK YOU for my family. THANK YOU for having a house in which I find shelter with my family. THANK YOU for all those whom I love, and for those who love me. THANK YOU for the job I have and the salary I earn. THANK YOU for the money that comes to me. THANK YOU for all the clothes that protect my body. THANK YOU for the food I can eat and share with others. THANK YOU for all the belongings I posses. THANK YOU for all my friends. THANK YOU for the sun, the moon, the rain, the landscapes and all nature. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Each one of you can make your own personal list. We have so much to be grateful for! And when you go out in your car and get jammed in traffic, instead of cursing and grouching, look up at the sky and be amazed with the work of art that is always changing. It can be refreshing; and even when it is cloudy, it’s an incredible view.
From your heart, send a loving blessing to those who are less fortunate than you. Bless all those that you may find along your way; and give THANKS for being, doing and having TODAY that which you are, do and have. And every time anyone does something for you: each waitress, a person who allows you to pass on the street or in an elevator; anyone who opens a door for you or serves you in any way… just say, “THANK YOU!” Look at their eyes with a smile that assures them that this word comes from your heart, and is not just a hollow word without significance. Express a silent “THANK YOU” to every person that gives you a smile and greets you; answer them back in the same manner. Even smile at that person who gives you a grumpy look. He or she may be going through a difficult moment; and your smile could be a temporary balsam in their grievance.
The name of this exercise is: Opening the Fountain. It has done extraordinary things for me to learn to make the habit of always, in every circumstance, saying “THANK YOU!” With these simple words you are saying: “I acknowledge, appreciate, value and honor your action.” What a fantastic way to maintain or reinforce the self-esteem in others! And because everything is systemic, it’s equally powerful to nurture your own self-esteem and your feeling of holistic wellbeing. Because when we feel genuine GRATITUDE and express that THANK YOU from our heart, we liberate endorphins, which has extraordinary effects on our immune system, our health and our sensation of interior peace; this is well documented.
Furthermore, since nothing is casual, I recently received an e-mail from a loving friend in which it is mentioned that there is a place in the south of Africa where people use the word SAWABONA. This means: “I respect You. I value You. You are important to me.” This is answered with the word SHIKOBA: “Then, I exist for You!”
This reminds me of the definition of “leader” given by my tutor Eleazar Grynbal in his model: “leadership with a lowercase l”:A leader is: Any person in whose presence I may feel talented, capable, competent and – why not – SIGNIFICANT.
Remember that when you express GRATITUDE, you will have in your life more things to be grateful about! It’s an inexorable law.
SAWABONA… and THANK YOU for taking the time to read this article.
Excerpt from: “THE POWER OF 7*7*7, A Holisitc & Systemic Perspective of The Law of Attraction”® - © Gisela Echeverría G. November, 2008.
Edited by Ron Van Dyke
