Gratitude and Prayers

Gratitude is an expression of appreciation for whatever we already possess, be it tangible or intangible. It is a ‘ Thank you ‘ note for every positive aspect of one’s life that helps us be aware of our surroundings and new possibilities. It is also a ‘ Thank you ’ note for the negative ones which forges out our weakness, by warning us of possible threats, and in a way, it also does strengthen our defences. Gratitude reminds us to not take things for granted in our lives and to hit a pause to be thankful for our surroundings. The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word “gratia ” which translates to gratefulness. This expression has always been a topic of interest for philosophers. In 1998, Martin Segwin invented a new field in psychology called “positive psychology” which initiated the study of gratitude with psychology. This branch focuses on reinforcing the positive traits and includes the benefits of being frequently grateful.

A lot of past studies have shown that people who consciously count their blessings tend to live happier lives and be less depressed. There are proven benefits of practising gratitude to improve one’s mental health and physical health. Not only this, gratitude improves one’s self-esteem, helps to sleep better, and reduces aggression. In the process of acknowledging the goodness in one’s life, people realize that goodness somehow exists outside themselves. This way being grateful allows people to connect to something greater than themselves whether to nature, other people, or some higher power.

Prayers are a way of communication of human beings with their deity, God, or supernatural power. Different prayers are subjected to different cultures and religions as there are individual Gods and Goddesses to each religion. But God doesn’t need to be divided by the distinctions of religions, God can simply be a supreme power, some supernatural power who is responsible for the existing mysteries of the world. No matter if you are an atheist who thanks to his helpers and guides, a scientist who is finding ways to better life, a devoted believer who is helping the kind through the ways defined, or a nature lover who helps mother earth survive. When you express gratitude, you are in a way levelling up your life, by upgrading your soul, brain, lifestyle, environment, or/and family.

Praying is a regular maintenance fee for your soul that you pay to have your faith in your specific God and it helps in enriching your life force. It is a ritual that awakens spirituality in someone and for some, it is the gateway to “Nirwana”. It is truly said by a religious scholar- “Prayer is said to be to religion what rational thought is to philosophy”. The word prayer comes from the Latin word “precarius” which translates to “obtained by begging to entreat”. There are different forms of prayers- silent prayers, spoken prayers, prayers of mind, prayers of the heart, prayers for healing, and prayers for union with God. One can pray with a specific outcome in mind or it can be unintentional just to strengthen one’s faith.

How gratitude and prayers help us:

Both these expressions promote positive emotions.
They lead us to positive actions.
They lead us to the path of contentment which always results in greater happiness.
These expressions help you connect with a community, be it religious, or just a group of grateful people.
They lead to the path of spirituality and reduce mental stress.
By making these expressions a daily ritual, it can help one to relax in an otherwise busy life.

References: