Personal Development Vs Self Development & The Role of Gratitude
Are you perplexed by the role that Gratitude plays in Personal Development (or self development) as I prefer it to be referred. I mean, let's face it, the constant development of 'Self' is obviously a 'personal' adventure, but what about the role of Gratitude?
Lot's of people write notes on what they call Gratitude, on how, if you value what you have, you will get more. Though true, it has nothing to do with Gratitude at all. It is a completely different principle, that of getting more of whatever you focus on. Gratitude is far more rudiment than that!
Gratitude is not something you think and decide about. In particular it is not what you do in response to your life situation. Gratitude is a state of Beingness. An Attitude. It is actually an abbreviation of ‚'Great Attitude'‚/Gr(e)atitude. And it is the essence of all Personal Development endeavours.
Gratitude is a condition whereby you stop resisting, stop fighting, with life, with yourself. It starts with unconditional Acceptance. And then it goes a step further. It is a favourable response to the passive act of acceptance. It is an acknowledgment that you, in your ubiquity, have created precisely the conditions you find yourself in. That you have created a world which perfectly reflects all that is magnificent, and also all that is not so exquisite in your soul.
As such, it is a condition of acknowledging and regaining your own power, your own response-ability to what you have mirrored in your material life and surroundings, your world. This is the essence of Personal Development. The Greek word for Gratitude is eu-nomos-yne, literally means the ‚'Good Law' (of) ‚'Is‚ness' or Being. So being in the state of gratitude puts you in sync with this Universal ‚'Way it Is', which in religious terms is One with God, or At-one-ment. To clarify further, as a ‚'Way to Be', Gratitude is not, and cannot be a judgment, so whatever circumstances you find yourself in , you can chose to be 'In' Gratitude.
The biggest mistake people make is to mistake Gratitude with gratefulness. But if you learn to separate non judgmental, inner gratitude from judgmental, outwardly directed gratefulness, then you will unlock the key to your own power, first to deal in a life enhancing way with the unpleasant experience you have endured, and subsequently, to open the way to creating, this time with conscious awareness which is in turn mirrored in ‚better life circumstances.
Briefly contrasted, gratefulness is a response, Gratitude is causal. The extent to which you focus on the former is the extent to which you respond to your circumstances. The extent to which you focus on the latter is the extent to which you generate them.
In truth, it is victimhood. That is the opposite, one and only way of being, other than Gratitude. It is the state whereby you deny your own responsibility, both in creating, by reflection, the life condition you have attracted, and your response-ability, rather than reflex, unconscious re-action to it. Or put another way, not being the consciously causative agent in your life, but living in the effect of your unconsciousness.
Each one of us, to a greater or lesser extent, more or less times, has felt that s/he has been wronged. It is for you to decide whether to continue resisting the 'way it is', in victim-hood, and with this 'hood' smother your awareness, or exercise your liberty (divine right) to choose, and to remain in a state of Gratitude.
To continue fighting the instances of Life, to re(en)act, denying your power of response-ability to your painful experiences (while pain is at times inevitable, suffering is a choice). To be suffering continuously, helplessly, one experience after another, until your conquered. Or learn to Live Life with Gratitude, unconditional anticipation and enthusiasm
When you have a life-long commitment to Personal Development and practice the Art of self-mastery Gratitude allows you to stand on the brink of what is coming, feeling eager anticipation – with no feelings of anxiety, doubt or unworthiness.
What has been your experience with Gratitude? Have you found yourself able, for moments or longer, to spend time in this Divine State? If your a student of Personal Development I would love to learn of your experiences?
And for inspiring me with your comments I will be eternally grateful.
Author: Drew Innes
A former Property & Finance Executive and now one of today's most successful Online Entrepreneurs. Drew is an International mentor and coach in the Direct Sales Industry specialising in Personal Development, Business Systems, Online Marketing and mentoring people on 'mastering the inner game of wealth'. Learn from Drew and create 'your own economy' to take back control of your life.
June 11th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Aloha Drew, enjoyed your post and yes gratitude is a big factor in life and that say, What goes around comes around, would fit this world. My appreciate for the inspiring words and thanks for sharing! Lani
PS…Stop by and visit me and leave a sweet note and/or Tweet. Mahalo
June 16th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
What a great article! This is defiantly an article that I will print out and stick on my wall to read often.
Thanks Drew.
June 17th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Hi Lani & Danielle,
I’d like to express my Gratitude for your comments. As an FYI, I host a live call at 9am Australian EST each morning that is a combination of information and inspiration for Entrepreneurs… each Friday morning that call is a ‘giving back call’ whereby community members jump on out and express gratitude for their week. You are most welcome to attend any morning if you are looking for a ‘pick me up’!
June 19th, 2010 at 6:20 am
An article everyone should read and then think about. Developing an attitude of gratitude towards life allows us to see it and experience in a different way and on a different level. Gratitude as you present it here is linked not only to personal development, but also personal happiness. Let us all try to inculcate gratitude in our daily life.
June 19th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Drew,
You are a great writer. Very articulate. I appreciate being reminded on a daily basis that I am totally responsible for everything in my life– the exquisite and the not so exquisite as you said. I write in a gratitude journal each day and it has really changed my mindset and each night I try to think of one thing I have never been grateful for before.
July 7th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Drew, I found your article very interesting. I have never (I must admit) delved that deeply into the idea of Gratitude. I do love the idea of gratitude as a state of being, not something you need to recite at bedtime. I like the distinction between gratefulness and gratitude.
I am so glad I stumbled upon your blog.
Nick