Gratitude

The Scarcity Mentality

We live in a culture that is infected with the virus of scarcity. We are constantly being told that we are not enough, that we do not have enough, that we need more. We are bombarded with messages that tell us that our happiness is just one purchase away, one promotion away, one relationship away. But this is a lie. It is a lie that keeps us trapped in a cycle of wanting and dissatisfaction. It is a lie that keeps us from seeing the abundance that is all around us.

The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is the antidote to the scarcity mentality. It is the simple and deep art of being thankful for what is. It is the recognition that our lives are already full, that we are already whole, that we already have everything we need. Gratitude is not a passive state; it is an active practice. It is a way of training our minds to see the good, to notice the beauty, to appreciate the blessings that are all around us.

The Tao of Gratitude

In Taoism, gratitude is not about being thankful for the good things and resentful of the bad things. It is about being thankful for everything. It is about recognizing that the good and the bad, the light and the dark, the joy and the sorrow, are all part of the seamless whole of the Tao. The Taoist sage does not resist what is; he embraces it. He knows that every experience is a gift, that every moment is a teacher.

A Real-Life Example

I once knew a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. She was in constant pain, she was losing her hair, she was confined to a wheelchair. And yet, she was one of the most grateful people I have ever met. She was grateful for the sun on her face, for the taste of a fresh strawberry, for the sound of her grandchildren's laughter. She was grateful for the love of her family, for the kindness of her friends, for the care of her nurses. She was grateful for the gift of her life, in all of its beauty and all of its brokenness. She taught me that gratitude is not about what you have; it is about who you are.

How to Embody This Teaching

• The Practice of the Gratitude List: At the end of each day, make a list of five things that you are grateful for. They can be big things or small things. But whatever they are, write them down.
• The Practice of the Thank You Note: Write a thank you note to someone who has made a difference in your life. It can be a friend, a family member, a teacher, a mentor. But whoever it is, let them know how much you appreciate them.
• The Practice of the Gratitude Walk: Go for a walk and see how many things you can find to be grateful for. The blue of the sky, the green of the trees, the smile of a stranger. See if you can fill your heart with a sense of gratitude for the simple gift of being alive.

When This Card Appears

When the Gratitude card appears in a reading, it is a sign that you are being called to a deeper practice of gratitude. It may be a sign that you have been focusing on what is wrong with your life, and that you are being invited to focus on what is right. It can also be a sign that you are being called to a path of greater joy, of greater abundance, of greater love.