From “Please” to “Thank You”
The message of gratitude is everywhere. Over the last decade, it’s as though the world has finally awoken to the fact that while there is much to long for, there is just as much (if not more) to be thankful for. Really, expressing this thanks, standing in the abundance that is here NOW, is a great way to allow whatever it is you’re longing for to show up as well.
In some ways, I’m reminded of some of my interactions with my children. The big request right now is for a dog (yep, we’ve reached the “Can’t we have a dog?” phase of childhood — actually, my son’s been here for a while, but we’ve managed to keep the idea at bay due to allergies!). Allergies and such aside, what my husband and I have explained to our twosome, truthfully, is that as parents, we’d like to see our children being appreciative of and responsible for the things they already have, before entrusting them with another pet. They’ve already got a hamster and a fish. The children each have responsibilities related to each pet. Some days these responsibilites are met; other days, those same responsiblities are neglected and if anything, there’s a barrage of sighing and grumbling about the amount of work that needs to be done. Which provides my husband and I the opportunity to say, “if you can’t be grateful and responsible for what you have, how can we responsibly give you more?”
When it comes right down to it, I’m sure the universe gives us as humans similar responses. I’m certain that, even as we get clear on what we want and start asking for that, there’s a way in which the universe says “but are you appreciative of what you’ve GOT RIGHT NOW?”
Given the limitations of our humand, fairly linear-thinking brains, I believe that there’s a story we’ve got going that says “I ask for something, I get it, then I show gratitude.”. What I want to entertain is the possibility that the process is more circular. In other words, we can start with any of the three points. And I think, starting with gratitude actually serves better. Being grateful for what’s here right now, keeps you grounded in the present. Being grateful for what’s here right now shows that you can be resonsible for more. Being grateful for what’s here right now creates the space for what you’re wanting to show up.
Bottom line: it isn’t necessarily that you must first ask, then receive, then give thanks. Instead, it can actually serve to start by giving thanks. Show your appreciation — truthfully, genuinely, in a heart-felt way. Then you can ask. And be grateful again.