What is gratitude?

Gratitude is an expression of thanks for the materialistic, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual possessions of your life.

We can express gratitude for the easy things in life: a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes to wear. This is great but practicing gratitude is also about finding the deeper meaning behind the things you are grateful for. My definition of being grateful is on a deeper level for all things from possessions, material items, emotional experiences, and even the hard times.

When I was little, my father would always make a big deal about keeping our money out of sight. No one was to know how much we had, or didn't have. In my adult years, I was very conscious of where my money was being spent and kept pretty tight purse strings. I lived paycheck to paycheck and sometimes those paychecks didn't cover the bills. I had a car repossessed and lost my house during the financial crisis of 2009. Because of that scarcity, my gratitude for money has a deeper meaning.

Today I am grateful for our financial comfort because it corresponds to the the times when I didn't have money. I am grateful that I have money to provide the necessities for my family as well as giving me the opportunity to help others and pay it forward.

Practicing gratitude actually opens your space for abundance. You're telling the universe "Thank you" for what you've received and the universe says "You're welcome, here are more blessings."

Now you try it. Write down 3 things that you are grateful for. Then look for the deeper meaning of your gratitude.