Many of us are looking for our pot of gold. Others are simply envious of our neighbors’ wealth and happiness. We go to work every day trying to make ends meet, and we always seem to get by, by the skin of our teeth. We wonder what we are doing wrong. We do what we are told, we follow the speed limit, we mark the time on the clock, we eat our fruits and vegetables, we take care of our p and q, and still we do not feel happy. Something missing. How can we find our wishful dream: is it in the genie bottle, in the Cracker Jack box, or is it true that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?

We tell ourselves that if we only had that new dress, that second car/house, that new toy, or that special relationship, our life would be complete. Have you ever noticed that once you have achieved your “dream” you are still not satisfied? So what do we do? We go in search of “better sleep,” or submit to the mind numbing routine of everyday life. There are others among us who choose to whine, moan and complain about their lives. Somehow this way of life seems deeply unfulfilling and unhealthy. Sometimes, unfortunately, this existence causes us to have a “disease” or a blockage to its prosperity.

There was a time in my life when I was a crybaby and a victim of circumstance. He suffered from many ailments, from kidney disease to pneumonia. He was always complaining to me, never satisfied, and oblivious to joy, enthusiasm, and prosperity. During my search for a more meaningful life (I knew there had to be something better than continuous suffering) I discovered the attitude of gratitude. Thanksgiving kicked off when a mentor of mine gave me an assignment: “Write down 1,000 things you’re grateful for,” he said, immediately my mind freaked out! How could anyone think of 1,000 things to be thankful for? I was insulted and confronted for such an assignment. However, I vowed to have a breakthrough, so I began to think about what I was thankful for. Once I started, I was amazed at all the things I took for granted and were not grateful for.

Are you grateful for your eyesight that allows you to read this article or do you take your eyes for granted? What about your ear or your fingers that allow you to write and eat? The list of what we are capable of doing is extensive. Have you recently taken time to be grateful for all the things you are capable of doing? Such as: eating, sleeping (in a warm and comfortable home), running, jumping, driving, having hair, and being able to walk or talk? A little challenge, can you think of at least 500 things you are grateful for?

Did you know that the miracle of prosperity is released through thanksgiving? It happens because the deliberate act of giving thanks releases certain powerful energies of the mind and body that are not released otherwise. Through the act of giving praise and thanks, you can activate the dynamic powers of the subconscious part of the mind, which then quickly acts on your behalf! It is possible through the deliberate act of thanksgiving to completely transform your life. Yes, thanksgiving can cause miracles of abundance in the areas of wealth, health, and happiness. The attitude of gratitude brings prosperity.

The trick is to be thankful first, before there seems to be something to be thankful for. Always look at your cup as half full not half empty, be a Pollyanna if you dare! When you dare to do this, your mental acceptance accelerates. Your good intensifies and manifests quickly. Many times people forget to be grateful for a long time, and very often things start to get difficult for them. Could it be that we have difficulties because we have not been grateful?

There was a time in my life when it was difficult for me to pay my monthly bills on time. He was always angry and frustrated. I worked hard, but my cash flow and prosperity were somehow blocked. My new awareness of how ungrateful I was created a paradigm shift for me. From that moment I realized that my “illness” and blocked prosperity was caused by my ungrateful attitude. At that moment I decided to develop an attitude of gratitude in my daily life. Now every day I spend a certain amount of time (usually as soon as I wake up) for my gratitude practice. I start by calming my thoughts and staying still. Then I give thanks for everything I have now and then I give thanks for all the good to which I am entitled as a spiritual being. An affirmation you may want to use is: “I give thanks that God Substance is working for me now. I give thanks that the perfect results of God Substance now appear quickly in my financial affairs.” (Catherine Ponder) Try it! You will be surprised by the results.

Another method that I have found very powerful is the “thank you box.” Find a beautiful box or basket and write down the blessings you wish to receive and place them in the ‘Thank You Box’. Once a week review your requests and write down how many of them have been fulfilled. I once wanted a new sports car, but I knew I couldn’t afford it, so I gave thanks for my new sports car and put a picture of it in my “thank you box”. a car that he had always dreamed of owning. I couldn’t afford a new car, but this used car was only 2 years old with only 30,000 miles and in perfect condition. I’m happy to say that I owned that car for 9 years (the longest I’ve owned a car), and I’m extremely grateful for it to this day.