We have just celebrated the day of Thanksgiving in the United States, when most all American families gathered together to eat turkey with all the trimmings.

But the celebration of Thanksgiving is a whole lot more than eating turkey. It is a season when you most likely took time to stop and reflect on all of the things you are grateful for. It is always good to respond to that sense of gratitude and express it with thanksgiving.

However, real thanksgiving is not just a season, but rather an expression of gratitude that should always be a part of our lives.

Gratitude and thanksgiving is an essential part of the life style of every successful person.

Gratitude and being thankful will help you focus on the positive.
Gratitude is very powerful because it is a very positive emotion. It is impossible to be depressed or negative when you are feeling gratitude.

Hence this is one sure way to step away from depression, fear and other negative emotions.

Any time you catch yourself feeling a little low, speaking anything negative or if you have faced a difficult situation, STOP. Yes take a few moments out to start thinking of all of the things you are grateful for.

I guarantee you that once you start with one or two things, more will come to mind and you will start to feel better.

Gratitude and giving thanks can help you see beyond any obstacles in your path.
Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. Brian Tracy

Obstacles, unexpected situations and crisis are all a part of life. Everyone faces these situations at one time or another. The key is not what happens to you, but you DO with what happens to you.

Every situation you face can make you bitter or better. There is only one different letter between these two words, but their meanings are as different as night and day.

Do you allow things to make you bitter, or do you take them as a challenge to become a better person?

Gratitude can keep you humble as you climb the ladder of success.
Never forget where you came from as you run towards following your dream. You cannot do it alone. Many people along the way contributed to your success by something they said, wrote or did. Their words, writings or actions challenged you, inspired you or opened a door for you.

Consider this:
No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. Alfred North Whitehead

Have you counted your blessings today? I am sure you have a multitude of things you are thankful for.

Here’s a suggestion:

• Take a few moments out of your busy day.
• Find a clean sheet of paper and a pen.
• Write down at least five things you are grateful for.

Now express your gratitude:

• Give thanks for these things.
• Tell someone you appreciate them
• Write to someone expressing your appreciation, or send them a card (on me).