Be Thankful on Thanksgiving Day

Acts of generosity to others promote mental happiness and satisfaction. Saints have long known the benefits of such actions. Helping others, providing for them in time of need is helping yourself. When you act in kindness, the long-time rewards are eminent and multiplied. Remember the key to happiness is to place the happiness of others before yours. What comprises OTHERS? Everybody - excluding you, starting from your family, friends, relatives and ending to everybody who encompass the world.

According to Hamilton, deeds of kindness and love help release Oxytocin hormones. It is also called the love hormone. It is responsible for strong bonding, healthy relationships, trust and empathy. Oxytocin is a benevolent hormone which causes nitric oxide chemical to release. This chemical dilates the blood vessels and reduces hypertension. Physical touch like cuddling and hugging are ways to release this hormone in abundance.

Start with yourself. You can be thankful of your present status considering how many of us do not have adequate food, clothing and shelter. There is a considerable fraction of world population that goes hungry to bed, has no roof over their head and medicines to treat their illness. Homelessness is increasing amidst pandemic and insecurity of jobs.

There are enough opportunities to help eradicate poverty and social differences. However small a step is, it is worthwhile. If everyone takes this small step, there will not be any suffering left in this world.

Considering how people are suffering, there are ample opportunities for us to help humanity, animal kingdom and earth itself. Providing food and clothing to the needy goes first. Fighting climate changes, injustice and social issues can be another. Volunteering for a small cause can go long way to change and revolutionize essential issues. Rome was not built in a day neither did a revolution succeed without the slow movements, uniting of people and strengthening the causes.

Why at all is meditation necessary? People often tell me that they are good with how life is going. Why meditate? They do their morning walks and evening strolls, eat healthy and that's all they need.

Isn't it important to keep your mind fit with a fit body? People spend hours exercising to keep their body in shape but scarcely feel the need of training the mind. In time of turbulence, it is the mind which will keep your body floating. In storms and tides unless you have a healthy mind, you cannot triumph vicissitudes and adversity in life. Proper meditation will balance your mind, make you strong to fight difficult times and challenges in life.

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something. For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times, you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, Because they give you opportunities for improvement.