“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than in the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It’s more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.” Charles.R. Swindoll

I read this quote in a blog written by an eighty year old man. I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. I know that attitude is everything. When I am going through any kind of challenge if I can keep a positive attitude about the outcome, I am blessed with answers and assistance and solutions. It isn’t easy to be challenged by illness or finances or any other less than desirable condition; however, our attitude about life is everything.

Ernest Holmes, the Founder of movement called “Religious Science” once wrote, “An attitude of gratitude is most salutary and bespeaks the realization that we are now in heaven.” Yes, according to the Science of Mind and Spirit, heaven is a state of mind as is hell. Gratitude can transform our minds and carry us out of any kind of hellish state into heaven. What is heaven? For me, heaven is a total faith and trust that all is well no matter what. Heaven is peace of mind. Heaven is feeling an overwhelming love for oneself and for others. Heaven is living as one’s True self in service to others. Heaven is just being without the constant having to do. There’s more I’m sure, but for now, I know that gratitude is the stairway to heaven.

The question might be “How can I feel grateful when everything in my life is on a downward spiral or when everything in the world is so awful?” Well, lack of gratitude keeps everything just where it is. There is always something for which to feel grateful. I can be grateful just to be alive in the middle of any experience. Gratitude grows upon itself when practiced. Sometimes, I just take a deep breath, look for the light in my life and feel the amazing energy of gratitude well up in me. Gratitude is a choice.

To quote Charles R. Swindoll again, “The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.” Yes, we have a choice. If it weren’t so, we would reduce ourselves to a choiceless life. We are co-creators with a Universal Law that always says yes to us. I know this is the truth and when I feed it with an attitude of gratitude, everything in my life becomes a blessing. Dr. Joe Dispenza adds to the truth about gratitude through his scientific work with the brain. He states that “gratitude is the ultimate state of receivership.”

We do not have to trust the mystics or the scientists about the effects of an attitude of gratitude. We can test it out for ourselves. The Holiday Season quickly approaches with Thanksgiving just a few days away. Many of us are focused on gratitude this week. This might be the perfect time to begin a gratitude practice that is right for us.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita Andriello-Feren, Author, Teacher and Co-Founding Spiritual Director of Center for Spiritual Living Kaua`i.