What Does Being Grateful Even Mean?

We live in a world of success and failure. Either someone already reached those goals or they are striving towards them.

At least, that seems to be the case with most people.

I’m not going to deny nor agree whether this is bad or good. After all, it depends on you as the individual doesn’t it?

But a common ‘solution’ we all hear is to be grateful. Whether you succeed or fail, just be grateful because at the end of the day, many people are jealous of what you have.

I mean, some people don’t even have food to eat right? Well, instead look at you! You have all basic amenities and are still complaining over some abstract goal you put for yourself.

I do not think anyone can outright reject the above claim by many because it’s simply true. However, I do feel a little skeptical… you will understand why soon.

Just be grateful. Just start journaling, pray before eating or contemplate about it.

It doesn’t sound bad does it? Well it isn’t but at the same time, I feel like we all do agree that we can smell a bit of bullshit about it.

It doesn’t seem too real either. It feels like a hazy dream or a feel-good quote that has no relevance in practice.

But some say it did change their lives.

It made them happier and fulfilled individuals. They say, “I ‘get’ to do these things. Not that I ‘have’ to do but I have an opportunity to do so unlike many others which is something to be grateful about. But what if our life itself is an opportunity? Doesn’t that mean we should be grateful about everything?”

They wake up in the morning with tears in their eyes and all those exaggerated adjectives we have heard about it.

Taking a step back, I don’t disagree in certain instances in my personal life too. If I bathed in a cold shower for a week and went back to hot, I would indeed feel grateful.

Or if I slept on the floor but came back on the bed the next day, I would feel grateful again too.

But these feel different and I believe you do too.

There’s an inherent difference between feeling grateful over things you actually did versus something you never really felt.

If you never starved for several days in your life and simply tried to feel grateful about it, it feels ridiculous.

It sounds like those ‘I am’ affirmations that only feel good but do nothing. Imagine thinking you are going to succeed by saying, ‘I am successful’ when you haven’t even opened your damn book!

That being said, there is a nuance I think. Instead, trying not to say words such as “will try” to “will do” might have some impact since it means a posture of confidence and so on.

Although I would not say it is anywhere near to make sense out of it.

Coming back to the topic, I do not think it is easy or even remotely possible to feel grateful to a good extent if you personally never experienced the struggle behind it.

Perhaps this is why people say only people who go to war can taste the sweetness of peace?

Food for thought.