How to be grateful... (maybe?)

I've asked myself the question before... How can I feel grateful? Sometimes I feel more like I *should* be grateful or that I *want* to feel grateful for something, rather than simply feeling that warm gratitude. Anyway, today again I asked myself that question and typed it into google and found this article. I sorta like some of it. It has some element of Eckhart and mindfullnes within.

But what do you think? Can you choose to feel grateful? Or can you trick yourself somehow into it? Or maybe you can't do either- it's out of your hands! Each to their own view of reality. I'm just interested in hearing about other peoples!

Enjoy.

http://liveboldandbloom.com/11/mindfulness/how-to-practice-gratitude

Funny thing about islands are if you didn't bring it to the island you won't leave with it . The old saying no man is an island to himself. Why ... Should u be... Who says you should be? Why do I have to be like every one else? I am personally not a follower I'm a leader. Army , coast guard , church, sports , some are natural leaders . Not every one is alike . Graciousness is found every where. You can be fooled prompted even structured to be thankful. I know a sect that says in everything just be thankful. For the most part it works, but if your not , why force it ! ? We each have our own things to be thankful for I think, lol . Don't "feel" like you have to do anything. Just cuz it's common doesn't mean it's for you. Personally that word should in our house is questioned every time ... Why should I and who really say I should. Only Sith deal in absolutes.
Leave room for more friend on your plate or palette . In growth peace can be a fruit (Tao 37) and 36 even says like fruit you don't have to say anything like every one else just leave it at the mystery. We can explain so much some times but some time we can just wonder and let things be. If your great fun so be it if not so be it as well. I'm not judging lol at times I'm an old grouchy man born at the time of war and hardback and other times I'm very hobbit or hippie. Be you. All of u. UN gracious or not and then you can be like me , I'm thankful I can be myself and not have to be thankful all the time or happy or laughing like a fool. That's me, and I find my balance every day. As can u!

Like the saying goes about putting rose coloured glasses on, 'sight' (being generally the most accessible complex sense) can be a rich tapestry of awareness and connection beyond just 'resource'. I like to exert characteristics in perception so that all things demonstrate qualities which help my particular path. and an understanding of suffering (or even just change) as a field in this way can disperse negative focus to allow positive things like perhaps gratitude to be carried in ones ''view' more resolutely.

Start really small. Are you not grateful for the air you're breathing? What about the grape you are about to consume? Could you practice taking small moments each day and being purposeful about your gratitude?

If that is too small, the next step is to practice gratitude. It's not a passive thing to be written down in a journal. Being truly grateful means that you provide value back to those who sacrifice it for you. So, give to the community. Don't expect anything back. Gratitude's heart is in action.