it is gratitude that makes us joyful

From Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer by Brother David Steindl-Rast

"Ordinary happiness depends on happenstance.

Joy is that extraordinary happiness that is independent of what happens to us.

Good luck can make us happy, but it cannot give us lasting joy. The root of joy is gratefulness. We tend to misunderstand the link between joy and gratefulness. We notice that joyful people are grateful and suppose that they are grateful for their joy. But the reverse is true: their joy springs from gratefulness. If one has all the good luck in the world, but takes it for granted, it will not give one joy. Yet even bad luck will give joy to those who manage to be grateful for it.

We hold the key to lasting happiness in our own hands. For it is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful."

Comments

[Jenny W]

Love this. I told my students the same thing today (though not nearly so eloquently). I had just had them write thank you notes to someone who has impacted their life up to this point. Some remarked upon finishing that it felt good to say thank-you...and we talked about why being grateful was actually good for us, as well as any possible recipient.

[Don M]

When I feel grateful I cannot constrain the joy that wells up in my heart.

[Yael]

Waking up in this side of the world ( I am in Israel) to find these words and to see your smile, is such a fresh of breath air, like the morning air I experience from my window now. Thank you! I will take it with me into the day. Love from the Middle East! Yael
btw you have many fans here too!

[Sharon Snir]

Waking up in Australia and seeing this and the wonderful replies especially in Israel makes me grateful.
Grateful it is raining here, ( we Aussies never complain about the rain, you could be put in jail here if you complain about the rain.. only kidding) grateful my Israeli husband loves me after 31 years, grateful that I am alive and than life has no beginning and no ending. Grateful that I can sit here in my office and smile.

[Lynne Oakley]

Thank you so much for posting this! I really needed to hear this after a boyfriend just broke things off because "I didn't bring him joy." I felt in my heart that joy is something that we all have to create from within but having confirmation really helps. This give me so much clarity. Thank you!!!

[Violette]

Your quotation is about gratitude and joy, but what it inspires me (probably also because of the picture you chose) is a feeling of softness and quietness. Thank you for this peaceful joy travelling through the ocean up to here, in France.

[Kimberly]

I've started reading a couple of positive quotes each morning to frame my day. Makes all the difference in the world. This one strikes deep into my heart. Thank you!

[Mary Ellen]

Thanks for this post! My son is a monk currently living in Brazil. I sent this to him because I had been thinking what a wonderful job he has done of expressing gratitude to the many people who are supporting his mission. It fills me with joy! I took this as an opportunity to tell him so.

[Andrea]

I am filled with joy due to the gratitude I feel toward you, Brené, and Michele R!

[Andy]

This is quite powerful and has influenced the way I approach the foundation of my emotions every day. Thank you so much!

[Dan]

One of my all-time favorite books. If you live life with alert expectancy, your cup will always be full.

[Heather]

This is so true and is exactly why I have Thankful Thursdays on my blog, even if it sounds cheesy. I take a moment, even when it's challenging, to find something to be grateful for. It makes such a positive impact on my attitude.

[Shari]

Thank you for these words of wisdom. I find it amazing when I click by chance and find exactly what I needed to hear. My heart has been touched and my soul blessed.

[Jo]

I recently had a minor accident which caused me to take some unexpected time off work and left me incapacited to do anything around the house. As a doer I was initially frustrated at having to stop and rest completely until I stopped fighting it and allowed myself to do so. What I discovered during this time is your TED talks on vulnerabilty and shame, which in turn led me to your website and this blog. I learned so much about myself during this process and I am truly grateful for what you offer the world. The accompanying sense of joy continues to fill my heart and I feel more connected to myself than I have in some time.

Love and light to you and yours Jo

[spanglish]

I am GRATEFUL for your research, your books, your blog and for having the courage to share and embrace your own vulnerability with us all.

“Happiness depends upon ourselves." —Aristotle

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be … It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for." — Erica Jong

Remember, what you focus on expands; results follow focus.
— Marcus Buckingham

Have a beautiful day!!! Namaste :-)

[Sigrid Rogowski]

I agree with you 100%. Gratitude does make us very joyful.

[amanda]

I started off my day with shearing your post and spreading the idea of gratitude. Had no idea I needed it more then any of the people i sheared it with today. I wanted to be so down on myself and with my job and my life, but I thought about gratitude, and really I'm so lucky to have a fraction of what I have, so its best to be grateful. thanks.

[Mary Sterk]

When I am especially down I first journal about all that I AM grateful for...it changes the light shining on the challenges I am experiencing. Lets me see not everything is all bad or wrong in my world.

[The Informal Matriarch]

I needed this. I just need to go lay down and mediate on what I am grateful for.

[Breanna Chanson]

I had a Brene' kind of day the other day.

I stumbled upon a blog (through random google searching) that featured an article written by you (sorry but I can't for the life or me remember the specifics about where I found it!). During that same internet cruising session I found a blog post by Donald Miller (http://donmilleris.com ) about your Ted Talk on vulnerability. I drove straight home after that and when I walked in the door, my husband immediately started telling me about your research! That was the first day I'd ever heard your name before and that all happened within less than 2 hours!

You're infectious and you're everywhere! I'm so glad I've found your blog because I do believe your message is one I'm meant to hear!

Thanks for doing the work and being generous with your findings. I'm very grateful (hooray, I used the word of the day!) for people like you who are spreading the kind of truth that we human beings need to hear! I look forward to the day when our world is significantly improved due to your findings, because I do believe that's the kind of power your work has! Many, many thanks to you!

*Breanna*
http://www.rareexistence.com

[BenRifkah]

I'm reminded of a great Beastie Boys song "Gratitude". They vocals are tough to decipher so I'm sure a lot of people don't know that it's about what gratitude does in your life.

[Natalie Vader]

Loved the Ted talk and interview. Thanks!
Natalie Vader

[Blake]

Brene,
i am so grateful for you. You have inspired me to share stories of vulnerability, to help other young women overcome body shame. You are so strong and brave and you are paving the way for a generation of women to empower themselves to get in touch with their feminine spirit, and to say no to the media's violence against women. I posted your tedtalk in my blog today around the topic of "Unleashing Yourself From Body Shame." Thank you for the incredible work you do for women. http://blakelandau.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/setting-yourself-free-from-body-shame/

Blake Landau (female)

[Lois Fitzgerald]

Thank you for The Gifts of Imperfection and your TED talks on vulnerability and shame. Your work is positively affecting the lives of so many. I am profoundly grateful!