Power

I think we underestimate the power of saying "thank you."  As I shared with a group on Monday, the words I try to live by go something like this:  Do the right thing for the right reason, and you don't have to worry about the results.  It takes both portions of the equation for the answer to come out correctly.  So I spend some of my time each day searching my heart, to be open to opportunities to help people, and to have the right attitude as I'm going through the day.

I've noticed a tendency by many (most?) people that upon performing some act of kindness or a good deed, they expect to be thanked.  I've even caught myself muttering under my breath, "Yeah, buddy, you're welcome" after I've let a car in front of me in the line and no acknowledgment from the driver.  But if I'm following my own belief system, I should not expect to be thanked.  I should do it simply because it is a good practice and the right thing to do.  If I'm doing it only with the expectation that I'll receive "bonus points" for doing something nice, I'm off base.  Don't tell anyone, but this is also the secret to unconditional love -- the removal of judgments, no strings attached.  (I spent a lot of time in therapy talking about conditional love and the strings or conditions that were attached.  While unconditional love is better, it's much harder for humans to achieve.)

What happens then when the thank you comes unexpectedly, and from the heart?  My reaction is usually one of extreme gratitude.  And what's interesting is that gratitude produces an open heart, letting out love at the same time. Letting out love and sharing it with the world multiplies all the good things in life, creating only more good things.

So when I say thank you, it brightens someone else's day.  That person's heart is opened, multiplying the bounty.  More people feeling appreciated, more goodness and joy spread. How can that hurt?