A benefit of Gratitude

There is a sickness that is plaguing many souls these days. I admit, I struggle with it as well.  For whatever reason, there is this constant need to compare ourselves with others. We wish our bodies were more beautiful, like that one airbrushed actress. We wish our children were better behaved, like the neighbor's down the street. We wish we had more money,  like our boss appears to have. We wish we were more popular, like that lady who has a gaggle of friends, etc. . . the list could go on and on. However fun this game may seem in the beginning, it has dire consequences in the end.

When we start down the comparison road, we also start chipping away at our sense of self-worth.  Inevitably, we compare our greatest weaknesses with someone else strengths.  As we can only see the outward appearances of those around us, we fail to factor in that same someone's inner struggles and weaknesses.  Shockingly, they are similar to our own.  We all have trials we struggle with. God has given us each specific trials that will mold our lives into the beautiful masterpiece he sees in us. He knows our Divine worth.

I was pondering this element of the natural man the other day and came to a shocking conclusion that comparing ourselves to others is a part of coveting.  Coveting is wishing obsessively for something that is not ours. I believe when we compare ourselves to others, we are doing this to a certain extent.  It is poisonous to our soul. We begin to wish we were different and forget the great talents and abilities God has bestowed upon us. I think it is wonderful to have a desire to become a better person, but not to the detriment of our core being by wishing we were someone else. We should desire to become more for the right reason, becoming who God wants us to be.

The way to combat these covetous tendencies is to replace them with positive thoughts. The remedy is gratitude.   When we feel gratitude toward our Heavenly Father for the things He has blessed us with, we feel at peace with who we are.  We see our true inner beauty and it shines brightly on our countenance.  We are grateful for the blessed spirits we are able to nurture no matter what their disposition.  We are content with what material things we do have.  We glory in the relationships we can strengthen.

Gratitude combats all covetous thoughts. Gratitude softens the heart. When we feel more gratitude, we begin to have the desire to share these same feelings with others.  We become more generous, sharing our love, our talents and our material things.  We compare ourselves less and less as we seek for the comfort of others more and more.  We become less selfish and more self-less. Empathy comes as we realize other peoples struggles are like our own and we want to comfort those in need. As we do this we become Saints of God.

That ye ^acontend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it,

 and take upon you the ^bname of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, 

and ^cworship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in ^dthanksgiving daily, for the many ^emercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

Alma 34:38