Gratitude correlates with presence. When we’re grateful, we’re present. And if you’re regularly grateful, you might also assume that you are more present than most.
It’s hard to be grateful when we have a lot of negative stuff going on internally. Unhappiness and irritation blocks gratitude. We can counter this tendency by being present, being grateful for small things. And we can be grateful for small things even during times of difficulty. Nearly all of us can be grateful for access to books, music, entertainment, and basic luxuries like warm water.
But you might say: Why bother being grateful? Life sucks!
But gratitude alleviates psychological suffering. And when we’re always unhappy about everything no matter how insignificant we are indeed suffering. Gratitude opens up our perspective. It releases us from the critical monkey mind that loops on problems all day, every day. This monkey mind keeps us stuck in old thinking loops that pollutes our sense of well-being. Being ungrateful is a state of suffering—essentially self-inflicted.