If you think that gratitude is merely a social grace of saying ‘thank you’ to another or maybe even to God, you are dramatically missing the point. Gratitude is a forceful power that will bring to you what you are seeking.

First keep in mind that although it seems the world is made up of things that are solid, it is not. And although it seems that the events and circumstances of our lives happen in a rather unpredictable and random way, they do not. That outlook is a faulty perception of the world seen through our limited five senses. Actually everything is made of particles, moving in a dance of energy, constantly going here and there, coalescing into different forms and characteristics that relate in relationship to each other, then dash off in another direction, all in accordance to the thoughts that form them. This is quantum physics, and the thoughts that form the particles are the very thoughts that are going on in your own head.

Without thoughts to form them, the particles are just inert ingredients in a Universal soup, waiting around to be formed into something by your mind. Your mind is constantly pulling apart and rearranging this energy to make up the life you experience. If you are unaware of this, or unaware of the power you have to affect matter with your mind, then you may carelessly allow thoughts and their embodied energies to be flowing willy nilly around in your head, acting as causes for experiences in your life that you do not want and would certainly not have consciously chosen.

So now as we keep the above in mind, we will see why there is such a tremendous power in gratitude

First recognize that there are many things in your life that are just fine. Where did those things come from? From molds you provided by your own mind. Those molds sit there in the mental soup of the Universe of energy, and make a structure that out-pictures in your life experience as events and circumstances and things. We didn’t create ourselves, and we didn’t create the laws of the Universe, but we must learn about them and use them to our advantage if we want to live life successfully. All the great minds of the world realize this, so you might as well too.

How does gratitude bring us more of what we desire? To understand, we will dissect the quality of gratitude, and its sidekicks praise and appreciation, and view it as a vibration of energy.

Think about what you feel inside when you are grateful for something. You feel good, happy, blessed, sometimes thrilled and excited. So we see that gratitude embodies and radiates the energy of happiness and satisfaction. If you focus on that feeling and thought, it will expand and enhance that vibration, and what you are thankful about today will create even more things to be thankful about and appreciate tomorrow.

How do we know that’s true?

We know it works that way because scientists have now discovered how quantum physics works. What we are aware of in our mind, we draw to us and draw ourselves toward, by forming the mental structures that bring the right energies into alignment to provide that particular experience to flow through our senses. When we project an energy within, it makes a structure that within a short period of time will manifest without. So this is how gratitude brings us more of what we want. Simple. If today we project the attitude of gratefulness on a penny, tomorrow we will have a dollar to be grateful for.

If you look at your life and look at all the things you like about it, and notice how blessed and lucky you are. Praise and appreciate everyone and everything in it, and all those things you like will grow and expand, bringing you more things to be grateful for.

In this world of energy nothing stays the same and everything is constantly changing. Our gratitude is creating an energy that allows the mind to focus upon the molds in your sub-conscious that are sitting there forming what you like and lets them expand and multiply and develop into better and better versions of themselves. Remember that this law is always at work, whether we are aware of it or not.

Life is vibration and vibration is resonance, and what we focus on resonates with its own pattern and manifests in our life after its own kind. For this reason, you must beware if you spend time focusing on what is missing in your life, for in that case, even what you have may be taken away from you. The Universe is not cruel but it is exacting. The Universe has no way of providing you with the opposite of the mental images you are forming in your mind. It goes blindly along manifesting in your life what you are thinking about and imagining, even if it is your negative fears, which are the last thing you want to see manifested. You can’t think one thing and receive another. It is impossible.

If you want something new in your life, pretend it is already here and act as if you already have it. It sounds childish or unproductive, but there is truly magic in it. Hold a vision of your current desire, whether it is more income, a romantic relationship, or a new house, and then get excited about it and think how happy and grateful you will be when it comes into your life. Feel like it is already here by being grateful ahead of time, and it will surely show up. Remember this is a science we are talking about, not wishful thinking. This is the 'secret' behind The Secret' and the truth of the Universe. Thoughts held in the mind long enough filled with feeling will materialize in your life. Try it if you don't believe it. What have you got to lose?

When a strong wind blows through your life and knocks things around, take a lesson from the blade of grass. Instead of focusing on the wind, be grateful for your ability to be flexible and bendable, and then spring back and come out unscathed.

Part of being able to be constantly grateful is to see the bigger picture and trust that no matter what seems to be happening on the surface, underneath there is always a reason to be grateful.  For underneath the Universe is always harmoniously expanding your life into more good. To do that sometimes the Universe has to first tear down something that is getting in the way of your greater good. You have to lose one thing to get something even better. You can praise and praise a job or relationship or house, only to lose it and be confused. But it is just being removed so a better situation can take its place. Faith and trust are important as the process reworks itself.

So praise without ceasing, be grateful for absolutely everything, have faith in the big picture, avoid anything that brings up negative thoughts, be non-resistant and flexible like the reed in the wind, trust in the goodness and harmony of the Universe and your desires will surely and speedily come to you.