[Zam]

I think we all misunderstand what it means to be grateful. We may think it just means saying thank you or Alhamdulillah, but in reality, gratefulness is a state of being. Our normal disposition is to take everything for granted and therefore we are always desiring more, but if we truly become grateful, we will naturally become content because the wonders of what Allah has given us will become apparent, and the soul will overflow with thankfulness to Allah.

We can start by just doing what is easy, just look around you and start thanking Allah for everything you see. Thank Allah for the fact that you can even see and that you can even think. Break down all the things you take for granted and thank Allah for each and every atom. Realize nothing you have is your right, and everything including your existence itself is a gift, and realize what a miraculous gift it all is. The fact that Allah made you and gave you all these things shows that you mean something to Him, yet we forget Him though He is always thinking about us, facilitating our needs, making us happy, teaching us lessons, and ultimately guiding us to Him. Keep trying to find different objects, concepts, and aspects of your life that you want to be grateful to Allah for, you will never run out of things to thank Him for, and you will begin to feel inside that you really have worth.

If we had enough gratefulness for what Allah has given us and what He is giving to us at this very moment, then that would drown out of the soul all the worries we have about the future. And this gratefulness would be the means by which we become happy, and by which we are given more, and by which we gain the pleasure of Allah.