What Does It Mean to “Give Thanks”?

Exploring Gratitude This Holiday Season

What is giving thanks?

It’s the holiday season, the time when giving thanks is on everyone’s minds. But what does it truly mean to “give thanks”? Even though instinctively most of us know that thanking someone is not merely about the utterance of appreciative words, the question of why we feel a sense of warmth and connection about the thought, is one worth considering. Truly giving thanks is about an act of giving something of value in return for what was received.

There is an underlying expectation we feel when we hear the words “thank you,” but not in the manner that may immediately come to mind. These acknowledging words carry with them the seeds of empathy — the feeling of knowing what it’s like to have received something of value. The underlying expectation, then, is that the thanker will be a “giver” as well, being more likely to gift that same feeling to another. While it’s true that giving back is an act of reciprocity, it can extend to the larger ecosystem of which we, including the original giver, are all a part. Giving thanks offers something of value that from a broader perspective, benefits everyone.

A Cycle of Abundance

As the famous saying goes, “What you give, you receive back in life”. What I haven’t heard said as often, is that we usually receive back far more than we give. A seed can grow into a tree that bears many fruit and so, bearing many more seeds. The act of giving can likewise inspire others to give, creating a cycle of giving that benefits everyone.

While giving back can be directed at the original giver, it doesn’t have to. We are our ecosystem in a sense, standing on the shoulders of giants and having received far more than we could ever give. When we give thanks, even when the original giver is not the direct recipient, it may still create a ripple effect, benefitting them in some way. By giving, we create more value, contributing to the abundance that already exists in the world.

Worthy of Giving

There are two main aspects that make something valuable and worthy of giving. There are the practical methods we can use to show appreciation and there is a way of doing it through feeling. Both of these are equally necessary to create something of value. The best approach may be through feeling first, followed by demonstration through inspired action.

We are both physical and emotional beings. The fact that we have feelings and aren’t purely logical creatures, should give us a clue about why “heart” matters. Feelings contribute highly to the way we perceive our quality of life. Just as a robot saying the words, “I love you,” can feel hollow, an action taken without any feelings behind it, can feel as if something’s missing. How we make others feel or how we, ourselves, feel when doing anything, bears consequences. Giving with a feeling of gratitude or appreciation can set the stage for the next step — inspired action.

A feeling without demonstration is often incomplete in successfully conveying it’s depth. Just like how a half-built bridge, cannot deliver anything from one side to another, the feelings of gratitude cannot be fully received if there is no action to support it. When the feeling of gratitude is real, a spark of inspiration may naturally guide one to an action. Showing thanks through an act is just as important. Gifting and acts of service are some of the excellent ways to show appreciation to an individual or to the community.

A Gift to the World

Every instance of giving has a ripple effect. It helps to foster a culture of generosity where everyone gives freely out of the goodness of their hearts. It all starts with acknowledging that we have received much from the world already. Everything we see around us has been born from a desire to give and the will to act on it. When we acknowledge that, we can then give back more freely. This in turn can inspire others to do the same, creating a new cycle of abundance — one that uplifts individuals, communities, nations, and ultimately, helps the world to flourish. So give thanks from the heart this holiday season and demonstrate it, knowing that it may just spark a wave of blessings far greater than you could imagine.