The more you actively seek joy through positive experiences and expectations, the more you will be able to open to and express the joy of Ascension. And as that joy enters your being, you will begin to move towards the state of bliss that is your natural state in the Ascended Earth. But, at this stage of Bridging and Ascending, as you stand between the Old and the New, it requires focus and intention… (Celia Fenn) - www.starchildascension.org

Sometimes we don't recognize the genius in the man beside us if he's been there all the time. (Norman Harris, Sensei)

Giving thanks is the expression of gratitude, and gratitude is one of the most beautiful secrets in spiritual life. Gratitude is a form of love, and love is something which flows from the Creator of the universe through all forms of life and manifestation. Without love, life in the universe cannot exist. Love is the universal force of preservation which holds creation in manifestation… When you allow your heart to open to the universe's flow of love, gratitude comes with that flow. Gratitude for being alive, for just existing, for just being in the flow of the adventure of life. Gratitude for the Sun that gives us life. Gratitude for the Earth that gives us our home in the cosmos. Gratitude for the people that you love, and for those who share your journey through life. Gratitude flows unimpeded from an open heart. When you allow it, it flows as freely as the sunshine, unobstructed by judgments or conditions.

One of the most endearing things a person can say to a loved one is this: "I'm grateful for having you in my life, and I appreciate you for who you are." If you haven't already tried this, try it sometime. It adds new meaning to the words, "quality of life." (Source) - www.infinitebeing.com

When we think with love, we are literally co-creating with God. (Marianne Williamson) - www.marianne.com

Now, when we use the word "want", for most of you, just the word "want" puts you in instant yearning. Most often, when we are talking to a group of people about what they want, they're talking about what they don't have yet. In other words, wanting identifies what is wanted, but what else does it identify? Where you stand relative to it. So every time you say, "I want something," you have an immediate awareness of where you stand relative to it. So if the "where I am" is dominant in the wanting, then the wanting is yearnful.

If the appreciation is dominant, then there's no lack. So most of you who want are vibrating in a way you can't get it because your awareness is, "I don't have it, I've never had it, I don't know anybody who's got it. The odds are that I won't get it." You see what we're getting at? Where, if you are appreciating, then you take the lack out of it.

Here's a good analogy for that. See yourself standing in front of a picture window, a display window of some kind, and what you see in that window is something you really, really want. It's as if whoever put the window together knew you. You cannot afford it today, but you really, really want it. In fact, you are yearning for it. Can you feel that? Now take the same window. You cannot afford it today. You really want it, but instead of yearning for it, which is full of lack, you're just purely appreciating the splendor of the window. Feel the difference? (Abraham through Esther Hicks) - www.abraham-hicks.com

It is only in exceptional moods that we realize how wonderful are the commonest experiences of life. It seems to me sometimes that these experiences have an "inner" side, as well as the outer side we normally perceive. At such moments one suddenly sees everything with new eyes; one feels on the brink of some great revelation. It is as if we caught a glimpse of some incredibly beautiful world that lies silently about us all the time. (J .W. N. Sullivan)

We’re all doing time. As soon as we get born, we find ourselves assigned to one little body, one set of desires and fears, one family, city, state, country, and planet. Who can ever understand exactly why or how it comes down as it does? The bottom line is, here we are. Whatever, wherever we are, this is what we’ve got. It’s up to us whether we do it as easy time or hard time. (Bo Lozoff)

To recognize your blessings is a grace; to recognize what you have been given, what the universe is offering you. In that recognition your life takes on new meaning. It takes on a new purpose. It becomes filled with love and bliss. (St Germain through Eric Klein – From the book, Jewels on the Path)

Compliment others often, truthfully and sincerely. Be complimenting others, not only do they feel good, but you are strengthening in yourself the habit of seeing the positive. (Unknown)

I once read a quote from Michio Kushi that said, "Economy is the practice of gratitude." Reading that quote profoundly moved something in me; It helped me to understand a more meaningful way to express gratitude by being more socially conscious and conservationally minded. Offering thanks, giving to others, saying grace before and after eating, all constitute gratitude. I heard a speaker recently say that our face is "public property - how much effort does it take to smile at others?" Smiling, offering warmth and practicing in all things, kindness, is a form of active gratitude.

Writer and popular American radio show host, Dennis Prager wrote a very inspirational book called, "Happiness is A Serious Problem." In the book, Prager explains that the most common factor happy people seem to share is a deep sense of reverence and gratitude. They have no expectations, so whatever happens they are genuinely surprised and grateful. (Verne Varona)

Realizing how much we have to be grateful for gives us many reasons to be satisfied, content and happy. Nothing can be taken for granted. All is a gift that many of our brothers and sisters on this planet do not have. Even simple things such as running water, shelter, heat, work and freedom of expression cannot be taken for granted. We can even feel grateful for the unpleasant events and situations that strengthen us emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. (Robert Elias Najemy)

Today, take a deep breath and fill yourself with gratitude, just for the great privilege of being alive. Today, look up in the sky and take it all in, see yourself as a part of this beauty, this wonder. Today, look at a leaf or a flower, study its intricacy and see yourself as one vein on the leaf, one petal within the opening rose. See how you are unique, individual, yet a part of the whole. See how life in its glory is intricate and detailed, and yet open and grand, glorious in its scope.

Today, breathe in gratitude. Be grateful for being alive, for having blood which runs through your veins. Life is a great adventure and you are privileged to be a part of it. Does it have its challenges? Yes, of course, but that is what makes it the grand adventure it is. Is it sometimes sad? Yes, of course, but that also reminds you that you are alive, that you have feelings and connections, that you have allowed yourself to love. Allow yourself to feel. Allow yourself to experience. Allow yourself to step out and do new things, meet new people, commit to projects and relationships even though you might be making a mistake. Yes, allow yourself to make many, many mistakes, over and over, just as long as you are living, as long as you are embracing this glorious experience with both arms open wide. Send fear away. Banish doubt. Be glad to be alive. (Quado through Carrie Hart) - www.quado.com

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. (Albert Schweitzer)

Anyone who has ever seen love, admiration, acceptance, or appreciation reflected in a friend or loved one's eyes knows how transformative that experience can be. (DailyOM) - www.dailyom.com

As you start, on day one, deliberately choosing the thought that feels better - on day two, you will have access to a whole different set of choices than you would have if you had not made those choices on day one. And on day three, there will be a whole different set of choices now available to you - because each day you will have established your Vibrational Tone to your pure, positive Source Energy. Until in thirty days of playing with this, you can be a living, breathing, eating, light being. (Abraham through Esther Hicks) - www.abraham-hicks.com

As you begin to demonstrate the reality of New Earth Consciousness, you will see only Beauty and Love. As the Old falls away to make room for the New, you will respond with Acceptance and Grace. You will know that there is a Higher Purpose to all that occurs, no matter how it seems or is perceived by you. (Archangel Michael through Celia Fenn) - www.starchildascension.org

Your friends are those with whom you built up or discovered bonds with. They are there as part of your team that journey through part or all of your life. They are extended family which is sometimes as close as or closer than the family you were born into. They share your success and your sorrow, making it lighter in your sharing. They are your confidants and counselors. They make you laugh; they make you cry. They share all of the good and the bad that life has to offer. Think of what all your friends have given to you over the years. Reflect, savor and revel in that. Take as long as you like. These happy memories generate gratitude and flow. (Chuck Spezzano) - www.psychologyofvision.com

A secret smile is barely perceptible. It’s so tiny that no one notices it. It’s yours alone. This kind of smile is sometimes used in meditation because of its power to create a peaceful state of mind. Smile a secret smile when you’re stressed, sad or drifting oft to sleep. It instantly relaxes you, and calms your thoughts. It’s almost impossible to smile and feel worried at the same time. A secret smile is your ticket to confidence, calm, control, and gratitude. Try it. (Patrick William Moore)

When you are no longer feeling uncomfortable about what is not fulfilled, but are satisfied with what-is, while you are eagerly reaching for more, now you are in the perfect vibrational stance to allow steady fulfillment of ever-evolving new ideas. Satisfied with what-is while reaching for more… And so, an attitude of satisfaction about what-is, an attitude of making the best of what-is while you are eagerly anticipating an evolution of what-is - that's the perfect vibrational stance.

Optimism brings you so much; pessimism keeps it from coming. Eagerness brings you so much; disappointment keeps it from coming. Happy anticipation brings you so much; discouragement keeps it from coming. Joy and love and appreciation brings you so much, while anger and depression and fear keep it from coming. (Abraham through Esther Hicks) - www.abraham-hicks.com

Take a look around and you’ll see that you already are on the bright side of life. You can read, but millions can’t. In some countries learning to use a gun is more important than learning to read a book. In other countries much of the population is too hungry to read. One in four people worldwide are starving or malnourished. Reading is the last thing on their mind. You already have so much, you already are so lucky. Now make the most of it. (Patrick William Moore)

Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted. (Aldous Huxley)

Today, fill your heart with gratitude. Today, no matter what your circumstances, no matter what your worries or regrets, today, be grateful. It is the perfect stance to take in your life, to begin from a place of gratitude. The universe will respond more readily to an open and grateful heart than to a bitter heart full of complaints and fear. Right now, breathe in deeply and open your heart. First, release from it any bitterness, anger or frustration. Release any fear over tomorrow or regret over yesterday. Let these corrosive feelings fly out of your heart. Let them go. And now, from the inside, deep inside, fill yourself with gratitude. Be grateful for being alive, for being a part of this great adventure, and able to draw even one more breath of this precious life. Life is so short. Let it be sweet. Sweeten it with gratitude for just being who you are, right now, right here. Be grateful for every star that shines in your nighttime, every cloud that drifts across your daytime sky. Be grateful for the heart that beats within you, the breath that fills your body. For at least this one moment, breathe in deeply and feel life vibrantly within you. Feel how, if you come down into now, right now, there is peace. Yes, peace. Peace and calm and a deep, deep quiet. And here, within this quiet, be grateful, be glad. (Quado through Carrie Hart) - www.quado.com

It’s easy to say thank you, but even easier to forget to. Letting someone know you appreciate their friendship, love, or help is one of the greatest gifts you can give. Write them a note, send a card or make a call. Let them know the value what they did for you. Even if you were a guest of someone’s three months ago, tell them you appreciate the hospitality they gave. It’s never too late to say thank you. People need to feel appreciated. Saying thank you costs nothing, but is priceless to others. (Patrick William Moore)

There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of humans achieve the second. (Logan Pearsall Smith)

The future, higher evolution will belong to those who live in joy, who share joy, and who spread joy. (Torkom Saraydarian)

Joy, as the energy of love, is the highest vibration on this planet. Everything in the universe is energy; it can be measured and reduced to vibrational frequencies. It's a universal law that as we think and feel we vibrate, and as we vibrate we attract. When we are in the high joy vibration, we attract what is for our greater good.

The Ancient Egyptians saw Joy as a sacred responsibility. They believed that upon their death, the God Osiris would ask them two questions: "Did you bring Joy?" and "Did you find Joy?" Those who answered 'yes' could continue their journey into the afterlife. For at least the next week or two, ask yourself these two questions each and every day: Did I bring joy? Did I find joy? (Sathya Sai Baba)