Sharing Mahalo through Thankfulness
The usual way I define Mahalo is “living your life in thankfulness.” Mahalo is a promise you can make to yourself, to Know, to Become, and to Share.
So far this month, we’ve spoken of the first two in this trio, and now, the third;
- Knowing Mahalo through Appreciation
- Becoming Mahalo through Gratitude
- Sharing Mahalo through Thankfulness
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From Webster - Aware and appreciative of a benefit; and expressive of gratitude. Within Mahalo - Share of who you are with the utmost respect for those who complete your life. Say “mahalo” or “thank you” often. Speak of your appreciation of others, and it will soften the tone of your voice, giving it both humility, and fullness. People need to hear words spoken from your aloha, and in speaking them you offer a generous gift. Use your own gifts to reveal those which exist in others all around you. |
Whoever wrote this definition of thankfulness for Webster nailed it. Read the words one more time, and let them sink in now that you have a Mahalo interpretation for appreciation (and knowing), and for gratitude (becoming);
Thankfulness is being “Aware and appreciative of a benefit; and expressive of gratitude.”
My add-on is that with Mahalo, we LIVE our lives in thankfulness, so it becomes a way of living for us that in turn, creates a very natural and authentic sharing with others. Sharing is easy when what you share, is you. And think back to that four-fold capacity we just spoke of; we can share eagerly and comfortably because we feel the abundance of unlimited capacity. Sharing never diminishes us. On the contrary, it fortifies and grows us; our sharing is the “spirit spilling” that creates the “unlimited” nature of our human capacity.
Now focus for a moment, on the word “benefit.”
My friend Ariane Benefit was blessed with a sensational surname, one which can inspire her to live up to it daily. And she does; in her ho‘ohana, her work of intention, Ariane guides people in clarifying priorities and making the difficult decisions needed to conquer clutter, change habits, and take charge of their lives. In fact, she has built a thriving business around how she practices Mahalo, living her thankfulness for her life by sharing her technique with others. She helps us keep our lives “neat and simple” so that we never clutter up the gems which are OUR personal benefits.
In your next Mahalo Action Step, think about the benefits that you have and can be sharing. What are they? Bring them front and center so you are aware and appreciative of them.
Do you live your life in a way that your benefits are celebrated and shared? What is just one thing you could do tomorrow?
One of the benefits I have, one I give thanks for daily, is my health. I celebrate it in a daily walking regimen that gets me outside, where I can drink in the beauty, vibrancy, and grounding of my sense of place. What will I do tomorrow? Walk with renewed commitment, pick up my pace, and count my blessings yet again that I can.
[Update: What will I do tomorrow? Share it by writing about it! Learn 5 New Things About Walking.]
Next time we will talk about this part of Thankfulness within Mahalo; “Say “mahalo” or “thank you” often. Speak of your appreciation of others, and it will soften the tone of your voice, giving it both humility, and fullness. People need to hear words spoken from your aloha, and in speaking them you offer a generous gift.”
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