We live in a world that is over-stimulated.  That is, our senses are continually disturbed by our environment, and our heart and mind are continually disturbed by our desires. We learn to be continually disturbed. One of the disturbances to which we succumb is a perpetual dissatisfaction with our current circumstance. This is a pervasive human malady. It can be overcome, and it should be, because it makes us always unhappy and it makes us bother the people around us and degrade the natural environment around us.

The chief antidote to this perpetual dissatisfaction is not working harder, protesting, reducing carbon footprint, becoming more insistent upon our victim status, making other people suffer more, gaining more power or status, or having more sexual activities – or any of the usual methods we employ to try and end our disturbance.

The chief antidote to perpetual dissatisfaction is gratitude.

Gratitude is rarely taught or encouraged. But it has three transformative effects. First, it makes us appreciate what we have, so we can be happy here and now. Second, it stops us from doing non-virtuous actions to make ourselves happy – an approach that inevitably leaves us exhausted and envious and always wanting more. Third, it brings us into the present moment. This ontological transformation, produced by the sincere and continual practice of gratitude, has a deep transformative effect and can lead us toward enlightenment.

The past and the future do not exist. They are fantasy lands concocted by our minds, in which we store our desires, regrets, fears and other negative mental states. The past and the future have no other content. To the degree that we live in turmoil – filled with grievances, anger, desire, jealousy and so on, we neglect what is possible now.  Instead of engaging in virtuous action in the present, we are carried away by ignorance and non-virtue.  In this way we miss our entire lives. We cultivate a habit of looking toward the next stage, never really mastering — or enjoying — this one. It is wasteful, and it causes us to lose the opportunity this precious human life offers us to be kind, strong and decent, to take care of the people who may need us, and to build something of lasting value for all time through our virtuous acts in the present moment.

This is why it is useful to consider the blessings and good opportunities we presently enjoy. A healthy body, a clear mind, good friends and family to share our lives, time to do good things, freedom of action, are all blessings which we can enjoy ourselves and which we can put at the service of others.

Therefore, it is practical to cultivate gratitude, appreciate what we have, and not squander this brief chance for happiness.