9 of Dale Carnegie’s Most Powerful Quotes About Gratitude

Wouldn’t it be awesome to hear what one of the greatest coaches on self-development had to say about gratitude? Well, here’s your chance.

The world-famous Dale Carnegie is an American author, lecturer, and a developer of renowned courses in public speaking, salesmanship, corporate training, self-improvement, and interpersonal skills. His most notable pieces of work “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, a best seller, and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

Here are 9 of Dale Carnegie’s most powerful quotes on gratitude:

1. “Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think. So start each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for.”

If your happiness is dependent on what you have or who you are, then you’re standing in quicksand. It’s a dangerous place to be and one that you need to leave asap. Being grateful turbocharges your happiness, therefore, improving your wellbeing. You can achieve this by keeping a journal and each day writing the things you’re thankful for.

2. “When ill luck besets us, to ease the tension we have only to remember that happiness is relative. The next time you are tempted to grumble about what has happened to you, why not pause and be glad that it is no worse than it is.”

Misfortunes are guaranteed to happen in our lives. When they do, the easiest route is to complain about these harsh experiences. What we don’t realize is that there’s always the potential of an incident being far worse than it is. So be grateful that whatever misfortune you’re experiencing is not of bigger magnitude.

3. “Try leaving a trail of little sparks of gratitude on your daily trips. You will be surprised how they will set small flames of friendship that will be rose beacons on your next visit.”

Whenever you’re grateful, you become appreciative. As a result, it helps us build new relationships and deepen existing ones. Besides, new opportunities tend to come knocking on your door when we appreciate other people’s contributions.

4. “Let’s not expect gratitude. Then, if we get some occasionally, it will come as a delightful surprise. If we don’t get it, we won’t be disturbed. It is natural for people to forget to be grateful; so, if we go around expecting gratitude, we are headed straight for a lot of heartaches.”

Expectations are the breeding ground for disappointments. When you expect everyone to be grateful for something you have done for them, then you’re setting yourself up for constant heartbreaks. What you can do instead is give your best in whatever you engage in. That way, you will walk away fulfilled you gave it your all whether you’re appreciated or not.

We’ve all been there. Life sometimes throws at you all manner of curveballs, and it’s frustrating. The good news is, there’s always a spark to be grateful for in the seemingly unending darkness. It could be a supportive partner or friend who has stood by you all along.  Yes, it could be hard, but it’s worth a try. It could be the lifeline you need to keep going.

6. “Today is our most precious possession. It is our only sure possession.”

It sounds cliche, but we miss it all the time. You’re either regretting the past or fearful and anxious about what the future holds. The simple truth is, the only gift we have is today. The best we can do is surrender and commit to the present, and life will take care of the rest.

7. “The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.” 

It’s easy to think you’re a failure because you made a mistake. It’s what the world will tell you. What they don’t tell you is that you have gained experience. You get to know what works, and what doesn’t and this increases your chances of achieving success. Be grateful for those mistakes you have made along the way because they’re the foundation on which your success is built.

8. “Many people think that if they were only in some other place, or had some other job, they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don’t put off being happy until some future date.”

It happens all the time. You tend to postpone your happiness to a future date when you achieve something. The downside is that it robs you of the joy of enjoying the present. Maybe you’re not where you desire to be in this journey of life, and it’s okay because we are all a work in progress. Don’t discard those goals but instead do yourself a favor by being fully immersed in the present and find the things you are grateful for at this stage in life.

9. “If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying.”

By default, we tend to worry about what we don’t have and forget the treasures we possess. In whatever situation you’re in, there’s always something to be grateful for. A little tweak on your mindset is all you need.

Gratitude is about shifting your mindset and seeing the goodness in your life. It may be difficult at the start, especially if you’re at your lowest, but don’t give up just yet because there’s a ray of hope.

The above gratitude quotes by Dale Carnegie will guide you on the path towards a richer, content, and more fulfilling life. The question is, what’s stopping you?