Have you ever thought about what would make you truly happy? Maybe it’s achieving a big goal, winning something, or getting a new gadget. But what if there’s a simple way to feel happier without needing any of these things? In an animated version of David Steindl-Rast’s TED Talk, Brother David shares how a small change in how we see the world can make a big difference in how happy we feel.
Many people believe that being happy makes you grateful. But let’s think about it. Is it really the happy people who are grateful? We all know people who seem to have everything they need to be happy, yet they aren’t. They might want something more or something different. On the other hand, there are people who face tough challenges, and yet they seem genuinely happy. Why? Because they are grateful.
So, what does it mean to be grateful? Gratefulness happens when something valuable is given to us as a gift. These two things—a valuable item and the fact that it’s a gift—come together to create a feeling of gratefulness and happiness in our hearts. The good news is that we can feel this way not just once in a while, but all the time.
How can we live with gratefulness every day? By realizing that every moment we have is a gift. We can’t be sure we’ll get another moment, so each one is precious and full of opportunities.
Does this mean we should be grateful for everything? Not exactly. We can’t be grateful for things like violence, war, or losing someone we care about. But even in tough times, we can be grateful for the opportunities to learn and grow.
Here’s a simple way to practice gratefulness: Stop, Look, Go. First, we need to stop rushing through life and take a moment to pause. This helps us notice the opportunities around us.
Next, we look. We open our eyes, ears, and hearts to the amazing things life offers. We can also look for ways to help others, because making others happy can bring us joy too.
Finally, we go. We take action and do something with the opportunities we see. When we act with gratefulness, we feel less fear and more joy. We start to share and appreciate the differences between people, which can make the world a better place.
When we’re grateful, we respect others and appreciate what makes them unique. This can change how we interact with each other and create a more connected and caring world. Imagine a world where small groups of people know and support each other. That’s a grateful world, and it starts with each of us choosing to be grateful every day.
Start a gratitude journal where you write down three things you are grateful for each day. Reflect on how these things make you feel and why they are important to you. This will help you practice seeing the positive aspects of your life and increase your happiness.
Go on a scavenger hunt around your home or school to find items or situations that you are grateful for. Take pictures or write descriptions of these things and share them with your classmates. This activity will help you notice and appreciate the small gifts in your everyday environment.
Perform a random act of kindness for someone else, such as helping a classmate with their homework or writing a thank-you note to a teacher. Reflect on how this act makes you feel and how it might have impacted the other person. This will help you understand the connection between helping others and feeling happier yourself.
Spend a few minutes each day practicing mindful observation. Choose a natural object, like a flower or a tree, and observe it closely. Notice its colors, shapes, and textures. This practice will help you slow down, appreciate the present moment, and find joy in the simple things around you.
Participate in a discussion circle with your classmates where each person shares something they are grateful for and why. Listen to others’ experiences and reflect on how their stories make you feel. This activity will help you build connections with others and understand the diverse sources of happiness in people’s lives.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
What would make you happy? Can you imagine a milestone, a win, or even a material possession that would unlock this feeling? In this animated version of David Steindl-Rast’s popular TED Talk, Brother David explains how a simple adjustment in how you move through the world might just change what you see, how you feel, and how you act.
Now, my topic is gratefulness. What is the connection between happiness and gratefulness? Many people would say that when you are happy, you’re grateful. But think again. Is it really the happy people who are grateful? We all know individuals who have everything it takes to be happy, yet they are not, because they want something else or more of the same. Conversely, we also know people who face significant misfortune, which we ourselves would not want to endure, and they radiate happiness. You might be surprised. Why? Because they are grateful.
Now, we can ask, what do we really mean by gratefulness? How does it work? Something valuable is given to us, and it is genuinely a gift. These two elements must come together: it has to be something valuable, and it must be a real gift. When these two come together, gratefulness and happiness spontaneously rise in our hearts. That’s how gratefulness happens.
The key is that we can experience this not just occasionally but can live gratefully. How can we live gratefully? By becoming aware that every moment is a given moment, a gift. We cannot assure that another moment will be given to us, yet that is the most valuable thing we can receive—this moment, with all the opportunities it contains.
Does this mean we can be grateful for everything? Certainly not. We cannot be grateful for violence, war, oppression, or exploitation. On a personal level, we cannot be grateful for the loss of a friend, unfaithfulness, or bereavement. However, we can be grateful in every given moment for the opportunities present, even when confronted with something difficult. We can rise to the occasion and respond to the opportunities given to us.
So how can we find a method for living gratefully, not just occasionally but moment by moment? It’s a very simple method: Stop. Look. Go. But how often do we stop? We rush through life and miss opportunities because we don’t take the time to stop. We need to get quiet and build stop signs into our lives.
When you stop, the next step is to look. Open your eyes, ears, and all your senses to the wonderful richness that life offers. There is no end to it, and that is what life is about—to enjoy what is given to us. We can also open our hearts to the opportunities to help others and make them happy, because nothing brings us more joy than when everyone is happy.
When we open our hearts to opportunities, they invite us to take action. So, stop, look, and then go—really do something. What we can do is whatever life offers us in that present moment. There is a wave of gratefulness as people become aware of its importance and how it can change our world. When you’re grateful, you’re not fearful. If you’re not fearful, you’re not violent. Gratefulness allows you to act from a sense of abundance rather than scarcity, and you become willing to share.
If you’re grateful, you appreciate the differences between people and show respect to everyone. This can change the power dynamics in our society. What we need is a networking of smaller groups—groups that know one another and interact with one another. That is a grateful world.
—
This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content.
Happiness – A state of well-being and contentment – Finding happiness in helping others can make the world a better place.
Gratefulness – The quality of being thankful and showing appreciation – Practicing gratefulness can improve your overall mood and relationships.
Grateful – Feeling or showing an appreciation for something done or received – She was grateful for her friend’s support during the difficult times.
Opportunities – Chances for advancement or progress – Taking advantage of learning opportunities can lead to personal growth.
Joy – A feeling of great pleasure and happiness – The joy of discovering new ideas is a wonderful part of learning.
Respect – A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something – Showing respect for different opinions is important in a discussion.
Unique – Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else – Each person’s perspective is unique and valuable in a group project.
Action – The process of doing something to achieve a goal – Taking action to solve a problem is better than just thinking about it.
World – The earth and all the people, places, and things on it – Understanding different cultures helps us appreciate the diversity of the world.
Change – To make or become different – Embracing change can lead to new and exciting experiences.
