also asks, is this the right timing or right placement in which to set a limit or a 

boundary without harshness? Mercy is another word for compassion or forgive-

ness work. 
Rev. O’Brian: 

 What about the protections portal to gratitude?

Angeles Arrien:

 All the cultures of the world have some kind of invocations, 

prayers or desires for protection and feeling blessed, and offer gratitude when 

their children, family, home or harvest is protected. “May we be safe and free of 

danger. May the children be safe and free from danger. May the home or family be 

safe and free of danger.” All cultures of the world also have ways of protecting or 

anointing the body—through water, oils, powders or markings, which are forms 

of subliminal ways we are making sure the body is protected. 
Rev. O’Brian: 

 Our daily sadhana, beginning the day with prayer and meditation, 

is, in a sense, a form of protection because we are attuning ourselves to Divine 

Order in the universe. 
Angeles Arrien: 

 The practice of gratitude allows us to be less stressed and more 

optimistic. Results have shown that people who practice cultivating gratitude 

have a sense of more peace, satisfaction, balance, and contentment.

Barbara Fredrickson has shown that practicing gratitude in the work environ-

ment, results in an increase in creativity and productivity, with people acknowl-

edging each other’s gifts and talents. Genuine acknowledgement cultivates higher 

trust and also impacts the bottom line. 
Rev. O’Brian

: If everyone practiced gratitude more, what would you see for our 

world?
Angeles Arrien: 

 Gratitude is the glue that keeps community and cultures 

together. It is a naturally inherent gift for creating reciprocity, mutuality, and 

cooperation.   

Angeles Arrien is a cultural anthropologist, educator and author of Living in Gratitude: A Journey 

That Will Change Your Life.  www.angelesarrien.com. 

To hear the entire conversation,  

www.unity.fm/program/theYogaHour

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