If we are born into a financially comfortable family, one in which we don’t have to worry about money and survival,we might love our life. But if that same family does not provide the love and nurturing we require, then it may become difficult to appreciate our financial comfort.

If we are born into a loving family, surrounded by adoring and supportive parents, even if we live at a near poverty level, we might love our life. But if something happens to disturb our happy family, if someone becomes ill or leaves or dies, we may not appreciate all the love we have received.

If we are born into a poor family that doesn’t provide adequate love and nurturing, but we manage to build on one of our inherent strengths, such as athletic, creative, or intellectual abilities, we may feel that we love our life. But if we feel insecure about our abilities, we don’t receive love and support, and we don’t have adequate finances to seek help or get training, then we may not appreciate our life as it is.

But love is all there is and gratitude is the way to attain it, sustain it and live it. How do we manage to feel love for our own self, for others and for our life when life has not been easy or has been downright difficult and painful?

The answer, no matter what the problem or difficulty, is to somehow find a way to be grateful. How does a person in dire circumstances feel grateful? Isn’t that asking just too much?

There are countless examples of people who have lived with the most incapacitating disabilities, who choose to live their life as a positive example for others to follow. There are people who have endured the most unimaginable abuse and even torture, and choose to not only forgive their abusers but to live an inspirational life as a testament to survival. There are people who have failed over and over again at their chosen pursuit (businesses, inventions, artistic careers, or relationships) yet they have not given up on life and they keep forging forward.

Gratitude is the key to unlock the door to love. We can be grateful, right here and now, no matter what our external circumstances appear to be. People living in concentration camps, in war zones, in hostage situations, in abusive marriages – if they can somehow be grateful for whatever they have, for their memories, for the fact that they are still alive, for whatever signs of nature around them and for their dreams – the energy of their positive thoughts can literally break the bonds that hold them in pain. It has happened before and it can and will happen again.

What are YOU grateful for right now? Tap into that, hold on to that, and keep your vision of how you would like your life to be. If you can truly accept where you are, right here, right now, and find a way to be grateful for whatever you can be grateful for, love will begin to fill your heart and attract more of what you want and need into your life.