Gratitude is often associated with moments of happiness—joyful events, achievements, and love. It’s easy to feel thankful when life is going well. But what about when things fall apart? When do pain, loss, and sadness emerge? True gratitude is more than appreciating life’s victories. It’s about embracing the totality of your experience, even when it hurts. By doing this, you open yourself up to a deeper transformation. Ancestral healing teaches you how to honor this process, to understand that every experience, no matter how painful, has value and meaning.
Ancestral healing, particularly in African spiritual traditions, offers a broader lens through which you can view gratitude. It encourages you to acknowledge the entirety of your life—the joy and the pain—because both are necessary for growth.
When you tap into the wisdom of your ancestors, you begin to see that gratitude is a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery.
The Power of Pain and Transformation in the Human Experience
Pain and suffering are not just inevitable parts of life—they are essential catalysts for growth. It’s through adversity that you are forced to confront your limitations, adapt, and ultimately transform. Ancestral wisdom teaches that these painful experiences are not random; they are part of a larger spiritual journey that shapes you into the person you are meant to become.
In many African cultures, pain is not seen as something to avoid but rather something to embrace with reverence. Your ancestors went through their own hardships, colonization, slavery, and displacement, yet they found ways to persevere.
By expressing gratitude for your challenges, you acknowledge the strength that flows through your lineage and how those experiences continue to shape you.
As psychologist Robert Emmons, a leading expert on the science of gratitude, explains, “Gratitude acknowledges not only the good things in life but also the worst, which we learn and grow from” (Emmons, The Psychology of Gratitude). This holistic view allows you to grow beyond your circumstances, much like your ancestors did.
Ancestral Connection: How the Past Guides Your Present Healing
The practice of ancestral healing centers around the idea that the wisdom and strength of your ancestors live on through you. You carry their DNA, their resilience, and their experiences. By tapping into this connection, you can access a wellspring of knowledge and support that goes far beyond the physical world.
Ancestral veneration, a key practice in many African spiritual traditions, helps you to connect with this legacy. In Yoruba spirituality, for instance, there is a belief that your ancestors are constantly watching over you, offering guidance and protection. This connection isn’t just symbolic; it is a living relationship that can empower you in times of difficulty.
By offering gratitude to your ancestors for their sacrifices, you open yourself to receiving their wisdom and strength, which can provide immense clarity and healing during challenging times.
In reclaiming this practice, you honor their struggles, triumphs, and resilience, which in turn, empowers you to face your own challenges with grace. The ability to endure, adapt, and transform is in your blood, passed down through generations.
Gratitude in Yoruba Spirituality: A Holistic Approach to Life and Death
In Yoruba spirituality, the body and spirit are intertwined in a sacred dance. The care of the body, particularly the bones, is deeply connected to the care of the spirit. Your ancestors live on through these physical vessels, and their transition from life to the ancestral realm is celebrated with sacred rituals.
These ceremonies emphasize the continuity of life and death as a natural and essential cycle, ensuring that your ancestors continue to influence and guide the living.
The process of becoming a revered ancestor involves a holistic approach to life—one that balances physical health, spiritual well-being, and communal support. By offering gratitude for both life’s pleasures and its pains, you align yourself with this sacred tradition.
The Yoruba view of life, death, and ancestry is not to be feared or demonized but respected and reclaimed for its potential to heal and restore balance in your life.
Lessons from the Teacher: Life Brings You the Wisdom You Need
There’s a saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” This couldn’t be truer when it comes to life’s lessons. If you reflect on your experiences, you’ll notice that moments of growth often come through adversity.
The lessons may not always be pleasant, but they are always necessary. Your life is filled with teachers—sometimes in the form of mentors, sometimes in the form of challenging situations. These teachers show up when you need them most, offering lessons that expand your resilience, empathy, and capacity for love.
Gratitude is not just about being thankful for the easy, happy moments; it’s about recognizing the value of every experience. When you express gratitude for your hardships, you open yourself to receive the deeper lessons they carry.
This is a profound shift in perspective, one that will help you find peace and wisdom even in difficult times.
Reclaiming Ancestral Wisdom for Future Generations
One of the most important aspects of ancestral healing is the opportunity to reclaim traditions that may have been lost or forgotten.
In the African diaspora, many people have been disconnected from their ancestral practices due to colonization, migration, and the spread of Western religions. But these traditions carry immense value, not just for individual healing but for the collective healing of future generations.
By reconnecting with your roots and practicing ancestral veneration, you not only heal yourself but also pave the way for future generations to experience the same strength and wisdom.
It is up to you to reclaim these practices and pass them on, ensuring that your descendants can benefit from the ancestral knowledge that has been lost. No one is going to do this for you—it is your responsibility to restore this sacred tradition for the benefit of those who come after you.
Conclusion: A New Understanding of Gratitude
Gratitude is far more than being thankful for life’s joys. It is a tool for transformation that allows you to appreciate the totality of your experience, even the painful moments. By adopting a perspective of holistic gratitude, you can deepen your connection to your ancestors, find strength in your struggles, and emerge with a greater understanding of who you are and what you are capable of.
If you’re ready to explore how ancestral healing can help you unlock the true power of gratitude in your life, Rev Gloria Tinu Ogunbadejo is here to guide you. As an ancestral healing coach, she helps spiritually conscious individuals heal generational trauma and reconnect with their roots.
Through transformative lineage healing practices, she blends ancient wisdom with powerful ceremonies designed to help you find peace, clarity, and purpose. You can learn more about her work and start your journey of healing by visiting her website or connecting with her on LinkedIn.
