--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At each level of gratitude our soul's…" description: "\"At each level of gratitude our soul's capacity deepens, starting with contentment to meaningfulness, and finally, to pure joy.\" — M. J. Ryan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/m-j-ryan-20962_capacity_at-each-level-of-gratitude-our-soul-s-ca_2033806.jpg" --- # At each level of gratitude our soul's capacity deepens… ![“At each level of gratitude our soul's capacity deepens, starting with contentment to meaningfulness, and finally, to pure joy.” quote by M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/m-j-ryan-20962_capacity_at-each-level-of-gratitude-our-soul-s-ca_2033806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/m-j-ryan-20962_capacity_at-each-level-of-gratitude-our-soul-s-ca_2033806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/m-j-ryan-20962_capacity_at-each-level-of-gratitude-our-soul-s-ca_2033806.jpg) > “At each level of gratitude our soul's capacity deepens, starting with contentment to meaningfulness, and finally, to pure joy.” [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude expands the soul, moving from simple contentment to deeper meaning and ultimately pure joy. **In simple terms:** Gratitude grows from contentment to joy. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude to deepen fulfillment. Themes gratitude growth joy Mood warm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily journal - mindful meditation - thank‑you notes - volunteering Key Concepts psychology spirituality emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How does gratitude shift your perception of daily events? - What practices help you move from contentment to joy? A Different Perspective Gratitude can feel forced if not genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Contentment Meaningfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment-meaningfulness-3749898/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Gratitude Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude-soul-3749897/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Level Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-gratitude-1255680/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Meaningfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningfulness/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Pure joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-joy/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Starting Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-contentment-3749899/) ## Related quotes > [Life is as it is, we take it to be hard or easy. It's all about our perception, attitude and level of gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/life-is-as-it-is-we-take-it-to-be-hard-or-easy-it-s-all-about-our/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Your level of gratitude determines your level of happiness, as well as your potential for success. It's difficult to be happy without gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-burg/your-level-of-gratitude-determines-your-level-of-happiness-as-well-as/) [Bob Burg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-burg/) > [And there has to be a level of gratitude and a little bit of pride. But I want that pride to be quick so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruston-kelly/and-there-has-to-be-a-level-of-gratitude-and-a-little-bit-of-pride/) [Ruston Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruston-kelly/) > [“Tremendously meaningful outreach begins with how you choose to see the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/tremendously-meaningful-outreach-begins-with-how-you-choose-to-see/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“It's a question of how we regard our situations, how we look and see where we are, and how we choose, if we can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-smith/it-s-a-question-of-how-we-regard-our-situations-how-we-look-and-see/) [Ali Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-smith/) > [“The trappings of success bring the opposite of success in the ways most meaningful to people's lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-trappings-of-success-bring-the-opposite-of-success-in-the-ways/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Intellectuals resist faith longer because they can: where ordinary people are helpless before the light, intellectuals are clever enough to spin webs of darkness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/intellectuals-resist-faith-longer-because-they-can-where-ordinary/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Man is in fact nailed down - like Christ on the Cross - to a grid of paradoxes . . . he balances between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/man-is-in-fact-nailed-down-like-christ-on-the-cross-to-a-grid-of/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [I’m actually trying to make sense of the world. There’s nothing cynical or absurd in what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yue-minjun/i-m-actually-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-world-there-s-nothing/) [Yue Minjun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yue-minjun/) > [“A principled life begins by accepting the evident truth that we must die. Death becomes us. Knowledge of the impermanence of our existence reassures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-principled-life-begins-by-accepting-the-evident-truth-that-we-must/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Why are we reading if not in hope that the writer will magnify and dramatize our days, will illuminate and inspire us with wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/why-are-we-reading-if-not-in-hope-that-the-writer-will-magnify-and/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [ Men in plural \[…\] can experience meaningfulness only because they can talk with and make sense to each other and themselves. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/men-in-plural-can-experience-meaningfulness-only-because-they-can/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [I can not 'make my mark' for all time - those concepts are mutually exclusive. 'Lasting effect' is a self-contradictory term. Meaning does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-can-not-make-my-mark-for-all-time-those-concepts-are-mutually/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [Please don't settle for happiness. It's not good enough. Of course you deserve it, but if that's all you have in mind - happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/please-don-t-settle-for-happiness-it-s-not-good-enough-of-course-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Shakespeare doesn't belong to the past. If his material is valid, it is valid now. It's like coal. The only meaningfulness of a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brook/shakespeare-doesn-t-belong-to-the-past-if-his-material-is-valid-it-is/) [Peter Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brook/) ## More by M. J. Ryan > [Gratitude is the antidote to bitterness and resentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-is-the-antidote-to-bitterness-and-resentment/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Gratitude connects us to others and feeling gratitude allows us to be our best selves. When we are truly grateful, we can count on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-connects-us-to-others-and-feeling-gratitude-allows-us-to-be/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Eating healthy and exercising won't help you if it's only temporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/eating-healthy-and-exercising-won-t-help-you-if-it-s-only-temporary/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [In the moments we are awake to the wonder of simply being alive, gratitude flows, no matter our circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/in-the-moments-we-are-awake-to-the-wonder-of-simply-being-alive/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Gratitude is a feeling of fullness, a recognition of the heart of what we are receiving in this moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-is-a-feeling-of-fullness-a-recognition-of-the-heart-of-what/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Spiritual leaders teach that waking up is a process, that it doesn't just happen once and for all, but must occur again and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/spiritual-leaders-teach-that-waking-up-is-a-process-that-it-doesn-t/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [No matter what, I want to experience a sense of peace while talking. As I look out into the audience, Ill remember to breathe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/no-matter-what-i-want-to-experience-a-sense-of-peace-while-talking-as/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Here's a practice for dealing with envy...each time you find yourself envious of someone...ask yourself, "What is there that I am noticing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/here-s-a-practice-for-dealing-with-envy-each-time-you-find-yourself/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Like so many other positive acts, it turns out that hugging boosts our immune system. Plus it just plain feels good! So hug someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/like-so-many-other-positive-acts-it-turns-out-that-hugging-boosts-our/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [I got sick and tired of a joyless existence, and so have thought a lot in the past few years about how to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/i-got-sick-and-tired-of-a-joyless-existence-and-so-have-thought-a-lot/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [People teach what they most need to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/people-teach-what-they-most-need-to-learn/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Gratitude helps us love well by keeping us focused on the beauty in our relationship and the person we love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-helps-us-love-well-by-keeping-us-focused-on-the-beauty-in/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [Gratitude helps us to return to our natural state of joyfulness, where we notice what's right instead of what's wrong. It makes us feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/gratitude-helps-us-to-return-to-our-natural-state-of-joyfulness-where/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [I'm so happy that James Baraz's AWAKENING JOY class is now available in book form. His class has been helpful to thousands of people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/i-m-so-happy-that-james-baraz-s-awakening-joy-class-is-now-available/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) > [The choice is ours, in every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ryan/the-choice-is-ours-in-every-moment/) [M. J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) [Explore all 30 M. J. Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ryan/) ## More Capacity quotes > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. 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