The Segula of Thankfulness Doesn’t Work Unless It’s Deep in Your Heart

זָבַת חָלָב ּודְבַשׁ הִוא (יג כז)

The Meraglim started off being positive. Rashi says13 that every Sheker that doesn't start off with some truth isn't accepted. There is a big Segula to get what you want if you are thankful. Unfortunately, many people can go around thanking all day as a Segula, yet they get nowhere. They don't realize that they are fooling themselves. Deep in their heart, all they care and think about is getting what they want, and this dominates their whole being.

When they thank, it's just that tiny positivism that they need to get their desires. It’s just skin deep, and even if it may be somewhat wholehearted, yet it is: בָּטֵל בְּרֹוב just a drop in the bucketful, and the main part of the person is his never-ending worry, and feelings of being shortchanged with all kinds of subtle anger against Hashem. I know stories where people "burned their bridges" concerning their desires, and they became total thankfulness; and THEN they came out ahead. יַעַן אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּא אַחֲרֵי ה' (דברים א לו) Kalev was full positive!

13 רש"י עה"פ וגם זבת חלב ודבש (יג כז) כל דבר שקר שאין אומרים בו קצת אמת בתחלתו, אין מתקיים בסופו.