Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Be More Grateful

     When my children were growing up, I recall many occasions where my wife and I would make a decision to take them out for lunch.  We would usually give them a decision to make on where they wanted to eat so we would give them opportunities to pick their favorite “fast-food” place.

     It would always seem inevitable that as soon as we got our food and sat down to eat our lunch, they would begin to quiz their mother and me, “What are we going to have to eat tonight?”  My wife and I would just look at each other and grimace.  Where’s the gratitude for what we have RIGHT NOW?  Of course, this may be expected of children.  However, this type of attitude is not limited to the realm of the young.

     There‘s so much emphasis on getting ahead, being successful and striving for change that it can be hard to remember that you already have so much for which to be grateful. Even worse, the constant pushing to change your circumstances can lead to dissatisfaction, and keep you trapped in a cycle of always feeling you’re not good enough, you never have enough, and you’re thereby not satisfied with what you DO have!

     Free yourself from the shackles of ‘must try harder’ by remembering to stop and appreciate what you’ve already achieved, what blessings you already have in your life. Keep in mind that you are free to be content right now. Here are some tips to help free you from the cycle of discontent and thereby bring greater happiness to your life.

1.      Change your focus

     Research has shown that the more you cultivate a habit of gratitude, the better able you are to weather the ups and downs of life. As you perceive life to be positive, you will come to expect more of the same. You can retrain your brain from negative self-talk to greater thankfulness, gratitude, and happiness.  You will find that training your mind with a willingness to have less and to be satisfied with that, you will have less stress and frustration in your life.  The same can be true for your family as well.

     By practicing gratitude, you rewire the neural pathways in your brain so that it becomes your mindset’s default setting. You learn to look for the good in things instead of focusing on the bad.

2.      Step away from more stuff

     If you’re like most people, you have more than enough possessions.  We’ve become such a society that storage facilities have become one of the largest real estate property investments you can find.  We need more room to store our “things.”  And when those become full, we make sure we get more space so we can store “more things.”  The current mantra is that spending brings happiness, but deep down you probably know that it doesn’t. Sure, buying yourself a new car or outfit makes you feel good at the time, but that “spenders high” wears off pretty quickly.  So if we retrain our minds to see that it’s not all these “things” that are truly going to be the basis of our happiness we will be more content with what you have.

     You will also learn that almost instantly after a “new and improved” item is purchased, the “latest and greatest” model hits the shelves.  Break the habit of buying the next shiny thing and appreciate what you’ve got right now.

3.      Develop a mindfulness practice

     Mindfulness and meditation can help you focus on the good that’s already in your life. By focusing on the present, you free yourself from that familiar yoyo-ing of brooding over past disappointments and future anxieties.  Remember: The past is gone and can’t be changed.  The future hasn’t gotten here yet and may not have any resemblance to what you thought when it does get here.  We can only live in and deal with the here and now!

     You can easily integrate mindfulness into your day. Whatever you’re doing, pause and focus on your breath. Ask yourself: what are five things I’m grateful for in my life right now? Your five items can be anything from having a roof over your head to having a job, your partner or your health. Or you can be grateful for a comfortable chair or clean sheets! Chose anything that makes you feel good at that very moment.  Those things do not have to be “big ticket” items.  There may not be any financial value to them at all!

     Choosing gratitude and contentment doesn’t mean being stagnant or giving up. It means stepping aside from judgment and freeing yourself from the bonds of negativity.  In your process of implementing this mental readjustment never forget, however, we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER


THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Be grateful for the air you breathe,

without it, you can be grateful of nothing at all!"


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