Want to know a simple secret to happiness?
Gratitude.
Yes, it’s that simple.
Almost every day, I write down the things in my
life for which I am grateful. It can be
as simple as a beautiful flower I saw on a walk or as profound as the love I
have for my family.
It instantly puts me in a new state of happiness
and awareness of all my blessings. When I do this on days that are
particularly trying, it actually has the power to change the direction of my
day.
There is nothing more powerful to change
your perspective than to be grateful.
Life is always presenting challenges. We
are constantly living with a challenge, getting past a challenge or starting a
challenge. Our character and strength have continuous opportunities to
grow.
Sometimes it is hard to understand why we have
these challenges.
Why does my husband have cancer?
Why do small children become sick and
suffer?
Why is that customer so difficult to deal
with?
Regardless of the scope or size of the challenge,
there is always one thing challenges have in common: the opportunity to
grow.
No matter how bad things are in your life, there
is always a reason to be grateful. By focusing on our purpose and blessings, we
put the negativity in its place. But when the negative becomes our
focus...that is what you will find, and you’ll become self involved and
swallowed up by the problems.
By focusing on what is good and right in our
life, the bad things recede and become smaller—and we experience an opportunity
for growth.
A prayer of gratitude:
Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t
already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there
be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t
know something
For it gives you the opportunity
to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult
times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your
limitations
Because they give you
opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new
challenge
Because it will build your strength
and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable
lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired
and weary
Because it means you’ve made
a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for
the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment
comes to those who are
also thankful for the
setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative
into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for
your troubles
and they can become your
blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~
My gratitude list for the day....
I am grateful for abundance today...
the sunshine
bright ideas
a loving husband
little hugs and BIG good mornings
opportunities
friends
~Cathy
https://twitter.com/#!/CathySykorahttp://www.thehealthcoach.net
https://www.facebook.com/Thehealthcoach.net
cathy@thehealthcoach.net
*copyright Cathy Sykora 2012
I love your comment that all experiences are an opportunity to grow and learn because I believe that myself. I do my gratitude listings at night because it helps me sleep better :o)
ReplyDeleteNight time is a great time to be grateful!
DeleteGratitude is a beautiful thing. Thank you for this timely reminder, Love.
ReplyDeleteI am continually amazed by how finding gratitude shifts my perspectve and experience.
and P.s. Thank you for that bee-utiful prayer
I am glad you liked the prayer Sarah, I thought it was beautiful too.
DeleteThis is great stuff! I actively practiced gratitude this morning. My agenda today was centered around buying health insurance for my family. I turned "I'm afraid of figuring out health insurance" and "I don't want to do this today" to I'm grateful to be purchasing health insurance today.
ReplyDeleteReasons to be grateful about it:
We don't work for a corporation which provides it
We can afford it
It's available to us
I'm smart enough to figure it out
I have people in my crew who are even smarter than I about this stuff; they're very willing to help me figure it out.
I know where you are coming from on the self pay insurance. You are right to be grateful you can afford it and that it is available. Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDeleteLately I can't believe how many things I have to be grateful for. This is such an important reminder. I admit I can get lost in the challenge and forget to look around at all that I already have, but I come back to being blessed in the end. Every time. Thanks for the fantastic prayer!
ReplyDeletexo
Great post Cathy! It is so great to have a reminder of things we should be grateful for! There is so much in our everyday life that is amazing. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder to practice gratitude. I was just talking with a Shaman today who shared when people are in any emotion outside of appreciation or gratitude it only takes the brain 12 seconds to shift into gratitude. The shift is using the right side of the brain where we experience the present moment without the emotional baggage of the ego from the left side of our brain.
ReplyDeleteThe trick is remembering to make the shift! Using your prayer is a great tool. Thanks again!
Great post Cathy! Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes we get so busy and forget to stop and be grateful for all we have instead of always thinking what we don't have. I make sure every night at dinner time we all say what we are grateful for including the kids. I like your gratitude prayer too.
ReplyDeleteYes! Gratitude is my favourite happiness tool. I tend to think, at the end of each day, of three things that have made me smile. Some days it's easier than others, but there's always something to be thankful for, even if it's just the miracle of being alive.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful prayer..gratitude brings me into the present moment. My life is so blessed that I know I could die happy without needing one more thing to happen. I walk outside and as I see the sky, trees, plants, bird, grass.....I am overcome with the abundance that surrounds me. Life is eternal fullness.
ReplyDelete