Not only do Sunshine & Rainbows exist, but there are storms, thunder, heavy rain, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. This is only symbolism for how tough times can get and we can prevail and do our best when faced with adversity. It’s typical to take shelter and run away heavily from the burden of the rain, and we can learn how strong/tough we are if caught for a minute in the storm if we give ourselves the chance to discover our abilities. Yes – it does suck when plans get canceled and perhaps it was an outdoorsy type of event, but maybe running in the rain can serve you some good. In the long run, you want to be happy with all things that have come your way, making room for new blessings and opportunities to shed light on your path. For some of us this comes easier than for others, so sticking together is important so we can all share a moment of gratitude. That’s not to say that people who have all cash and the glitz and glamour are necessarily happy, but it can be a reminder to all that the way you carry an attitude about life in general or treat people based on your circumstances matters. There are ways in which the people you meet will remember you, like if you complained a lot or were rude. If you center yourself and Thank God for all the things provided that you have, maybe a steady flow of abundance will come your path. I’ve had my fair share of bad moments, but can say that whenever I’ve been grateful – good things come my path. You won’t want to force gratitude as it should come genuinely and eagerly, but taking a step toward this way of doing things will help reinforce the dreams and connections you’re all about. You do want success, don’t you? And more to that, such as a beautiful life.
Taking Gratitude One Step At A Time…
Maybe you’re struggling to pay rent or your girlfriend/boyfriend just broke up with you. At first, it doesn’t seem easy to Thank God or anyone for your certain predicament. But… you can start with little notes of appreciation or Thank You Cards for small wins. For example, if you have kids or a Husband or best friend, you can write on a Post-it note in colorful ink with a heart at the end, that you’re so happy they’re alive. It’s important to note that gratitude is not about “lecturing yourself and saying, ‘you should be grateful, other people have it worse” (The Benefits of Gratitude And Why You Should Practice It Daily – Not Just On Thanksgiving, 2019). It is a small token of appreciation you have for all the good going on and there’s a lot of it in little ways if we begin to notice.
Things You Can Be Grateful For
Improving your life’s condition is the goal of every person wanting to do better for themselves and their family. Here are the following small things you can be grateful for to incorporate into your life:
- Wake Up & Take A Look Around Your Room. Notice all the things you have and don’t use every day. How lucky are you to own so many belongings and furniture. A table, a desk, a closet. If you don’t have a room, then notice how you’re able to read this – maybe on your iPhone or a computer you’re borrowing.
- For A Single Friend. Not everybody has a million trillion friends, but you’re the type to have a single best friend who knows of your existence. Start there.
- For Free Time If You’re Unemployed. Now I know making money is a concern to most. but if you don’t have a job and are currently looking but reaching dead ends, just be grateful you get to plan your day accordingly. It’s nice to have some free time down and do whatever you want given whenever you want until you start going back to work.
- For That Morning Or Afternoon Coffee & Meal That Is So Delicious. Need I say more? The ability for fluids to go down your system and to eat what you want is a blessing some don’t have. I like to say Thanks before every meal I have and try not to let the hunger keep me from saying grace.
- For Your Physical Body. Holding yourself together is your solid foundation. Amazingly, you have two legs, an arm, a voice, and everything else that makes you Y O U.
The approach I wanted toward this Gratitude List is that it can apply to almost everyone. Granted, some people are homeless and don’t have much, but if you can find one or 5 things that you are grateful for – you’re golden. Be sure to write it down or say it out loud after you’ve come up with your list. Making these stick with intention can serve as a reminder for future times when you’re going through a patch in life. Sometimes we forget that we have a full mobile body ready to walk through doors that will lead us to victory. It’s okay to be reminded of this as I tend to forget too. Slowly, but surely, you’ll start to notice changes in your life as it won’t happen immediately but if you stick with this list of Gratitude. Further add to your list as new blessings come into play and remember… don’t forget to say them out loud as in acknowledgement.
Why Being Grateful Is Good For Your Well-Being
You can truly improve your mental health and well-being by showing gratitude. Rewiring our brains to be more Thankful as opposed to upset or dissatisfied can be key to living a good life. As we discussed earlier before, it’s not always easy to be ready to show Thanks but we can indeed start with the basics. Showing up contented can prove you to be more resilient in the long run. We need to feel joyous for the tiniest of concerns to improve our overall function. Your mood can improve and so can your sleeping patterns, it’s worth giving it a shot! When you tell other people that you’re grateful for their existence, not only do you connect more but now that person has reason to smile today. The small to big smiles are what we’re going for and you can feel comfort that you have all to gain and NOTHING to lose! This way you can improve the feeling of loneliness or isolation when you talk to someone else about how grateful you are. There is a sense of link or relationship formed when you connect this deeply and solidifying bonds are a great way to continue to prosper with great friends! Not only are you serving yourself well by being grateful, but you’re also helping to improve the functionality of someone else’s life. We’re more likely to form positive experiences based on our approach to this, so grab a friend or a peer and let them know how great they are!
Practicing More Thanks
Your character strength can be improved more with awareness and practice. This is not only for the holiday season of Thanksgiving to be Thankful, but all year round. As mentioned previously, when someone receives your gratefulness they are in a state of mind. You not only improve the social well-being of your life and others, but emotional and psychological as well. Expressing gratitude is important for individual growth and society as a whole. Without it… well, life would be way colder because there would be no reciprocation. On the Adventurous Match page, I do a video of manifesting more abundance by practicing a list of gratitude. You can check it out here. Simply… Creating My Reality. Join the mission.
“I want to live my life and be grateful to Jesus for giving me life. It’s not every day you meet the people you do, but every single person matters. Whether you meet them at your job, a function, or on a trip, I want to be more grateful for the people who come into my life. Whether they are here to stay or help me reinforce more positive outlooks, I hope to improve my functionality with them by my side.” -Nina
You can foster more gratitude by meditating and changing your perspective. Changing your neuro structures to correlate to uplifting your emotions about pain or immediate stress responses. This life we live is a constant battle but if we choose our gratefulness we can push through barriers so we can keep going. “Staying in a negative state of mind will torture you” – Tye Dutcher. When we choose to be grateful, we work harder and “reach for the stars” -Tye Dutcher. It is a choice we can make, but can become a natural response to life’s hardest moments. It’s not easy to choose this perspective, but your perception can be changed with the power of choosing gratitude.
For everyone out there, there is power in thanking God for your day, waking up, meals, and more. We please God the most when we are grateful to Him for all that is in our lives. We can add more to our life if we truly mean our Thanks, and by making our requests known in prayer to Jesus. By prayer and supplication, we can accomplish all things with Christ at the center of our reach. He is there waiting for us to come to Him, so do it.
A Sense Of Peace
There is “a direct link between gratitude and joy, thankfulness and healing” as put in words by Christopher M. Jones, a fellow blog writer, who writes about the passing of his beloved son. “Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions. Once expressed, it changes attitude, brightens outlook, and broadens our perspective” – Germany Kent. We all crave peace and on our journey, we come to know what that looks like. We won’t remember all the money in the world that was made, but the peace that comes from being grateful. Yes – you are capable of so much more than you think, but, this peace can only come when we decide to walk bravely or sit down and quiet ourselves to hear the birds or crickets. Not winning the game, but deciding to still Thank God for the opportunity to go and participate. Have I caught your attention? There are so many ways to feel peace… you just have to listen to your soul and do what’s best for you. Know that so many people up above are rooting for you and cheering you on the race of life. The people are outnumbered in heaven and God has your back in all things, so Trust Him. Don’t give up just yet… you’re waiting for the breakthrough that’s going to change your life. Stay peaceful, calm, grateful, and joyous for all life has to bring your way. Note that the people that are coming this season are meant to be friends and enjoy each other’s company. Know that there’s no wrong way you can be grateful for all you bring and life reciprocates. Stay content, and peacefully aware of your surroundings, and that should get you started with this Gratitude journey you’re about to embark on.
Like A Muscle To Strengthen – Gratitude
The effects of gratitude on the body and brain are outnumbered. There’s no way you can go wrong with being grateful every single day of your life. If it’s not easy for you to be grateful or eye-rolling at this post, just know that it’s just a muscle to strengthen. With Gratitude, comes Abundance. The more we share our thanks – the more we are heard, reciprocated, and great things flow our way. If you want to improve your social connection – Try Gratitude, if you want to stay healthy – Improve Your Gratitude Sessions, if you want a better personality, Be Grateful! But with this being said, no person can be too grateful. And sorry if this is annoying to you, I’m just trying to emphasize how much being grateful has improved my life. People do tend to like you more when you share how grateful you are it seems so keep doing that! Changing your outlook on life is a personal favorite of mine. That – when we are depressed with our circumstances there’s only one way to go up. You go up by doing all the previously mentioned and continue to share your voice about it with others! No one person is promised tomorrow, so make the best of your day by living rightfully and mindfully. When you’re conscious of all that you have to offer the world instead of the other way around – you will be blessed with so much more goodness. Be kind, and grateful, and know when to never let life kick you down to the point you feel like you have nothing to be grateful for. You are capable of so much more and listen to the voice of reason.
Best Book To Read This Season
If you’re looking for an amazing book to read this season, I have just the thing. Check out Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I can’t even put into words how good of a read it is. It starts with the story of Claire Randall, a combat nurse in the year 1945 who falls between time in 1743 to meet a Scottish rebel, Jamie Fraiser, who she subsequently falls in love with. This novel has all the tidbits of romance, adventure, history (based on accurate events), and a passion for freedom! However please note, that there are many fighting scenes to accurately display how it went back then. This book is steamy, intimate, emotional, and historical.
Also better yet, it was turned into a show on Hulu… you can watch it on Starz, or Netflix. I keep rewatching season 1 because it is that good! Be sure to also check out the book though because if you like to read – you’re in for a strong series that is simply amazing. Yes, there’s more than 1 book to the story, there are 8 in total! Completely obsessed and you should be too once you start getting the hang of the introduction – it gets a whole lot more interesting and you don’t want to miss out.
Whaddya think? Go and check it out!!! Currently re-reading the first one in the series. 🙂
Online Sources Used For Reference
Author Unknown, “The Benefits of Gratitude And Why You Should Practice It Daily – Not Just On Thanksgiving,” Keep a Breast, 27 November 2019, https://www.keep-a-breast.org/blog/2019/the-benefits-of-gratitude-and-why-you-should-practice-it-daily-not-just-on-thanksgiving
Millacci, Tiffany Sauber, “What Is Gratitude And Why Is It So Important?,” Positive Psychology, 28 February 2017, https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-appreciation/
