Cultivate Gratitude: In all things give THANKS
Seated at a table abundant with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie isn’t the only time you should take a moment to reflect upon all that you are thankful for. Although being surrounded by friends, family, and good food at Thanksgiving might bring to your attention all that you cherish in life, expressing gratitude is a healthy practice that should be done on a daily basis.
You’re guilty of it; we all are. With so many wants on our minds, considering what we already have is usually a lower priority within our thoughts. We become too distracted by the promotion we want, the new car we lust after, or the latest electronic device that we just know will improve our lives. But when we focus all our thoughts only on what we desire, we fail to recognize the good that already exists in our lives. We forget to notice our stable career, working car, or computers and phones that get the job done. I, too, used to dwell on the things I wanted, and looked over those that I was grateful to already have, but once I made a daily habit of expressing my gratitude, I watched my outlook on life improve and noticed more good things enter my career, relationships, and overall success.
To help guide your gratitude transformation and become more aware of the things in your life you have to be grateful for, read these two common mistakes that I, too, was once guilty of and discover their easy fixes that turn your perspective of your life around and promote the migration of more good into your life.
Don’t look for the bad.
Constantly trying to find details of things wrong with your life will only further convince you that they are entirely bad. For example, if you let yourself believe that you don’t receive high enough of a salary, soon you will find yourself hating everything about your job. Don’t let one small drawback affect your entire outlook on something.
Instead:
Be grateful that you have that “bad” thing in the first place. Look past your under par salary, and focus on the fact that you are employed. Think about how much you appreciate those you work with, the opportunities your job could take you, and any other perks of your career that remind you how good you have it.
Don’t compare yourself to others.
Feelings of jealousy won’t get you anywhere. If you compare your average car to your friend’s luxury sports car, you’ll never appreciate your car for what it is.
Instead:
Reflect upon what your things have done for you, rather than what the possessions of others might be able to do for you. Think about the amazing road trip you took in your car instead of how fast you might be able to drive in your friend’s car.
Remember, thinking about what you don’t have will only promote negative emotions. When you dwell on what is absent in your life, you may become angry or sad, emotions that are guaranteed to hinder your motivation and drive to become successful.
However, thinking about what you are grateful for creates positive emotions. When you express your gratitude, you will become happier just thinking about how good you have it. You will become more driven to do more with your life and achieve more good things that will keep those positive feelings coming!
Until next time. Think BIG and give THANKS.
