What a delightfully old fashioned term – my Mum used to say it to me constantly, I guess that’s why I love it so much. But what does it really mean and how can counting your blessings make your life better?
Some of the more modern writers in their personal development books use the term develop an “attitude of gratitude”. That’s also a term used by 12 Step Groups. I like this too but I prefer my Mums.
So how can you use this philosophy for benefit in your life?
Well, “counting your blessings” has widespread advantages and benefits to anyone who dares take on the challenge, practice it diligently and risk becoming happier and more at peace with yourself and the world around you. You won’t be able to grizzle as much though as you won’t have much to complain about. You won’t be as irritable, confused, (or lacking in direction), unmotivated and stressed and you will cease comparing yourself with others and you will feel more confident in yourself and your abilities. Many of your self imposed fears will just drop away too.
Gosh! Can being grateful really do all that?
Well, I believe the answer to that question is a resounding YES and on days when I keep to my aim of spending my day being mindful of all that I currently I have, all I can do and all I can aspire to be and achieve in my future, I definitely have a great day regardless of what’s going on around me. You know why? I FEEL better. Stuff will still be going on around me and in my body, but I FEEL better mentally and emotionally which ultimately leads to physically.
With ongoing health challenges, I find myself doing better than some, worse than some and this obviously can vary day to day. In life, career, financially, it’s the same principle. I’m doing better than some and there’s many who are doing way better than me. I could be a better person but I could be a worse one too. I could earn more money but I could be much worse off. Comparing yourself to others as a marker for how you are doing in your life will only bring distress, frustration and sometimes feelings of “well what’s the point – I can’t compete with that!” It’s great to aspire to goals achieved by others but not ok to place those people on a pedestal and try to emulate them exactly. You are an individual and no-one and no situation is identical – and isn’t this great!
If you make a commitment to sitting quietly for awhile each day and reflecting on or better still, writing down EVERYTHING that you currently have in your life, you will immediately take the focus off what you think you don’t have and enjoy more of what you do have. Lack of gratitude is a pretty selfish state of mind when you think about it. It’s the “what about me, poor me” syndrome in action. It’s not only perfectly ok (and indeed necessary for our growth and contribution to society to be meaningful) to want more out of life but not ok to wallow in feeling sorry for yourself and continually indulging in worry and pettiness as a state of being. That’s a pretty wasteful way to live.
I know you are already thankful but let’s expand on it huh. Grab that journal or pen and paper and start writing!
Write a list of all the things you have ( a home, food, water, car, trees in your garden or outside your house etc etc), all the things you can do (no matter how menial or boring they may seem – to you), all the precious people (and animals) you have around you (family, friends, pets etc) and all your special attributes – and don’t dismiss any of these are being trivial or of little use to yourself or others. Acknowledging your attributes are a vital part of being able to remain grateful and EVERYONE has them in ABUNDANCE – they just sometimes don’t recognise them and focus on them enough. If you can’t think of enough of yours, ask a trusted friend to remind you.
So, will you begin each and every day by keeping your focus on what you have and not what you don’t have? Will you go about your daily activities with an attitude of thankfulness? Will you notice more of the beauty surrounding you?
I absolutely promise that if you do, you will find that EVERY DAY GETS BETTER!
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