It’s easy to feel grateful when life is smooth sailing. But when we’re feeling tired, frustrated, angry, sad, or when we’re just having a hard day, very seldom do we think about giving thanks. Yet, it’s in these moments that cultivating a “gratitude attitude” can benefit us the most! How can gratitude help us?
In the face of strain and discomfort, gratitude can give us hope.
In the face of exhaustion, gratitude has the power to energize.
In the face of bitterness and hurt, gratitude can heal.
In the face of desperation, gratitude has the power to bring hope.
Being grateful isn’t always easy and it certainly doesn’t come naturally. After all, who feels thankful after losing something that’s important to them like health, finances, a job, or a relationship? These types of losses can be gut-wrenching, soul-crushing, and perhaps even traumatizing. But none of those can ever be devastating unless we allow them to be. And we allow them to grow when we focus on them.
Here’s an uncomfortable truth: we’re all going to have bad things happen to us at one time or another … get injured, be rejected, ignored, insulted, or lose someone we love. During these times, it’s important to remember that “feeling” grateful and “being” grateful are different. We don’t always have control over our feelings, but “being” grateful is an attitude and a choice. If we learn to be grateful in the little challenges, it will come easier in the bigger challenges.
Even though good things happen in our lives, we tend to focus on the bad. Developing a “gratitude attitude” will prepare us to focus on the good so we can experience more of that good in our lives.
Take some time now to start practicing gratitude so when struggles come, it will be more of a second nature to think of the positives. If you continue, you’ll find that not only will gratitude help during the difficult times, but it’s essential to living your best life and it’s well worth the effort.
Have a grateful day!
