During these uncertain times, when it seems as if everything is off-kilter, it can be tempting to give in to feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation. That’s why now, more than ever, we need to remember to be grateful for the blessings in our lives. Here are five ways you can practice an “attitude of gratitude.”
Make a List
Get out pen and paper and make a list of everything you have to be grateful for. Some days, your list may be overflowing with all the blessings raining down on you. Other days, that rain may slow to a drizzle, or even to a few drops. That’s when you need to dig deep and get down to basics. You’re alive. You’re breathing. You woke up this morning to a new day with new possibilities. Just make that list, no matter how big or small it may be. More good things are in your future.
Stop and Smell the Roses
Take a little time every day to slow down and appreciate the simple pleasures in life. The smell of bacon frying. A glorious, cloudless blue sky. The sound of birds singing in the trees. The things we’re grateful for don’t always have to be huge. They’re often small things that never fail to put a smile on our faces when we make time to enjoy them.
Spread Some Joy
Let the people that matter to you know just how grateful you are that they’re in your life. Make sure they realize how much you appreciate them for who they are. If you can’t tell them in person, pick up the phone or send them a card. It’ll make their day — and yours, too.
Look at How Much You’ve Grown
When times are tough, take time to reflect on what you’re learning from the experience. Be grateful that you’re becoming a better, stronger, more resilient person because of what you’re going through.
Look on the Bright Side
A positive outlook makes all the difference. We can’t always control our circumstances, but we can control how we react to those circumstances. Here’s how it works:
-Sick and tired of your job? Spend a moment being thankful that you have a job, especially during a time when so many people don’t.
-Is your significant other driving you up the wall? Chances are, there are a lot of lonely single people out there who would be happy to trade places with you.
-Fed up with wearing a mask everywhere you go? The good news is, masks do a pretty great job of keeping your face warm on a cold winter day.
Are you seeing a pattern here? Good. That’s the point.
And remember, while things may happen that are not positive by any stretch of the imagination, we can still make something good come out of that event.
By making a list, stopping to smell the roses, spreading joy, reflecting on your growth as a person, and looking for the positive in every situation, you’ll be cultivating an attitude of gratitude. And that particular energy/outlook can change everything.
One last thought: No matter what else is going on in the world, chocolate is always something to be grateful for!
-Gina Crisci
Photo by Rowan Chestnut on Unsplash
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