I knew I wanted to write something on gratitude, but I wasn't sure exactly what that would be. I'm a researcher in my "other life" so I searched on Google for gratitude - and was really surprised by many of the gratitude content. They seemed to equate gratitude with being grateful. Respectfully, I disagree.
I get it that one aspect of being happy or getting happy is to be grateful for what you have. But, I think it is much more than that. Its a mindset of gratitude that provides a foundation for happiness.
Sure, being grateful for your kids, your house, your health, and your hubby doesn't alter your inherent thinking. I realized this when a car rear ended me recently. It was a good rear ending that totaled my car. I wasn't grateful, I was mad, irritated, overwhelmed, and overall upset at the amount of work, money, and time that this event would take. I most certainly was not happy or grateful. Could I be grateful for being rear ended? Yes, I could.
I was not hurt, nor was anyone else. It happened on a week I was off work, so that I had time to take care of things. I have such a nice mechanic and he came and towed my car and gave me a ride home. The person who hit me is insured and stayed on the scene. And, when I bought this car, I got gap insurance.
When I stopped my doom and gloom spiral and really thought about these things and took a pause, it was easy to see and feel how lucky I am. How could I possibly be mad or upset? I'm so lucky and so grateful that no one was hurt, it happened where it did, that I'll be able to replace my vehicle without spending too much money, and I have a great circle of folks I can depend on.
There are a million other scenarios where the first impulse might be to jump to doom and gloom. Stop, pause, and look for the good. The more you do it , the easier it will get to have a mindset of gratitude. Virtually every situation, good or bad, has lucky spots, streaks of good, and specs of positive. Find those and focus on them. Your happy self will thank you (and be quite grateful)!
Be Happy!
Remember to have fun, be good to yourself, and keep the balance. We want to make all your spaces happy places! Thanks so much for shopping with us at Uneedum!