Being Grateful

Well, we've come a long way, baby. And now we need to learn how to be grateful. Why? Because when we are grateful, we are in a state of appreciation for what we have and are open to receive more. We take care of the things we have, and by doing so, we keep them.

Being grateful is also a pleasing state of mind to be in. Which is a better state of mind to be in: being happy about the gift just given to you, or unhappy that the gift isn't what you wanted? Being grateful is something we can do that is as simple as learning a new habit. You don't have to receive anything you wanted to start being grateful, you can be happy for what you already have. In some really bad times, you might say, "But I hate everything in my life!" Ah, but you can also be grateful for what you don't have, because like the saying goes, "Things could always be worse."

I recommend closing your eyes for a few moments. Imagine that you are in an extremely unpleasant place, such as a place you know where starvation exists, or place like a Nazi prison camp. Genuinely delve into this destitute fantasy world by imagining that you are really there. Really "feel" that this is where you are. Imagine the feelings you might have. Imagine the things you might miss that you have. Then look around in this place you are in your imagination and see what you don't have there that you actually have now. See what problems you would have there that you don't actually have now. I am sure there are many things you can find to be grateful for now. Practice this anytime you find it hard to be grateful or anytime you think your problems are overwhelming.

Do you see that the problems you have, though maybe pressing, are minute compared to the problems of people who are living in extreme poverty, or who are in prison? In fact, your problems may become blessings because if you didn't have the things you have, you wouldn't have the problems you have. I believe this is why people enjoy helping others that are less fortunate than them, because it helps them be grateful for the things they have.

Being grateful puts things in perspective in our lives. We realize that we have what we need already in us to have the life we choose to have. While we always want to grow and gain as human beings, we can also be grateful for what we already have. Problems are a part of life that will always be there, but in the correct perspecitve, we can see that we can be grateful even for our problems.

Keeping a grateful journal is a great idea for the times we feel destitute. We should keep our grateful journal along side our goals journal and our daily journal.

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