Gratitude

‘The habit that has helped me the most is learning to be thankful.  It is the greatest secret of success.’

-Charlie Tremendous Jones

‘Blessings we enjoy daily; and for the most of them, because they be so common, most men forget to pay their praise.’

-Izaak Walton

It is our natural tendency to focus on what we do NOT have.  To focus on what we have yet to achieve.  To focus on what hurts us.  It is much more challenging for us to focus on being thankful for what we do have.  To be thankful for what we have already achieved.  To be thankful for what makes us feel good. 

Let’s look at some simple baseline facts.  Everyone reading this right now has access to a computer.  Well, if that is the case, you more than likely have a roof over your head and food to eat.  You were able to get out of bed this morning when the alarm clock went off.  I am even willing to wager that you have someone in your life that cares about you, probably even more than one. 

Nothing I just mentioned should ever be taken for granted.  They are not guaranteed.  These are just the baseline stuff.  You undoubtedly have much more in your life to be thankful for.

Spend a few minutes being thankful.  Be thankful for your family.  Be thankful for your friends.  Be thankful for your health.

Doesn’t it feel great?  No matter your situation, you have plenty to be thankful for.

Make gratitude a habit.

Form your new gratitude habit at either the beginning of the day, and/or at the end of the day.  Jon Gordon advocates starting your day off with a gratitude walk.  Smelling the roses and thinking about all you have to be grateful for is certainly a fantastic way to start the day.  Personally, I have made gratitude part of my nightly routine.  I go through my list of all the things for which I am thankful for before I fall asleep for the night, shaping my mind on gratitude while I sleep.

Let me get this straight, being thankful isn’t only about the feeling.  The world seems to work in a very just way.  Being thankful for what we have, makes getting what we don’t yet have, much more likely.

Kyle C. Ryan