"He is a man of sense who does not grieve for what he has not, but rejoices in what he has" -- Epictetus

Alive & Well Archives

November 2002

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TODAY'S QUOTE:  "Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments"
                                                                -Joseph Addison

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TODAY'S TOPIC:  Gratitude

It's that time of year again--a time to eat a lot, drink a lot and spend time with our loved ones.  It’s a time of year when a lot of us take a moment to give thanks and to recognize the blessings we have in our lives.

Thanksgiving is a great time to focus on gratitude.  It’s even more powerful, however, to focus on gratitude *every* day and not just once a year.   People often ask me what is the biggest thing they can do to shift their lives. Without a doubt, developing an attitude of gratitude is the most powerful thing you can do to affect your life. If you want to create a positive, peaceful and joyful life, learn to appreciate and give thanks on a daily basis.  Learn to appreciate and give thanks for the small things in life and for life’s challenges.  Learn to appreciate and be grateful for the things you currently take for granted.

Let me give you an example. I've never really thought about my freedom. I've always had it and I just expect it. But I became very appreciative of my freedom when I started volunteering at the federal prison. These inmates don’t have much freedom; they have to do what the guards tell them, they get searched every time they leave the eating hall, and they must always watch out for themselves. The first night I went to the prison, I realized how blessed I am to have my freedom. I can move around freely, and I can go home at night.  That night I was full of gratitude for having my freedom, and I stopped taking it for granted.

This is an example of appreciating the simple, small things in life and appreciating things we may take for granted.  Gratitude is also very important in shifting our lives during challenging or frustrating times.

Let me give you an example.  I have a rental property in Vail, which is a ski resort here in Colorado, and I count on the income from that property. Unfortunately, my condo is sitting empty right now, and I haven’t received that income for two months.  I also have no rental prospects for filling it.  Does this cause me stress?  You bet!  Does it concern me that I may not be able to find tenants to cover those expenses and generate a little extra income?  You bet!  It causes me a lot of concern.

But at the same time, I am very grateful.  You see, my boyfriend and I have wanted to get away.  Since my condo is empty, we’re going to spend Thanksgiving in Vail.  Vail has received recording breaking snow, so we’re going to have a nice, winter wonderland get-a-way.  Even though I feel stress regarding the loss of this income source, I can shift to gratitude and feel good, even excited, about the situation.  In fact, we leave tomorrow, and I can’t wait!

You see, even challenging things in life offer us blessings.  I’ve lost an important income source for at least 2 – 3 months, but I’ve gained a chance to spend quality time with a loved one.  

What about you?  Think about challenging times or situations that you’ve survived or are currently facing.  What blessings have you received?  What can you be thankful for?  Here are some examples:

* Perhaps a job lay-off allowed you to re-evaluate what is truly important to you

* Perhaps a relationship loss allowed you to discover you’re strong enough to stand on your own

* Perhaps a health challenge allowed you to re-define your priorities and discover the joy of truly living each day fully

In addition to looking at your challenges, take a look at what you’ve taken for granted.  What have you taken for granted that you can be grateful for?  Here are some ideas:

* A beautiful sunset

* Your freedom

* Food on your table

* A stranger’s smile

* A friend who listens and supports you

Have a great and blessed Thanksgiving!

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Coaching Challenge

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Think about a challenging situation you have or are currently facing.  What are the blessings in the situation?  Also, look around you on a daily basis and give thanks for all the small things in your life.