It isn't that I was never thankful. I have always been thankful for the people in my life, my daughter, my career, etc. When I was going through my cancer diagnosis, surgery, and chemo is when I was introduced to the idea of intentional thankfulness. Thankfulness, not just as something I say, but as a mindset for dealing with difficult circumstances. It became a way for me to put my challenges in perspective and to maintain some level of control over a situation with so much uncertainty that was ultimately out of my control. I also understand that all of our journey's through troubled waters are unique to each of us. This helped me, and I continue to try and practice this (not always easy) post cancer and post urostomy surgery, in my daily life.
What Is Being Thankful?
Being thankful is a way of thinking and acting that can support us in overcoming any obstacle in our path. Even in adversity, it is a potent instrument that may alter our perspective and inject positivity into our lives. By cultivating gratitude, we change our perspective from what we lack to what we have, which can have a significant positive effect on our mental and emotional health.
Benefits of Being Thankful:
Being thankful makes it easier for us to find the positive in every circumstance, which is one of its main advantages. Even in the most difficult situations, it is simpler to find the bright side when we concentrate on what we have to be thankful for. This can assist us in keeping a positive mindset, which in turn can assist us in staying motivated and solving our difficulties.
We can develop resilience by being grateful. Resilience, which is the capacity to overcome obstacles and disappointments, is a necessary trait for success in life. Gratitude exercises allow us to become more optimistic, which can improve our ability to handle stress and adversity. We may become more resilient as a result, which will help us get past setbacks and recover more rapidly.
Having better relationships is another way that being grateful can help us face difficulties. We tend to be more appreciative of the people in our lives when we are grateful for what we have, which can result in relationships that are stronger and more fulfilling. A stronger relationship with ourselves can result from practicing gratitude. We can better our self-esteem and confidence, which will enable us to meet any challenge that comes our way when we take the time to appreciate who we are and everything we have accomplished.
How can we cultivate a mindset of gratitude?
Keeping a thankfulness notebook is one method to do this. Three things to be thankful for should be listed each day. Any number of things, such as your family's love and support of the lovely sunrise you witnessed that morning, can qualify as this. You can begin to change your attitude and infuse happiness into your life by paying attention to what you have to be grateful for.
Mindfulness is another technique for developing a grateful attitude. Being present at the moment, which is the practice of mindfulness, can enable us to appreciate what we have in life. Being mindful allows us to be more appreciative of the wonderful things in our lives and reduces our propensity to become preoccupied with anxieties and bad thoughts.
We can utilize particular tactics to overcome obstacles in addition to establishing a grateful mindset. One of the best is to use encouraging speech to yourself. It is simple to fall victim to negative emotions and thoughts when we are faced with a challenging scenario. However, we can combat these unfavorable thoughts and maintain our motivation and optimism by talking to ourselves positively. For instance, remind yourself that you are strong and capable and that you will find a way to get through the challenges in your path rather than telling yourself that you can't manage a difficulty.
Finally, it's critical to keep in mind that difficulties are a natural part of life. They offer chances for development and education and can make us more powerful and resilient. Challenges can become opportunities for growth and success if we approach them with gratitude and a positive outlook.
Conclusion
Being grateful is a strong tool that can assist us in overcoming any obstacles that may arise. Having an attitude of gratitude can greatly improve our sense of fulfillment in life and general well-being. This isn't always easy, and like most things requires practice, forgiveness, patience, and diligence to build it into a habit. A Gratitude Journal is a great place to start.
The following links are affiliate links to Amazon for a book I found helpful and a journal that I used as a beginner in the practice of thankfulness.
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