Thursday, November 24, 2016

How to Feel Grateful...When You Just Can't


I hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving! The past few days I've been watching videos about the power of gratitude. I didn't seek them out, but they were recommended to me on YouTube, and it was just a coincidence that I happened to view them a few days before Thanksgiving.

Everything I read and watch on the subject stresses the importance of having an "attitude of gratitude." I even watched one video by a doctor and author that claims his team has measured the energy emitted from a human body when that person is in a state of gratitude and how this helps magnetize more positive experiences to us. But what if, no matter how hard you try, you just can't muster up the feelings of being grateful? I've been there myself -- sometimes, if you're down or if something is bothering you, you may be so absorbed in your sadness that you just don't feel like trying. 

That's when it may be helpful to remind yourself of this: someone always has it worse than you.

I don't mean to sounds negative or to evoke feelings of schadenfreude by someone else's misery. I'm saying sometimes it helps to put things into perspective. 

For example, my mother was feeling a little down this Thanksgiving. She has some health issues and has a hard time walking up the stairs, and walking in general. 

However, my niece informed us today that her other grandmother has COPD from decades of smoking, diabetes, and other health problems that are far worse than my mother's. 

It's not that anyone enjoys hearing about someone else's problems, but sometimes it does make us realize how lucky we are to have what we have compared to other people. 

I may not quite be living the life I want to -- yet. I want to have my own home and my own life being married to someone wonderful. I never expected to be pushing my mid-40s and still living with my mother. I'm still a little unsure sometimes about the future of my job situation and what I truly want to be doing the rest of my life. 

But it could be worse. I could have health problems, or I could be in debt. Luckily and thankfully, I'm healthy and I have zero debt other than the recurring charges to my credit card each month for my Sirius and Photoshop subscriptions. 

I remember I blogged on here last Thanksgiving. I was not in a good place that day. We didn't have anyone over for family because they all had their own plans and I was still hurting from things that happened in 2015. I wasn't in a place where I was thinking in terms of abundance on a consistent basis. 

This Thanksgiving was different and a lot more positive. I'm grateful that we did get to see some family this year, and that we had a great time. And even though I haven't manifested the right guy and right job yet, I'm feeling a lot more positive about both areas of my life. 

And yes, someone does have it worse. Someone may actually be in a relationship, but not very happy with it and their partner. Someone could have a job but it's the wrong job and a very stressful one. There are a lot of people that struggle with the holiday season from losing a loved one or dealing with an illness. Knock on wood we're still doing quite well. 

It does indeed help me feel gratitude and works on those days where I have struggled. 

Here's hoping all of you had plenty to be thankful about on the holiday, and every day!

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