Our God is the most amazing artist. It reminds me that some will always find fault in everything and in everyone. Seeing the positive in situations is hard for some.
Gratitude is much more than a fleeting “thank you.” It’s a deep appreciation within yourself for the blessings you have been given in your life. Because so much of life is not a guarantee.
When you start to actually count your blessings, you might be surprised at how much you actually have to be thankful for.
This helps to build an abundance mindset. When you call attention and recognize all of the gifts you have been given—Food, water, shelter, family, friends, the ability to create and share your work, the chance to make a living doing what you love—you watch your cup get fuller and fuller.
You aren’t throwing any more gifts on the pile, but you are opening your eyes again to the things you already have and forgot about.
The best part? When the world gets you down and your cup feels empty, all you have to do is remember your blessings, and it fills back up instantly. The mind is incredibly powerful and this creates a way to reframe and shift your perspective.
When we take the time to name the things that we are grateful for, we flip from a negative mentality to a positive mindset. As a result, small successes become celebrations. Losses become lessons. Obstacles become opportunities. All thanks to a change of perspective.
When we are grateful to have someone’s presence in our lives, it shows.
We are kinder to them. We pay them more attention. We listen. We want to help. We follow through on our commitments. And, we want to show them that they can trust and believe in us.
Not only does this deepen the bonds of existing relationships, but new people are drawn to this energy. Like a moth to a flame, this positive energy is contagious because everyone likes to feel appreciated.
The truth? Tomorrow is not a guarantee.
When we take the time to remember how much we have been given in this life, we also have to realize that it could be taken away at any moment. No one wants to look back on life and think, “I should have done that while I had the chance.”
We have to find a way to take advantage of the blessings we have, while we have them. Enjoy it while it lasts, as they say.
A grateful mindset doesn’t always happen overnight. Good habits often take practice and changing our thought patterns takes even more work, but the abundance, motivation, and perspective that gratitude cultivates will make a world of difference in your life.
Don’t just observe the sunrise, experience it and be grateful that you did. You may not get another.