Tag: gratitude

It’s not always easy to find the goodness in life, especially when money is tight and you’re faced with worries about your job or family.

These worries can often cloud your whole mind, bring your mood down, and affect your overall quality of life.

If you feel like you’re being followed by the ominous black cloud of bad luck, then it’s time to find something to be grateful for in your life.

Remind Yourself About What’s Going Right

If you’re plagued by negative thoughts, find a quiet place, grab a pen and paper and make a list of answers to this question: What do I have to be grateful for in my life? 

 Start your list with the most obvious things, your health and family.

Do you have a car?

A home?

Clothes on your back?

Food on the table?

You don’t have to have the fanciest or the most expensive items for you to be grateful.

Even if you buy your clothes at Goodwill, at least you’re clothed and warm.

A used car in good condition will get you to work just as easily as a brand new car.

Don’t forget to give thanks for the small things in life, such as finding the car keys in time to get to work or getting a restful night sleep before an important day.

You can also try to sit quietly in a room and meditate on your life and things you want to improve on.

Appreciating what you already have in life will free you to make the changes you desire.

Being Grateful In Spite of Setbacks

There’s no denying that you will suffer setbacks in life. It’s a fact of life!

While it may be difficult to be grateful during these times, it’s important to remember that good can come from difficult situations.

For example, if you’ve recently lost your job, be grateful for the skills you have.

With your skills, experience, and the knowledge you possess, you may end up finding a more fulfilling job that gives you more money or more responsibility while being closer to home.

As strange as it may sound in the moment of despair, try to be grateful during difficult times because, as one door closes, another opens the way to new opportunities.

After all, you can’t find bright new possibilities in your life if you don’t experience a setback at one point or another.

Be Thankful For Life’s Setbacks

Setbacks are there to challenge you to be better, stronger, faster, and wiser.

The true test of your attitude is to be thankful for the obstacle ahead of you (even if you don’t understand why it exists in the first place), then push forward, stronger than ever.

Why should you be thankful?

Because with each challenge you overcome, you gain the wisdom and courage to succeed the next time around.

And if it weren’t for each and every challenge in your life, you’d never learn and grow!

Being grateful everyday will help you lift that overbearing black cloud that can be so stifling.

You’ll begin realize that life is good and you can make it through anything. After all, good things come to those who wait!

What are you thankful for in life?

How has your countless blessings affected the way you life your life?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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You’ve heard the expression that a little can go a long way, and there’s no exception when it comes to showing your appreciation.

Learning how to express your gratitude will enable you to enjoy improved communication and more fulfilling relationships.

While a grand gesture is always nice and has a time and place, simple gestures are habits that you can add to your everyday routine.

It’s important not to keep all of your love and appreciation stuck inside your head.

Instead, let it out and you’ll give meaning, purpose, and joy to everyone around you!

Try the following simple gestures to express your gratitude:

1. Talk more. Make your thoughts known.

Your simple gestures of appreciation can be at the office, at home, with your kids, with your partner, and more.

When you verbalize how you feel in a positive manner, it can make all the difference in a person’s day. 

If you think of a compliment, give the compliment. It’s simple and it works.

2. Give a card out of the blue. Give friends, family, colleagues, or your partner a sincere card or note.

There’s something extra special about getting a message when you aren’t expecting one. Plus they make nice keepsakes.

3. Go out of your way. Take a moment to think of something you can do each day or every once in awhile that’s above and beyond.

Taking even a small burden off your loved one’s shoulders shows that you care.

For example, if your spouse is usually the one who handles the laundry, surprise them and take care of it.

4. Develop your listening skills. Practice being truly aware of what you’re told when people are speaking to you.

You’ll likely commit certain bits of information to long-term memory.

You’ll be surprised at how happy you can make someone simply because you remembered something they told you.

5. Show affection. When it comes to affection for your loved ones, some simple affection can go a long way.

Bring more hugs and kisses into the relationship. Chances are everyone could use more “I love you’s” in their lives.

6. Consider a handmade gift. When it comes time for gift giving, consider a handmade gift.

It doesn’t have to be something expensive or complex as long as it’s coming from the heart.

These gifts are often the most cherished of all.

7. Cook something. If you’re showing appreciation to your family, plan a special meal one day.

Maybe try something you haven’t tried before, or go for an old family favorite.

If you’re showing appreciation for another group of people, consider bringing them some baked goods.

A cupcake or a brownie just might brighten someone’s day!

8. Always say “Thank You.” You’ve learned to say please and thank you to strangers and the people in your life shouldn’t be an exception.

It’s easy to fall into a pattern where we take others for granted.

Make it a habit to always thank people for anything they’ve done for you, even for simple things like holding the door.

Live a Life of Gratitude

If you continue to live your life in the presence of gratitude, it won’t be difficult to maintain simple gestures of appreciation.

When you concentrate on the needs of the people you love and fight the urge to fall into predictable patterns, you’ll set yourself up for a happy life.

Those around you will always remember your positive gestures!

How do you feel when someone shows they appreciate you?

How can you make someone smile today?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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Gratitude is often a difficult concept to understand and put into practice.

Remember how your parents used to tell you not to waste food because there were starving kids in the world?

That was an elementary attempt at teaching gratitude because the goal was to make you think about how fortunate you were to have food on your plate.

Once children get older and start to understand the concept of gratitude, they’re usually bombarded with commercials and marketing ploys for all the latest, coolest gadgets.

The problem is that all this hype and marketing undermines parents’ desire to teach their children to be happy with what they already have.

And jealousy is especially difficult to battle when children have friends who get whatever they desire.

But if love and gratitude is only expressed through worldly things, there is no depth or deeper meaning since things break down, get old, and stop working at some point.

What Is Gratitude?

If you look in the dictionary you’ll find the definition of gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness; basically, being happy with what you have in life.

Sit and think about all that you have – your home, family, health, food, car, and faith – and then consider those people who don’t have any of those things.

It’s very humbling to realize that there are so many joys we take for granted in our life!

Every Thanksgiving families sit around the dinner table and share what they’re thankful for but this practice shouldn’t be reserved for just one time a year.

Giving regular thanks will help everyone in your family appreciate each other and all they have.

Share your gratitude with your family every night during a family dinner.

Say thanks to the cook, thanks to the cleaner, and thanks for everyone gathered around the table.

Encourage older kids to really think about the little things that happened during the day to find their gratitude.

Enjoy the quiet time together and use the sharing opportunity to open discussions about ways your family can work together as a loving team.

Showing Gratitude Without Envy

Both children and adults are guilty of being envious of other people’s possessions or success at one time or another.

It’s human nature, especially since we see what others have and desire it for ourselves.

If you’re ready to eliminate that jealousy and show genuine gratitude, here are a few reminders for you:

Gratitude can be expressed by doing big and small things. You don’t have to make a huge monetary contribution to express your appreciation.

Simple things, such as writing a thank you note, are just as effective in showing your gratitude for life.

Gratitude must be practiced regularly, even during difficult times.

By doing something small but meaningful each day to show your gratitude, you’re forming an important habit which will last for your lifetime.

Gratitude is not all about money.

Making charitable contributions is wonderful but if you don’t have the money to do that, volunteer your time at a soup kitchen, animal shelter, or other charity that touches your heart.

Your time is just as valuable as money!

Teaching Kids a Life Lesson

Young children generally have a difficult time thinking of the big world around them.

Their worlds are often centered on themselves, their family, school, and activities.

They barely have a concept of another town or state, never mind starving kids in a foreign country.

By engaging in activities as a family, you can show your children the struggles other people face and how their own problems or desires fit into the big picture.

Seeing the children who don’t normally get Christmas gifts will help them appreciate their own possessions more.

Listening to the stories of the people at the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving Day will help them learn compassion for others.

It may not be an instantaneous change, but eventually your kids will be more concerned about people, instead of things.

Things can be replaced, but people are priceless.

After all, without the sacrifices of our parents and the gift of positive relationships, there would be no one to share our things with!

Keep Dreaming Big

Gratitude plays an important role in your own personal growth journey but expressing your gratitude doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams.

If you want to reach a certain career level, go for it. Want a bigger house, save up.

If your child wants the newest electronic toy, let him start learning the value of money.

In doing so, you will begin to appreciate your life journey a whole lot more.

Gratitude helps you see the true joys in everything – big or small.

Just remember that every gift in your life should be a pleasant surprise rather than a desperate or jealous desire.

How do you show gratitude to those you encounter every day?

How do you feel when people show their gratitude for what you have done?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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In his poem, A Poison Tree, the great poet William Blake wrote, “I was angry with my friend.

I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe.

I told it not, my wrath did grow.”

When you suppress your feelings, both positive and negative ones, you’re keeping yourself from being all that you can be.

Not only that but if you internalize your emotions, you are growing into the very same ‘poisoned tree’ that William Blake wrote about.

Don’t Plant the Poison Tree Seed

When you conceal your true feelings, there’s an internal pressure that causes negative emotions like anger, resentment, fear, and hatred to swell up and take on more potential energy within you.

The day always comes when those emotions explode outward because of the pressure.

When this happens you might say things you don’t mean that may cause deep pain to those you love the most.

The possible negative actions and reactions that stem from your suppressed feelings could fill an entire notebook, which is all the more reason to express your feelings peacefully!

By honestly expressing your feelings you can diffuse the negative energy and immediately start feeling more peace within you.

After all, you’ll feel less stress, tension, and anger when all feelings are put out on the table.

Expressing your feelings constructively will help you speak more sensitively and rationally and see the good within others.

Gratitude Goes a Long Way in Expressing Yourself

Now, openly expressing your negative feelings doesn’t mean you should go around putting others down and it also doesn’t mean finger wagging or accusing.

Instead, find a more constructive way to get things off your chest.

You might find it’s best for you to write your feelings down and send them off in an e-mail.

If you have the creative ability, write a poem or a song about your feelings.

Whatever you do, focus on the problem, not the person. After all, we all make mistakes!

If you think you can’t be that open about your feelings, always express what you are thankful for first.

For example, you can start with a positive compliment then gradually express your frustrations.

If you feel like you have nothing to be grateful for, you’re not looking hard enough.

There are plenty of joys within your life that your negative emotions often disguise.

For example, did you have a nourishing breakfast this morning?

Then you have something to be thankful for!

Have you ever had a rewarding conversation with a loved one that made you see them with new eyes?

Then you have something to be thankful for!

Focus on these positive, rewarding experiences first and foremost, then express your feelings openly and honestly.

With an attitude of gratitude for all that you have, you will feel confident in your right to express how you feel.

In his poem, why did Blake readily tell his anger to his friend?

He cared about his friend and was grateful to have him, so he wanted to diffuse his anger right away.

However, when it came to Blake’s foe, he was not so grateful and, instead, suffered greatly as he became a poison tree within his soul.

Remember, your spirit remains within you and affects how you think, feel, and act.

So seek peace within your heart and mind with the power of gratitude!

How can gratitude bring peace and joy in your life?

How can you show your gratitude to someone today?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

What do you have to be thankful for?

Starting your day off with some gratitude affirmations is a great way to remind yourself of all the wonderful things you have in your life.

When you repeat aloud these affirmations of gratitude, you energize yourself and gain the courage to face the day and all of the frictions and adventures it may bring.

Affirming your gratefulness helps you recognize that you can have what you most want and need in order to reap the fulfilling life you deserve.

Joy, money, love, and happiness are yours. You deserve it!

Affirmations are easy to do and they don’t take much time at all.

In just a few minutes you can turbo charge your day better than a rocket-fueled cup of coffee ever could.

By reflecting on your prosperity and abundance you’ll soar above your current highest high!

Gratitude Affirmations and Stress

Once you’ve worked affirmations into your morning (you can say them anytime again throughout the day or night, too) you’ll start to notice that your inner world is much less stressed.

When you have finally let it sink into your subconscious mind that you can have all that you need and desire, your stress will start to slip away.

Your negative reactions are soothed and they slip away.

You can now enjoy peace of mind and a sense of calm that you may never have known before.

12 Highly Effective Affirmations

1. I feel an abundance of gratitude for everything I have and receive every day.

2. My needs and desires are generously met. For this I am thankful.

3. I am grateful for all the great health, love, and goodness that my life has revealed to me.

4. I am continually amazed at how abundant my life is already!

5. I am grateful for everything I experience in this lifetime. I overcome, I grow, and I prosper all the time.

6. My abundant blessings, as well as my difficulties, all make me better, stronger, and more alive.

7. I am so grateful for every person and every thing in my life.

8. I appreciate everything I have and I show my sincerest gratitude to my loved ones.

9. The universe pours joy into my life every day. It has my cup overflowing with wealth, health, and love.

10. My life is singular, unique and wondrous. For this I am profoundly thankful.

11. I clearly see the beauty of life that flourishes around me.

12. I give gratitude for God’s endless treasures. I am grateful for my blessed ancestors living on through my blood.

Using the affirmations above along with your own will help you lead a less stressful and more fulfilling life.

Spending some time with positive affirmations, while appreciating all that you have and all that’s heading your way is one of the easiest “stress relief drugs” you’ll ever take.

Yet, affirmations come with no ill side effects and they’re free. Choose peace in your life by using the power of affirmations and gratitude.

What are ways that you could reach out and offer a helping hand?

How are my conversations filled with love?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!