Gratitude: Why We Need It.
I know it seems like I talk about gratitude a lot. There could be a reason for that. Gratefulness is the foundation of living a happier life.
A few weeks ago I did a blog 100 Gratitudes where I asked you to list 100 things you were grateful for. I also released a Kindle book Gratitude: How to Live with Joy and Gratefulness. I often share my gratitude on my Creative U Facebook page. I do all of that as a reminder to all of us to be grateful.
Sometimes we get so bogged down in our day to day life that we forget to be grateful for what we have. We focus all our attention on lack. Our brains are hardwired to justify our thoughts, so when we spend our time only thinking about lack, that is where we stay in life.
When we can focus more on what we have, we get more of that. So, that means the more energy you put into being grateful the more things you will get to be grateful for.
Excerpt from my Book Gratitude: How to Live with Joy and Gratefulness
The Opposite of Gratefulness
Looking at some of the opposites of gratefulness can help us better understand exactly what it is.
The opposite of gratefulness is:
- Complaining
- Discontentment
- Envy
- Anger
- Frustration
- Thanklessness
- Unhappiness
The good news is that you can’t simultaneously be grateful and be in any of the states just mentioned. You could say that gratefulness is exclusive. It expands and doesn’t make room for anything else.
When you’re grateful, you simply don’t have space to complain or be angry or frustrated. You only have room for gratefulness.
Isn’t that a beautiful thing?
Wouldn’t you rather be filled with gratefulness than with envy, anger, or discontentment?
If so, then you must set out a life of gratitude.
The good news is, you are in control, you can change your thoughts. Start today. Every day list 5 things you are grateful for, 5 minutes first thing in the morning or last thing at night. You can even state 5 things you are grateful for when a negative thought enters your mind.It is a great way to clear away the negativity.
Eg: You're angry that your coworker did not meet a deadline.
- I am grateful to have a job.
- I am grateful that I completed my part on time.
- I am grateful that this is not life threatening.
- I am grateful that this coworker makes me laugh.
- I am grateful that most of my coworkers meet deadlines.
It is about shifting where we put our energy. We could argue any of these points (5 gratitude's above), but what does that get us? If we say “I am grateful that this is not life threatening” you could get caught up in a thought ‘but it may be job threatening’… But, is it? Any time those negative thoughts jump in, turn it around.
You can even take those negative thoughts one step further and dig into why things bother you the way they do. But, let's start with gratitude for now.
I challenge you to post your gratitude on the Creative U Facebook page. Gratitude begets gratitude, and when you share your positive outlook, others feel more positive. Let’s share that instead of our complaints.
Have an Amazingly Creative Day,
Larissa
PS. You can purchase the Kindle book here for only $2.99
