I think that in order to be happy with your life and with yourself, you need to realize the significance of being grateful and appreciating what you have. 

I am grateful to be living in America near amazing Washington D.C. I am also grateful that the cherry blossoms will be blooming next month and plan to go enjoy them!

I am grateful to be living in America near amazing Washington D.C. I am also grateful that the cherry blossoms will be blooming next month and plan to go enjoy them!

According to research done by top American psychologist Bob Emmons, grateful individuals lead happier, more successful lives.  This makes complete sense to me.  I have always realized the importance of gratitude, but hearing about the research Bob did really hit home for me. 

I’ve noticed that women tend to bond through complaining to eachother.  Men do it too– everyone does it, but I think women are really guilty of this.  I hear people whining to each other all the time about things that really are not the end of the world (sometimes they complain about things that they really should be grateful for). 

Example : “Oh my gosh I am so tired.  I don’t know how I’m going to make it through a whole day of work today.  This morning I had to get the kids ready for school and pack their lunches and little Billy has baseball practice tonight and my husband has to work late and I have no idea what I am going to make for dinner.  I guess I’ll pick something up on the drive home.”

Why this person should be grateful: At least her and her husband have jobs right now.  Also, she has a car that works and can get her anywhere she needs to go.  She has a healthy family and a son who is involved in sports which makes him less likely to get in trouble and more likely to maintain good grades in school.  Plus, she has money for food and has the ability to chose whatever she’d like for dinner tonight– Chinese, Italian– whatever!  This is something to look forward to, not dread.

I do it too– I complain.  I talk about how much I have to get done and ramble on and on about what I need to remember and how it’s impossible to fit everything in.  It’s impossible to avoid complaining 100% of the time because it happens without me even realizing it.  Guess what I’m going to work on from now on? :)   I am going to try to complain less and see some of the positive aspects of situations that I normally would see as a completely negative, hopeless situation.  I’m on my way to being a more grateful person and I’m excited to know that with practice, positive thinking can quickly become second-nature. 

I like to think that I’m already a pretty positive person, but it never hurts to get better at anything.

How to do become a more grateful person:

  • Stop comparing yourself to others;
  • Stop comparing what you have to what others have;
  • Reflect at least once a day.  What are you grateful for?  What positive things can you draw from your situation in life right now?;
  • See the good things.  If you are trying to save money and can’t afford to go out as much as you used to, think about the fact that you’ve still got your house and have the ability to get creative and appreciate what matters most– family;
  • Enjoy nature.  The weather is finally starting to get really nice.  Go outside, walk as much as you can, and explore your town on foot instead of by car;
  • Make time for yourself;
  • Let things go.  This is a hard one but it’s really important.  If something bothers you, walk away, breathe and give yourself time to calm down.  Forgive whoever annoyed you and then forget about it.  Life is too short to waste time mad about something as stupid as the neighbor stealing your Sunday paper.  Don’t let anything ruin your day and steal your joy.

…Because being grateful brings great attidue.  Great attidue brings great things…