Sometimes gratitude is a glitch. It is easy to be grateful when the sun is shining, when our dreams are coming true, when the world seems to be unfolding at our feet. But the challenge of gratitude comes with a glitch. Are we grateful when we prick our finger on the thorn of a rose? When our perfect plan goes awry? When all doors seem to be closing on us? When we lose at love? How can we be grateful during sad times as well as happy one?
Life is not always easy. We all know that. How we choose the way we think, feel, and act in relation to life's challenge can often make the different between hope vs despair, optimism vs frustation, and victory vs defeat. Every moment we are alive we can make new choice that help us move and step toward for a better future. Sometimes we just cannot find our smile.
Gratitude is an attitude, not a feeling that can be easily willed. Even if you are not satisfied with your life as it is today. If you go through grateful motions, the emotion of gratitude should be triggered. It is like improving your posture and as a result becoming more energetic and self confident. Here is simple plan to open the door to more happiness in your life.
- Smiles: begin and end your day with a smile. Find something that will bring a smile to your face.
- Gratitude visits: make an unexpected visit to someone who needs you and if you cannot go in person, send a little thought gift.
- The words "thank you": often during the day we take little kindnesses for granted.
- Thank you notes: find a place in your home to turn a table into a gratitude desk.
