Focusing on gratitude and my faith allows me some space to feel some peace. I have been able to enjoy life without hiding from it while parts of my life (Both of my children now) are struggling. They both matter to me tremendously so in the end it is a struggle for me as well. I will continue trying to practice my gratitude and my faith and pray that this is all temporary and things will get better soon.
I find gratitude quiets that inner critic and opens a space for what is. Some have said the inner critic is just looking out for my best interests, but I haven’t seen much evidence of that. Gratitude softens a hard and often judgmental outlook and opens the door to compassion, warmth and care.
“Don’t wait to be successful at some future point, have a successful relationship with the present moment and be fully present in whatever you are doing. That is success.” Gratefulness connects me to the NOW and I find that is what matters in my life.
Being grateful just makes me feel better, happier & content. When I am practicing gratefulness & making it part of my day, things go better; I feel happier. Focusing on my many blessings is a choice I make daily. However, I do have my moments of “woe is me” & getting upset over things/events I have no control over. It is in those times I make a conscious choice to focus on the good, my blessings are many. ❤️✨🙏🏻
Going through a breakup right now is making it hard for me to focus on the good, I will admit that. However, I think the most important times to practice gratitude are when you are being challenged or going through any sort of sudden change in your life. Taking a step back to see the growth you’ve made can shift your perspective on the situation, even if you cannot see a way through at this point in time. Looking back on how far I’ve come, I feel more gratitude for my journey. I’ve noticed that gratitude and faith are intertwined. Surrendering into gratitude and faith takes some of the weight off and reminds me that everything will be okay even though it’s painful right now, growth is painful. I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learnt in that relationship and I can move forward in peace by recognizing this.
Practicing gratitude is key to bringing
me back to what really matters.
Quieting the voices of overly critical
self judgement and comparison.
When I recognize that my goals are
kindness and being present,
I can shed some of the noise that
clouds my thinking.
Thank you to everyone that thoughtfully
contributes to this amazing resource.
Your wisdom continues to inspire me. 🙏
Thankful to accumulate the pious activities in this life… to carry me over into the next leaving aside the sinful behind.. Tai chi chi Gave me the energy to have a great week !!
May it be so!
There is a saying: we are spiritual beings in a human body. If this is true, gratitude will connect me to the core of what it means to be human and spiritual.
This site and all of you have brought gratitude to the front of my thinking.. When I woke up this morning…I looked out my window and see my peonies are blooming…YAY! and yesterday I had several Iris’s in bloom…my heart sings then. But I admit there have been a few times in my day where my emotions go high and I am anything but grateful (Irish temper!! and Irish memory)…I am going to try- strarting today to let go of that anger when it comes and to STOP and be grateful for all that is. Once again…thank you to this group of fine folks for helping me work on being a better person. God Bless you all today and every day.
I find the longer I practice gratefulness, my need to focus upon it per se has diminished, gratitude for my life is becoming a primary emotion. When an emotion of anxiety, addiction rearing its ugly thoughts, circumstances, and any myriad of feelings that can crop up in a day, by staying in the present and knowing to look at my capability’s, gratefulness takes over. I recall a quote (by whom I have spaced out) that said, “Instead of looking at your glass half full or half empty, be grateful you have a glass”. Thank you all, the good folks who keep this space and all who reflect on these pages.
I’ve said that same thing for a while, Joseph; not sure where I first heard it. I work with a lot of engineers so I know the version that ends in “the glass is the wrong size.” I went looking for sources and found this page on that version, not the grateful one https://quoteinvestigator.com/2022/04/08/wrong-size/. I also found a variation of your statement attributed in a number of places to Sam Lefkowitz: “When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.” The search also led me to a piece by Kristi Nelson on this very site https://grateful.org/resource/its-all-about-the-glass/ with a reminder about the potential for evaporation.
“Being grateful for simply having a glass is key because without it, half of anything wouldn’t matter. Without it, life would either be a puddle or thin air.” – Kristi Nelson
Focusing on gratitude enables me to free my heart from hatred, free my mind from worries, live simply, give more, except less and enjoy every moment….all that matters in my life right now.
For starters, it’s important for me to be fully aware of all the things that do matter most in my life. And once I know that, gratitude for these things falls into place.
Being grateful and thankful help connect me to what matters in my life. By being positive, kind, and focusing on the present help to bring it all together too.
Have a good week everyone. 🙂
Give yourself the gift of free bi-monthly inspiration including uplifting articles, diverse stories, supportive practices, videos, and more, delivered with heart to your inbox.
Focusing on gratitude and my faith allows me some space to feel some peace. I have been able to enjoy life without hiding from it while parts of my life (Both of my children now) are struggling. They both matter to me tremendously so in the end it is a struggle for me as well. I will continue trying to practice my gratitude and my faith and pray that this is all temporary and things will get better soon.
Loving Kindness your way Robin Ann.
In every sense, and to the ones I love and to what matters in my life.
I find gratitude quiets that inner critic and opens a space for what is. Some have said the inner critic is just looking out for my best interests, but I haven’t seen much evidence of that. Gratitude softens a hard and often judgmental outlook and opens the door to compassion, warmth and care.
“Don’t wait to be successful at some future point, have a successful relationship with the present moment and be fully present in whatever you are doing. That is success.” Gratefulness connects me to the NOW and I find that is what matters in my life.
Being grateful just makes me feel better, happier & content. When I am practicing gratefulness & making it part of my day, things go better; I feel happier. Focusing on my many blessings is a choice I make daily. However, I do have my moments of “woe is me” & getting upset over things/events I have no control over. It is in those times I make a conscious choice to focus on the good, my blessings are many. ❤️✨🙏🏻
Going through a breakup right now is making it hard for me to focus on the good, I will admit that. However, I think the most important times to practice gratitude are when you are being challenged or going through any sort of sudden change in your life. Taking a step back to see the growth you’ve made can shift your perspective on the situation, even if you cannot see a way through at this point in time. Looking back on how far I’ve come, I feel more gratitude for my journey. I’ve noticed that gratitude and faith are intertwined. Surrendering into gratitude and faith takes some of the weight off and reminds me that everything will be okay even though it’s painful right now, growth is painful. I am grateful for the lessons I’ve learnt in that relationship and I can move forward in peace by recognizing this.
Nadiah,
Thank you for sharing. I hope you find this site helpful and that it brings you much peace during this difficult time in your life.
Practicing gratitude is key to bringing
me back to what really matters.
Quieting the voices of overly critical
self judgement and comparison.
When I recognize that my goals are
kindness and being present,
I can shed some of the noise that
clouds my thinking.
Thank you to everyone that thoughtfully
contributes to this amazing resource.
Your wisdom continues to inspire me. 🙏
Thankful to accumulate the pious activities in this life… to carry me over into the next leaving aside the sinful behind.. Tai chi chi Gave me the energy to have a great week !!
May it be so!
There is a saying: we are spiritual beings in a human body. If this is true, gratitude will connect me to the core of what it means to be human and spiritual.
This site and all of you have brought gratitude to the front of my thinking.. When I woke up this morning…I looked out my window and see my peonies are blooming…YAY! and yesterday I had several Iris’s in bloom…my heart sings then. But I admit there have been a few times in my day where my emotions go high and I am anything but grateful (Irish temper!! and Irish memory)…I am going to try- strarting today to let go of that anger when it comes and to STOP and be grateful for all that is. Once again…thank you to this group of fine folks for helping me work on being a better person. God Bless you all today and every day.
I find the longer I practice gratefulness, my need to focus upon it per se has diminished, gratitude for my life is becoming a primary emotion. When an emotion of anxiety, addiction rearing its ugly thoughts, circumstances, and any myriad of feelings that can crop up in a day, by staying in the present and knowing to look at my capability’s, gratefulness takes over. I recall a quote (by whom I have spaced out) that said, “Instead of looking at your glass half full or half empty, be grateful you have a glass”. Thank you all, the good folks who keep this space and all who reflect on these pages.
I’ve said that same thing for a while, Joseph; not sure where I first heard it. I work with a lot of engineers so I know the version that ends in “the glass is the wrong size.” I went looking for sources and found this page on that version, not the grateful one https://quoteinvestigator.com/2022/04/08/wrong-size/. I also found a variation of your statement attributed in a number of places to Sam Lefkowitz: “When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup.” The search also led me to a piece by Kristi Nelson on this very site https://grateful.org/resource/its-all-about-the-glass/ with a reminder about the potential for evaporation.
“Being grateful for simply having a glass is key because without it, half of anything wouldn’t matter. Without it, life would either be a puddle or thin air.” – Kristi Nelson
Thank you, Joseph…that is clearly a good one to remember…I have a glass…Thank you for your wisdom!!
Never heard that one before, Joseph. So today, I’m grateful I have a glass. Your sharing are always so helpful. Thank you.
Gratitude reveals the treasures and abundance in my life. It’s a mirror I can hold up that always reflects what matters most.
Focusing on gratitude enables me to free my heart from hatred, free my mind from worries, live simply, give more, except less and enjoy every moment….all that matters in my life right now.
For starters, it’s important for me to be fully aware of all the things that do matter most in my life. And once I know that, gratitude for these things falls into place.
Being grateful and thankful help connect me to what matters in my life. By being positive, kind, and focusing on the present help to bring it all together too.
Have a good week everyone. 🙂
Same to you Michele.