Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Blog is Back!

Two years ago I had to discontinue my blog posts to go back to full time work, and take care of my husband, Lynn.  I am still caring for Lynn, but I am no longer working away from home.  During that time I also worked on updating my book, Gratitude's Transcending Power.  I've added some new stories, and discovered some great research that highlights the benefits of making gratitude a part of our very being.  As an additional help to myself and my readers, I am again writing my gratitude blog.  I hope you will enjoy the posts!

I will be answering some frequently asked questions concerning gratitude.  If you have a question, please feel free to ask it in the Comments section, and I will do my best to respond.  PLEASE, tell your friends and family about AllThingsGratitude.blogspot.com.   Their questions and observations, and yours, about gratitude are always welcome.

Today's Post:


Why should I be grateful when life is so hard?
Being grateful is a many-dimensional thing.  It’s not just saying “thank-you” or remembering to send a note to someone for his kindness.  It is really a way of relating to the world around us, and that relationship can transform us into a person who is able to take life’s setbacks in stride, see beyond the obvious, and find reasons for hope and joy.



Gratitude is an attribute of POWER.  Not the kind of power that flaunts itself to control others, but the kind of power that exerts itself to lift the spirit and elevate a person’s outlook on life.   When gratitude becomes the lens through which we see life we find that we can be grateful in circumstances that are less than optimal.  How does this occur?   True gratitude allows us to see the benefits of our situation.  Those benefits may only be that we are learning greater patience, self-control, or compassion.  They may be that we are experiencing things we have never experienced before.   Even a very difficult situation, examined through the eyes of gratitude, will always yield some lesson or blessing of value.



Gratitude is a life changer and a life enhancer.  In fact, it changes US.  We find ourselves becoming more sensitive and appreciative of little things, as well as big things.  We see the value of people and delight in the accomplishments of others.  We learn that nothing is dull or boring because it contains reasons for appreciation and joy.   While life will still present difficulties, we will have a more balanced outlook regarding all that is transpiring in our world.



“[Gratitude] turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
--Melody Beattie

4 comments:

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    1. Thank you, Anonymous. Please tell your friends and family. Gratitude can make a profound difference in the way we view life, people, challenges, and opportunities. I know it has made that kind of difference in my life, and I look forward to helping others become aware of the difference it can make in theirs!

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  2. So grateful for your marvelous, uplifting posts! They always bring strength to my daily outlook on life because they are inspiring and provide sweet, tender counsel regarding life's daily perplexities! Those perplexities become strengths and experiences of growth when we express verbally and by our actions, gratitude for life itself and the generous love of a caring Heavenly Father and Savior. Your book and your writings and musings always bring me strength. God bless you and your sweet family, my dear friend! Jim Rawson

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    1. Thank you, Jim. The only thing better than the strength I get from actively seeking the positive is knowing that the things I share are also a strength to others. Your comment is much appreciated!

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