You and I have had some bad days. Some very bad days. Yes, life can be unfair. But stewing about it gets us nowhere. Do you want to dwell about it and live in the past? I sure don’t.
And you know what? EVERYONE has bad days. EVERYONE has been through something awful. EVERYONE has setbacks. And if they haven’t, they will. It’s called life. I don’t care what they are posting on social media. Most of it is only the good stuff because that’s all they want you to see. Speaking of which, I suggest staying off social media if you are feeling worrisome, upset, or angry. It will only bring on more angst. Trust me. After all, we are human.
Just as such, you and I also have had many wonderful days! So many happy days filled with fun and laughter, joy and wonder, many times being surrounded by family and friends.
In between the fabulous days and the terrible days are the ordinary days. They are wedged in there in what I like to call the peaks and valleys of life. What I’ve learned is that if we look close enough, if we pay attention, if we silence all the chaos around us, there are beautiful moments in those ordinary days. I promise to you, they exist!
How do we get there? What I’m about to describe has really helped me. Ready to learn more?
At the end of each night as I lay down in my cozy bed surrounded by my dogs, I reflect on my day and come up with at least 3 things I am grateful for in that day. More often than not, there are way more than 3! They pop into my mind without much effort at all. That’s because there is joy in each and every day! Result? I fall asleep feeling grateful. It really is that simple.
Now if you are thinking of huge magical monumental moments, well those exist but not often or else they wouldn’t be so huge and magical. But in the ordinary days of life, it’s the small joys that we should be grateful for. We just have to pay attention and absorb them in. They are there.
Now I get it. This might be hard to do during the first holiday season, but it gets easier with time. It is definitely doable.
So just lay down and breathe. Feel your heartbeat. I see you – the loss, the disappointments, breakups, heartaches, the no’s. Just breathe. Slowly, let your mind and body relax. Think of your day.
Were you able to spend time with a friend today? Did you get to enjoy a delicious meal? Did you feel the effects of someone’s prayer for you? What about nature – were you able to get outside for a walk or jog and see flowers, trees, or perhaps a beautiful sky? Did you get to experience a kind gesture from a stranger? If you have kids, maybe something awesome happened to them today. Did a mysterious red cardinal fly in your path?
What happens to your mind and body when you do this? For me, I am able to fall asleep feeling content and at peace. It brings a sense of calm as I drift off. Yes, the end goal is to be able to feel grateful each and every day. Does it happen overnight? No. But don’t focus on the end result. Instead, think action or the behavior. All the actions or behaviors will lead to your goal. So if you go to bed every night realizing those joyful moments, slowly but surely you will embody the concept of being grateful.
What I’ve learned is that many people ignore those small tender moments. Those moments just fleetingly go by without any acknowledgement. Just last night, as my head hit the pillow, I told myself: 1) I enjoyed taking my dogs for a walk today. 2) A friend surprisingly dropped off a gift for my son. She saw something at the store that she thought he had to have! 3) The kindness of the staff at the place where I took my car in for service. 4) Having a nice dinner together with my son. 5) A nice text from a long-time friend.
See, that’s 5! I could have gone on! It’s easy to acknowledge only 3 things in your day to be grateful for. Again, not every day is a good day but pay attention and you’ll notice the good in every single day. Even in the darkest of moments, there is opportunity.
So right now, decide that you are going to choose gratitude in the peaks and valleys of life. Once you commit to this mindset, you have already succeeded. Wishing you sweet dreams