Is it wrong to say I’m grateful for gratitude?
Each month, I take time to reflect on things I’m grateful for. It helps me remember how fortunate I was to get a second chance at life when my little sister Stephanie donated a kidney to me.
When I say I’m grateful for gratitude, I really mean I’m grateful to have learned how powerful gratitude can be. Along with mindfulness and exercise, gratitude is one of the levers I can pull to make me a better person. If I start to feel grumpy, or depressed, or anxious, or resentful, these things help center me. If I act angrily, judgmentally, impatiently or unkindly, these are the things that help me to be the person I want to be.
1) I’m grateful for gratitude
It is impossible to feel resentful and grateful at the same time. Celebrating my kidneyversary as a gratitude birthday is a good start, but sometimes it’s not enough. So whenever I start to feel resentful about something, I try to think of something to be grateful for instead.
2) I’m grateful for mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation is a funny thing. I don’t always feel better when I’m doing it, and sometimes I feel worse. But taking time to focus on the present moment always helps me to be more patient and less anxious for the 24 hours after I do it. Sometimes, I need a 20-minute meditation session; at other times, a few mindful breaths will do the trick. Here’s a post to help you get started with meditation.
3) I’m grateful for exercise
Sometimes when I’m up against a deadline and need to pare back my calendar, I cut out exercise. And whenever I do, it’s a huge mistake. The less I exercise, the more anxious I get with my deadlines, and the less effective I am with getting my most important work done. I don’t always want to exercise, but I always feel better after I do it. So now when I feel stressed about not having enough time, I try to add an extra workout into my calendar instead of cutting it out.
These things are on my mind now because I’m about to go on a family vacation. Because I won’t be on my regular schedule, it’s important that I work these things into my day to avoid becoming impatient, resentful, and controlling with Laura and the boys.
Are there things that help you center yourself? I would love to hear from you. Scroll down and leave a comment below.
INSTANT ACCESS TO GRATITUDE!
Get a free sample chapter from my new book. Read the PDF or listen to the MP3 of "Step 5: Embrace Gratitude"
I couldn’t agree with this more, when faced with health issues it’s so easy to focus on the negative aspects (human nature and all) but when I start to go there I start to think about the enormous gratitude that has come with it. My doctors who saved my life, my family who never leave, my illness for teaching me a resilience I never imagined I could have. Gratitude is so important👏🏻