Every life has its challenges, some more than others. Each person is tasked with a purpose for their life and depending on what it is, how they approach it, and the circumstances of their day to day lives the challenges may be easy or they may be truly difficult.
I was always told that people who are trying to do good things will have a harder time than those who aren’t all that passionate about good. That may or may not be true. My opinion is not so much about how passionate you are, but more how you react to the challenges that come your way.
When you have challenging times, how do you react? Do you say thank you for the challenge? Most people, if they are answering honestly will say absolutely not. Do you want to know a secret? If you learn to say thank you for your challenges, they get a whole lot easier. Here are a few ideas:
Search for the positive.
You may be going through a stressful or difficult period in your life, but it shouldn’t stop you from seeing positive things.
What are the positive areas in your life that aren’t being affected by your current challenges? Do you still have your home and health? Do you still have a job that provides for your family?
By focusing on the positive aspects of your life, you’ll find areas in which you can still feel thankful.
Treasure the little things.
It’s easy to lose sight of the small details if you’re overwhelmed by a difficult situation at home or at work. However, if you learn to find the gratitude in the tiniest of details, you’ll welcome gratitude back into other areas of your life.
Are you happy with a new paint color at home? Are you proud of a small project at work? Did you finally finish a reading long book? These small details can make a big difference in your gratitude levels.
Take time to express your appreciation for the little things by making a list of all the little things you are grateful about.
Search for humor.
It’s important to add smiling and laughing to your daily schedule. Watch a comedy, read a comic book, or share jokes with friends. Add laughter to your routine. If you don’t think you have anything to laugh or smile about, give Laughter Yoga a try.
Laughter can help you appreciate the areas that need gratitude in your life and can help you feel greater appreciation toward your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.
Put your challenges in perspective.
Make it a point to avoid getting lost in the negative emotions of your challenges by looking at others. If you can put your challenge in perspective, you’ll discover that there are some people who seem to have no challenges and there are many more that have challenges you you would never want to face.
We are equipped to deal with what comes along in our life – not what is happening in the life of someone else. If you’re worried about your house, job, or health, think about those who have even less. Know that everyone faces difficult challenges at one time or another. You may or may not see them, but I assure you they are there. You’re not alone, and you can still feel grateful for your life and your blessings.
Understand the power of change.
Change is a regular part of existence, but when you’re struggling, you might feel as if your life will never change, or sometimes that it will never stop changing long enough to catch you breath.
Remind yourself that changes occur all the time, and every change comes with a lesson that can make things better or worse. It’s up to you and the way you handle the change. It can lead to negativity and complaints, or it can lead to growth and gratitude.
You can show your gratitude by recognizing that changes occur and can lead to better things. If you feel trapped and stagnant, keep in mind that a transformation is on its way. It may take time, friends, effort, and perseverance, but you’ll get past your situation and if you practice gratitude along the way, the journey will be ever so much easier.
Your ability to find gratitude doesn’t have to be limited during challenges. Search for the positive areas in your life, even if you struggle in other areas. Remember that you’re not alone and that everything changes. Most importantly, remind yourself that change is always a teacher, so get what you can from it to make your life a little better. Soon, you’ll find yourself feeling the gratitude that you seem to have lost.
Find your purpose – find your joy!
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Did you find a few more ideas of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
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