How Gratitude Will Change Your Life - Page 15

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Did you know that happiness is directly related to how grateful you are for the things that you have? If someone has everything you could dream of—a private airplane, personal stylists, an at-home masseuse, a personal chef—but isn’t grateful for those things, she doesn’t really have anything does she? What good is the having of something if you don’t feel the joy you can take from it? On the flip side, someone who has comparatively little to that wealthy person just described, but is full of gratitude, has everything. Maybe that’s why some of the happiest countries in the world are, actually, not the wealthiest. Maybe that’s why you’re surprised to find that the person with the job you’d hate to have—the janitor at your office or the cashier at your fast food spot—is happier than you are. It’s not about what they have; it’s about what they feel about what they have. Here’s how life changes when you become grateful

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You’re not eating boring food; you’re eating

You stop wishing you could afford to eat at restaurants several nights a week or order delivery. You stop wishing you could shop at the gourmet grocery store. You realize how lucky you are to get to walk into any store, and buy food. You never have to worry about eating when you’re hungry.

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You don’t have a whatever job; you have a job

Your job may not be glamorous but you know who’d love to have it? The unemployed. Be ambitious and strive for more, of course, but don’t look down on your job. When you remember you’re paid enough to cover your bills and you work in a pleasant, humane environment and that some people don’t, your feelings change.

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Your apartment doesn’t suck; you have a home

Sure your friend has a luxury condo and you have a quirky old apartment with some weird smells. But you have your own bedroom, your own bathroom, and your own kitchen. And you don’t feel that your safety is threatened every day.

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This vacation isn’t sub-par; you’re on vacation

You’re not staying at the five-star hotel. Alright. But you are on vacation. You have enough disposable income to go on a vacation and experience what it’s like to not have to worry about working for a few days. Some people never get that.

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Your body isn’t imperfect; you have good health

You may obsess over having a flat tummy but if you were bedridden for the rest of your life you’d obsess over being able to walk. So how about you obsess over being able to walk now, when you can, and realize how lucky you are to have your health.

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You don’t have a low-sex relationship; you have a best friend

Your sex life has waned. It happens. But you still have sex sometimes and are physically affectionate right? And your partner is caring and giving and considerate? Remember how much single you would have done anything for this?

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You don’t have an overbearing mom; you have a caring mom

Stop being bothered that your mom is overbearing and be grateful that she cares about your life. It’s actually kind of nice to have someone for whom you’re the main event of her day.

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You don’t have a messed up family; you have lessons

Don’t lament over what happened in your family. Stop wishing you had a perfect family—nobody does. Realize that your family taught you important lessons about who you wanted to be, or perhaps who you didn’t want to be. Either way, you wouldn’t be you without them.

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You aren’t behind on your goals; you’re free to chase them

Stop seeing yourself as behind on your goals. See yourself as lucky to have the freedom to pursue them. You live in a country and have a lifestyle that affords you the freedom to pursue your dreams.

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You aren’t at the low-rent spa; you get to go to a spa

Okay so you have to go to spas that are on Groupon and movie theaters that are offering promotions. At least you can afford to do recreational activities. Some people never can because they have to work 18-hour days and don’t even make enough money.

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You aren’t tired and cranky; you’re glad to be alive

Next time you’re feeling sorry for yourself for being a bit tired, try to remember how lucky you are to be alive. It’s better to be here, walking around a bit tired than…not.

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You don’t have a crappy car; you have transportation

Does your car get you from point A to point B? Are you at the mercy of bus schedules? Do you have to ride crammed subways with people who scare you? These are important questions to ask yourself before sh*tting on your car next time.

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You aren’t a victim; you can go out and help people

Your friends don’t offer to help you enough. People don’t ask enough about you. Turn it around: do you help others enough? Make that your focus. You’re strong and healthy enough to help people who need it. Just think about that.

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You aren’t a little sad; you have your mental health

Sometimes you feel sad or angry or depressed. Those feelings aren’t good, but they are the reactions of a healthy mind. You have your mental health so sometimes, you feel bad when it’s appropriate. At least you’re stable.