We often talk to people who had bad home lives while they were children. They have understandable reasons to be angry or hurt about their past.
Their past can be a burden to them for all of their lives or they can change their point of view and be grateful for the moments of goodness that they experienced. Some people had loving grandparents who filled the gaps … or teachers who gave them extra attention …. or churches that gave them hope and friendships.
Be grateful for the good parts of your past.
My unhappiness to often tied to my focus on a negative aspect of my life - a financial difficulty, a harsh boss, a health problem, conflicts with my spouse …..
We all have bad things going on around us. I can choose to let those negative factors dominate my thinking or I can CHOOSE to focus on all the good in my life.
I have to be intentional with my point of view. God has given each of us good times, good people, and most of all - Him.
When I focus on the negative instead of the blessings, I am ungrateful and take the good for granted. I believe I deserve more than I have, life (God) owes me more, or I am not getting my fair share in life.
A deliberate choice to be grateful changes my point of view, my happiness for today, and my hope for the future.
Start Here ….
Start here and start now. Make it a part of your life everyday.
Start here and start now. Make it a part of your life everyday.
- Look for good things (specific incidents) that happen to you each day and write them down; start a gratitude journal. Maybe it was a kind word spoken to you or a beautiful sunrise or hug from a child/grandchild.
- Read God’s Word and underline or record God’s gifts to you, descriptions of His goodness, and His promises to the Church. Praise Him for His goodness. Thank Him for His work.
- Think about each decade of your life. Pick out a happy memory or someone who showed love to you. Write a description of that time or that person. If the people iare still alive, write thank you’s.
- Single out a negative event in your past and write about something good that came from that event.
