Gratitude to the Rescue

I've been focusing on gratitude all month.  Partially because the Thanksgiving season is a perfect time to reflect on the gifts we have in our lives.  Partially because I have been having a hard time coming to terms with the reality of my life as compared to where I think it should be.

I know that having a little emotional crisis is not the normal reason people turn to gratitude.  However, I find that taking the time to focus on what I am thankful for forces me to let go of anxiety over things I generally cannot control.

During the last year, I have been consciously practicing the art of gratitude every day.  I don't think I've missed a single day, though I haven't been tracking that as a task in my imaginary planner.  Taking time at least once a day to consider what I have in my life (as opposed to what I wish I had or what I think I should have) keeps me grounded.  It connects me to God and keeps me humble.

Considering the alternatives, which include anxiety, sleeplessness, tears, fits of temper, regret... giving praise to God for the things I'm grateful for seems to be a pretty simple choice.  Though, I admit, it's not always easy because I'm human.  I'm stubborn.  I occasionally feel like being a straight up grump just because I feel like it's my right.

Even knowing full well that it won't ease my discomfort, it is often easier to go with the flow when things are not going as I wish.  It is harder to take the gratitude path because it is going against the flow of my emotions.  Choosing gratitude in the face of not having my way is a conscious choice to change direction and relinquish control of my emotional view of the situation at hand.

I'm just an average woman trying to make my way in the world.  I've learned an unexpected lesson from consciously choosing to be grateful.  I've learned that blessings flow out of appreciation for what is rather than what I want.  My understanding of this was serendipitous, but that makes it no less valuable than if I went looking for it.

Peace.


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