With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I am reminded of the importance of gratitude in my daily spiritual practice.
During some of the most challenging times in my life, expressing gratitude was the only prayer I could muster up. Finding something to be grateful for can change a person’s perspective and thinking process. It causes us to look beyond the circumstances and see the goodness of life—even if it is just a small thing. Making that small change in what I focus on and how I look at things changes my whole disposition.
Most recently, I struggled through my mother’s death and dealing with my family through it all. Honestly, I have not been on the best terms with my extended family. Because of the influence of my mother these last few years, I have started mending my relationship with some of them. Life is too short, and I never intended to separate myself from them for so long.
But through the death of my mother, I was able to put all the angst aside and be a help and support to my sister, in particular, who has managed my mother’s business as she has declined. Through this process, I noticed that the kinder and more supportive I was to my sister and others involved in her care, the more my heart healed.
Recognizing the Importance of Gratitude
I know that certain circumstances occur in our lives for a reason—if we look for those reasons rather than dwelling on the negativity of the situation. Recognizing the importance of gratitude helped me see that!
During the time I was processing my mother’s death and everything associated with it, a good friend sent me the following list to help me rediscover what I can be grateful for:
These can help to get into a mindset of happiness, gratitude, and abundance.
- What am I grateful for right now?
- What makes me feel happy and content?
- What are some positive aspects of my current situation?
- What recent successes or achievements can I celebrate?
- What do I love most about myself?
- Who are the people in my life that bring me joy and support?
- What activities or hobbies make me feel excited and energized?
- How can I be kind and compassionate to myself today?
- What future experiences am I looking forward to?
- What’s one small thing I can do right now to feel better
These are some excellent questions that will help me recognize the importance of gratitude in my life, especially during stressful times. How about you?