Be grateful for what you have
This topic of the day is an invitation for you to recognize the valuable small things that surround you.
I use to pray and meditate regularly, especially in days when things look difficult. I usually stop and rethink my current tasks and try to put things into perspective. Most problems and afflictions are actually very small when I see how they would appear in 1 year, or even 5 or 10 years. In those moments I take a look around myself and be grateful for all the things I have already achieved and this fills my spirit with motivation to keep going.
One of the most important aspects that you have to take into consideration is if what you are currently doing is aligned with your long term goals and aspirations. If the answer is no, then you need to realign your path as soon as possible and take responsibility for making your life worth it. If the answer is yes, then don’t worry about the small problems that may look big, but which are actually tiny barriers that you can easily overcome when looking at the long run. Life may seem difficult sometimes and every person has their own problems to solve, but also they have loads of gifts and are surrounded by treasures that we don’t recognize when we are submerged in the everyday routine.
For example, our health is probably the most valuable item to care about and be grateful for. Without health, not even possessing millions in your bank account can solve this very fundamental issue. Then, family and friends are around to help, protect, advise, enjoy life together and share special moments and memories that worth the whole experience of living.
You probably are also surrounded by nature (even when living in big cities: just take one hour away of travelling to enjoy it), which offer invaluable moments of joy and happiness. Forests, rivers, waterfalls, the sea, animals and other beings are around and in many cases can be enjoyed basically for free. For sure it’s a better use of time than only staying in front of a TV or surfing the internet.
Another important thing to be grateful for is your free time, and for sure every person has some…even the busiest person. If you don’t see any free time in your schedule is because you are probably wasting your time with something that is not really important (i.e social networks). Of course, you can spend your free time doing whatever you want, but this should also make you feel better and motivate you to be more efficient in order to release more free time. In my case, travelling and doing sports are my favourite free time activities and I do it as often as possible.
One last thing in my list of gratefulness is the personal belongings. They are material items that provide us comfort, social acceptance, fill personal desires and in many cases encourage you to work harder. Although they should not be the main reason for doing things, they can surely be an important driver to keep you on track. Nowadays I am much more aware of what I buy, also checking if that is really relevant to me and how much I can use it. In these times of exacerbated consumption, being conscious about what you buy is a must.
All in all, to be grateful is a state of mind. Perception and an evaluation of your feelings and values are the main parts of this puzzle. Your mind may trick you, especially if you are under influence of the media or misaligned with your higher purposes. Try to be grateful every day for what you currently have and work to achieve what you don’t have yet. The most important things in life can be enjoyed with a low budget (so, money should not be an excuse) or sometimes spending no money (like a prolific conversation with a good friend). You have to choose what you want to do and be responsible for your choices. During this process, discover the beauty of life around you.
