Everyday life comes with a variety of problems we need to deal with – relationship issues, health issues or financial issues. That’s no surprise. But it’s how we look at those issues or problems in the context of our entire life that makes a difference as to how big we let those problems become.
It’s all relative.
I remember seeing a funny cartoon where one character was excited about a pile of blessings, saying “Look! Look! Look at all these blessings!” and the second character replied “Can’t you see I’m busy!” as he was looking at a tiny problem through a magnifying glass.
And that’s how we can all get sometimes. Our lives will be full of wonderful things – people, events and special moments, and yet, we’ll not recognise any of those because we are so focused on the one thing that isn’t going so well.
It can be challenging to rise up above a problem and to look at the bigger picture of our lives. But we can do it. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to do it, but it can be done.
How? By, on purpose, choosing to find things we are grateful for.
In any given moment when our focus is on gratitude, there is no space for negative emotions to exist. So, the more of these grateful moments we can create, the less time and space will be available to focus on the negative things going on in our lives.
Taking a moment to step out of our problems and focus on what’s good in our lives also helps put the problem in perspective. Think of it as a chapter in a book. Having to work through a difficult period in our life is simply a chapter. Our life – the whole story – is the book.
We can choose what to focus on.
A good practice to incorporate at the end of your day is to take a moment to think of and acknowledge something that you are grateful for and write it down. Consider keeping a gratitude journal or gratitude jar by your bedside.
Don’t go to bed thinking about what’s wrong in your life. That’s not exactly conducive to a good night’s sleep!
Make that last conscious thought at day’s end be a positive one and tip the balance in favour of what’s good in your life.
