Part of gratitude is being okay where you are with what you have. I know how difficult this can be if you aren't where you want to be. But living life with gratitude is finding a way to be happy where you are right now. It's all about focusing on what you HAVE instead of what you don't. This is it...this is the trick. This is what changed everything for me. The faster you can make this switch, the happier you will be. Making this change includes being able to let go of what you thought things should be. Reconciling that life isn't exactly how you wanted it to be but can still be great.
Do you have some deep rooted resentments about how you were raised? It's time to let them go. You can't go back and change things. What you can do is move forward with how you want to live your life differently. Realizing your happiness is in your hands now and it's up to you to do what it takes to get you there. Some of us have had really awful things happen to us, but stewing in those experiences doesn't help...at all. It keeps us stuck in that experience. What we need to do is find the learning experience and move forward smarter and with purpose.
Did your marriage not work out the way you hoped? This is one that happens often and there is nothing worse than a broken heart. There is nothing more personal. But the best thing you can do is try to extract the learning experience. Ask yourself the really hard questions such as how you may have contributed to the situation in any way. Then move forward, knowing how to do better. At the very least, you know what to look for if trouble pops up again.
Do you keep getting passed over at work for promotions? Are you really the best one for the job? Do you REALLY work harder than everyone else? If the answer is yes, maybe this just isn't the right place for you. Maybe it's time to look for somewhere new. Somewhere that will embrace you and help you shine. Things often don't work out the way we really want them to so we need to take what we have and make the best of it until it can be better.
Are you feeling unhealthy? Do you want to get in better shape and eat healthier foods? Then start. One day at a time, one food group at a time, one activity at a time. You are where you are right now....accept that. Now, it's up to you to change it. My health and fitness journey has come along slowly. That's probably how it is meant to be. I get my workouts in whether I feel like it or not (and I often don't feel like it) because it's important to me to stay flexible and get strong as I get older. I am trying to eat more healthy. I'm eliminating some things and adding others I haven't eaten on a regular basis before. Don't go gung ho though! If you take on too much you will become overwhelmed and give up completely. Maybe you can give up one type of food first and then move on from there. And when I say, give it up...I mean on a regular basis. I never say never to any food. I'm trying to focus on less carbs and more plant based foods but I will never give up bagels and cheeseburgers completely. Here is one more tip. Set up goals in small increments. If you want to lose 50 pounds, that sounds like a long haul. Shoot for 5, then 5 more and so on. It may take you a year to lose 50 pounds but the time will pass anyway so you may as well use it wisely instead of letting it make you feel defeated.
I know all of this is easier said than done. But work on it a little at a time. Small chunks. Tackle one thing at a time. Focus on the what is good in your life instead of concentrating on what you don't have. I promise, life will become a completely different experience if you can do this. But first, we have to let go of what we thought our life would look like. Always be moving toward the life you dream of but let go of any anger or bitterness you may have that things aren't the way you thought they should be at this point. Look forward, not back.
It's hump day! Go out there and have a Wednesday. And remember, I'm always cheering you on!
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