Relearning The Art Of Being Grateful

I've been through a lot of things that my conscious mind likes to repress. That being said, it is easy for my mind to drift into a depressive funk. For years, the only way to battle my negative thoughts and memories were the loathsome tasks of putting myself to bed early, distracting myself, or staring at a wall. It was easier to stare at a wall and think of nothing, than deal with negative obsessive thoughts. 2020 negatively impacting everyone around me did little to help the situation. If I was not in a bad mood, the first person I came across usually was. My day might start okay, but it took less than an hour at work for someone to come ruin it.

I wanted more positives in my life. But the news, people, and my surroundings seemed to just promote more negativity. The information the internet provided became my best friend and worst enemy at the same time. Something I was reminded of was the "grateful list". The idea where you think of a few things to be grateful for daily to boost your mood. I decided to try it. Anything to escape from the negativity surrounding me was welcome at that point.

I started with simple things, my surroundings. My freezer sometimes leaked, but it still kept things cold. A small kitchen towel hid the leak quite well. I was grateful my freezer did not need to be replaced yet. I saw the little flaws in everything I looked at. Simultaneously, I realized I should be grateful none of the appliances were due for a replacement. Sure my dryer had rust spots, but the clothes always managed to dry just fine. My toilets flushed. The simple things to be grateful for started to flood my thoughts. The stupidity and simplicity of it made me laugh. Laughing was something I had not done in a while. I took it as a positive sign.

Every night, before I went to bed, I would list just five simple things I was grateful for. I often started with the same things. Over time, those simple lists sparked more grateful thoughts. This little "grateful" gimmick has become a positive mind ninja. Negatives in my life started to be contradicted with positives. Even painful memories are now trespassed by random ninja thoughts about being grateful that I am no longer in those situations. The habit of feeling grateful on an ongoing basis has made me enjoy my present situation much more. I find myself being grateful for many of the things I used to complain about.

This habit has made quite a positive impact on my thought process. Hopefully you can adapt it as a positive routine in your future as well. After all, a patched roof, an old toilet, a leaky fridge, a rusty dryer, and chipped cabinets may seem silly things to be grateful for, but all are fully functioning reminders to be grateful.

If you need help getting started, simply look around. You can easily find things to list just by finding ten things you use everyday. The fact that the items still work is something to feel grateful for.