Inspiring Stories

Why Being Grateful Can Change Your Life

gratitude

Life may be unfair sometimes that you begin to whine about the unpleasantness that you encounter on a daily basis. However, when you practice gratitude, you will begin to realize that life can be better if we only view it from a more positive perspective.

Practicing gratitude offers a number of benefits because it brings clarity and balance. While everyone cannot be immune to stressful situations, finding a way to practice gratitude can help us shift our attention to things that are more positive.

No matter the challenges, we still need to be thankful because they play an important role in our lives. You can make positive choices by just practicing gratitude. You live a much happier life and you become more open to challenges ahead of you because you know you can surpass them. When wonderful things are happening to you do not forget to be grateful for them.

Gratitude Brings Balance and Clarity

When I practice gratitude, it helps to bring things into balance and helps me to remember that regardless of the circumstances that I am experiencing; there is always something for which to be grateful.

A while back, things were not that great in our lives.  My partner’s dad received a diagnosed of stomach cancer and this caused us much stress.  It came as quite a shock for the whole family.  He was eighty years old and had good health throughout his life.  It was very stressful to come to terms with this news, to deal with it and to see him processing the meaning and consequences, understand the diagnosis, endure endless tests, and discuss with doctors what treatment options were available.

Personally, I have very strong feelings about this disease because on my mom’s side most of my family have died of cancer.  Immediately after you receive a diagnosis like this, you think the very worst.  Your mind takes you to places that are very dark as there is much fear associated with cancer.

However, by practicing gratitude I am able to view with clarity the many paths I have walked in my life, I am able to be grateful for how far I have come and this keeps my life in balance.  The drama of the moment does not suck me in, but somehow gratitude allows me to maintain my balance, even though it feels like I am walking a tightrope.

Gratitude Allows Us to Make Positive Choices

What I constantly reminded myself of was that regardless of what happened, regardless of what the outcome would be I would choose to give thanks.  For my life, this is a very positive choice, as it then enables me to make other powerful, positive choices.

We had just left the hospital where he had a whole barrage of tests lasting last two days.  I saw how depressed he was trying to deal with the news.  As I was driving back home I began thinking of the many things I had to be grateful for in the situation.  I was grateful that according to the doctors they have found this cancer early, he was in stage 2B.  I was grateful that we have good medical care here in Germany.  I was grateful that we have a strong family unit and that everyone rallies around and helps.  I was grateful that we would learn new lessons through the situation and that life would continue to unfold and teach us many things…

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Source: Inspired For Life Coaching