There are lots of things I am grateful for. From my family, to the roof over my head, and having awesome blog readers like you, there are a lot of great people and things in my life. I’m sure you feel the same when you take the time to think about it and make a list. Yet, we often take these positive things for granted. Practicing gratitude has become a bit of a lost art in a world that’s more focused on the future and the negative. Yet, there’s a lot to be said about actively appreciating the positive and living in the present.
But what does all this talk about gratitude have to do with forgiveness? The answer is simple. When we actively take note of everything we are grateful for, it becomes much easier to forgive others. Focusing on what we’re thankful for simply puts us in a much better frame of mind. We start to appreciate what we have and focus on the positive things in our lives. As a result it’s much easier to let go of negativity, including the pain, anger, and need for revenge we may be feeling.
I’m sure you’ve noticed this yourself. When good things happen in our lives, it’s much harder to become down and depressed. It’s harder to be angry, and we’re much quicker to forgive and move on. Why not take advantage of this phase by using gratitude in an intentional way. Think of it as another great tool in your forgiveness toolbox.
One of the easiest ways to get started is to simply count your blessings. Make it a daily habit. After you first wake up in the morning or before you go to sleep at night, think about and give thanks for everything good in your life. It’s a great habit to get into. Not only will it make forgiving a lot easier,
but your mood can only improve when you start to think about the wonderful people, events, and possessions in your life.
I don’t care what your life looks like right now, there’s a lot to be thankful for when you start to look for it. That’s the point of today’s exercise. Dig way down deep and make a list that’s as long as you can possibly make it. Write it out and keep it close by so that you can quickly read over or glance at your gratitude list whenever you need a little mood booster.
ACTION FOR TODAY:
Learn to cultivate gratitude and see these challenges as lessons and not punishments. Gratitude helps us to forgive ourselves and others by reminding us that there is good in life and we are deserving of it.
Write down in your journal ten things you are grateful for in your life.
Write: “I AM GRATEFUL FOR ______.”
