Using the Power of Gratitude to Level Up Your Life.

Being #grateful 100% of the time might not seem possible, futile even. But, like oxygen, you are often unaware that it is present in your life without you even being consciously aware of it. How does one even attempt full-time #gratitude? Is it feasible? Realistic?

My answer to the last two questions is a resounding "Yes!" as I adopted the practice some years ago. I came to the realization that in order to be fully #grateful, I must practice it full time. After all, my life is full time and I couldn't see how I could possibly be #grateful for only part of my life. I had to be 'all in' or not at all.

For a long time, this caused me some degree of deep introspection. How could I possibly manage #gratitude towards bullies? Job loss? Financial woes? Lost relationships? Mechanical breakdowns in heavy traffic? Pouring rain during my vacation?

Having a fairly voracious appetite for reading, I studied hundreds of "successful" people and how they dealt with their problems. Over time, I accepted and rejected information I thought was relevant to me and my own outlook on life based on my environmental, cultural and educational background.

It became obvious that some things work, while other things do not. Not everyone is the same, not every situation is the same but some things ARE. And they are worth taking a look at.

One of my first building blocks was accepting that whatever problems I had in life were easy to fix if I identified the source of the problem, and then accepting the accountability and responsibility to fix it. Invariably, a simple trip to a mirror gave me a great look at the source of the problem. As most difficulties we face are variations of difficulties all humans have encountered, it doesn't take long to figure out HOW to solve the problem. Magically, once you start working on it the SIZE of the problem shrinks dramatically!

Having chosen a positive approach to life at a relatively young age, I equated positivism with problem solving. Not so. Positivity merely makes problem solving easier to deal with, it doesn't downsize any problem, only the appearance of it being less frightening.

Positivity is not an antidote to suffering. We must allow ourselves to suffer.

But how do you find #gratitude in suffering?

Is it possible? Is it necessary?

I will try to answer these questions in next week's newsletter.

Until then, understand that you are an exceptionally valuable being, having been granted an extraordinary life to share with others, and have an abundance of opportunities and unimaginable wealth waiting for you if you choose to claim it. There are treasures waiting for you.

I'm looking forward to sharing more next week!