A Great Idea …
“Expressing gratitude during personal adversity like loss or chronic illness, as hard as that might be, can help you adjust, move on, and perhaps begin anew. Although it may be challenging to celebrate your blessings at moments when they seem least apparent to you, it may be the most important thing that you can do.” (Sonja Lyubomirsky, in her book, The How of Happiness, p. 93)
In Other Words …
When negative things happen in our lives, it is easy to get flooded by them. We get bogged down and don’t see the positives in our lives. When we find even small things in our lives in the midst of troubles, the gratitude will help us to cope and move past the negative things that can seem overwhelming.
How this Applies to You …
The next time you are hit by some bad news, take a deep breath. See if you can find something to be grateful for, no matter how small it may be. It might be the air in your lungs or the sun on your face. When you take time to be grateful for the small things, it makes the negative things more manageable.
To Find Out More …
For excellent (and free!) programs on improving your personal well being, check out The Personal Journey and Managing Stress at www.arfamilies.org.
For further reading, we recommend The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky or Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman.
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