Giving Thanks

byCashPro

588 followers

13 years ago

As this is Thanksgiving Weekend here in Canada, I’ve been thinking about what I’m thankful for. And to be honest, there’s a lot. But, like Christmas, or Sunday mass, it’s sort of a shame many of us buttonhole our gratitude into such infrequent instances.

Throughout the day, especially for those of us who are very busy, we can find countless situations to irritate us. Traffic, competition at work, lack of communication with others, or laziness on the part of those we depend on; the list of things that ‘get under our skins’ is seemingly endless.

Frederick Nietzsche’s entirely overused quote, “That which does not kill me makes me stronger,” is always relevant, but often not considered in the face of adversity. When we are upset it’s difficult to see what advantages we could be receiving from our 'less favourable' moments.

Let’s take a look at some unpleasant circumstances, and how we can get the best out of them:

• · “I lost my job.” This is obvious. Something either in you or the universe has had it up to here with your position in that employment, and has forced you to make corrections. The best first thought you could have would be of the gratitude you feel for the opportunity to upgrade, whether for your increased happiness or financial recompense (hopefully, the first one. Even better, both!). If you wake up every day and express joy at all the new opportunities awaiting you, your job search will be painless and effective, regardless of how long it might take. Remember, sometimes we have to wait for the right thing to come to us, but it’s almost always worth it (if it’s the ‘right’ thing, it’s definitely worth it!)
• · “My mate left me.” Again, almost the same thing. The cosmic reality is we all feed off of each other, and the reason we ‘hook up’ with someone else is because they have something so important to our life’s journey we need to be near it as much as possible. However, sometimes, we grow beyond that need, reassess its importance, or fulfill it, and the relationship no longer holds real meaning. At that point, we start looking for someone else that will ‘teach’ us something new, much like graduating from one teacher to another as our school career progresses. However, if the other is progressing and growing as an individual, often what happens is that new things can be taught between the two and the relationship can continue to the mutual benefit of both.
• · “People just don’t understand me.” Chances are this is because you are not being clear, even to yourself, about who you are and what your ideas are. Almost always, others are very good at interpreting our confidence and our insecurities. The ironic part is that the surer you are of yourself, the less important the opinions of others become. Strangely enough, however, at the same time, your confidence invariably draws them to you. Understanding it may be your lack of clarity that is causing the barrier with others opens the opportunity to look inward, and discover what is really important to you without the need to impress it upon others. Remember that most are too busy with their own problems to really give you too much consideration, unless you’re displaying character traits they themselves deem desirable. Most don’t have the time to listen to the explanation of your uniqueness, unless it directly pertains to their own feelings. However, as long as your destination is clear, most will respect you for it, because that clarity is a desirable characteristic not easily found.
• · “I can’t stand my neighbours.” Maybe it’s as simple as the universe trying to tell you it’s time to move. A physical move can often be the catalyst for a transformational one. A new home, whether only a few blocks away or across the world, can lead to an entirely new outlook on life, and the plateau you hit can be left behind.

Whichever way you personally look at it, everything CAN be either negative or positive. As I’ve said before, everything is a learning experience, and if we look for the lesson, nothing is completely negative. As we add our gratitude for everything that happens to us, us learn to appreciate how the universe works and it will sit up and take notice of your appreciation. Essentially, we complete the bridge it’s trying to make with us, and when that happens, all things come easier.

Like everything, gratitude is a skill which can be ignored or cultivated. The benefits of being grateful for everything in your life are astounding, just as the dangers of complaining about everything are drastic.

This Thanksgiving season I invite you to simply consider the possible benefits to appreciating everything in your life, if only to erase the negativity you once felt. This single exercise will go a LONG way to improving your quality of life, and is a major step towards true fulfillment.

But, once again, it’s all up to you.

Light, love, and the strength to be more.

Michael B.