Gratitude and Worry   "Faith is born of gratitude. The grateful mind continually expects good things and expectation becomes faith." -Wallace Wattles

How many times during the day do you hear someone say that they are “worried” about something? Worry is an easy trap to fall into, and once you start down this path, the path widens for you to add more worries.

Worrying is living in fear- “Worrying is wishing and asking, for what you don’t want to happen, to occur."

Worrying about something is what I like to call, playing the "WHAT IF?” game.

Got a moment? Let’s play “What if…?”

This can be a fun game. Insert your worry into the following phrase, “What if ___________? For example, What if I have a terrible disease? What if I lose my job? What if I get in a terrible accident? Boy, that’s bad, bad stuff. Maybe you want to add some more things to the list. In fact, you’d have a great beginning to your own personal pity party. But before you go too far into what could go “wrong,” it’s time to move on to the next step of the game.

Here is where the game takes an unusual twist. Flip your worry into the positive. For example, What if I DON’T have a terrible disease? What if I DON’T lose my job? What if I DON’T get into a terrible accident? This really changes the way we look at things doesn’t it?

Let’s take this one step further. If I don’t have a terrible disease, that would mean I would be healthy. And if I am healthy, I would be THANKFUL for the good fortune of my health. If I didn’t lose my job, I would be THANKFUL for my job. If I didn’t get in a terrible accident, I would be THANKFUL that I was safe. Seeing a pattern?

As you can see now, worry is a LACK OF GRATITUDE. You are asking for your gifts to be taken away. It’s by not appreciating what God gives you that creates worry.

Worry is saying, “I am NOT thankful for my health.” “I am NOT thankful for my job.” “I am NOT thankful that I am taken care of every day.”

Open your eyes to all the goodness in the world around you. There are hundreds of things GOING RIGHT for you everyday, most you’re not even aware of.

I had a friend who was concerned about his job. “With this economy, you don’t know what will happen.” “True,” I said, “but with 8% unemployment that still leaves 92% employed. That’s not bad odds!” “But that’s easy to say when you’re not the one on the cutting block.” “If you really feel that way, turn your worry into positive action,” I said. “Are you doing the best you can your current job? Are you prepared for a downturn? Have you come up with some other ways to create income- should you need to? Have you built a contact list of people to call- should you need to? Are there some cuts you can make to get by on less?” “Well, kinda,” he said. “Now, what’s going right for you?” I asked. “Well, I have my job.” “Yessss…” I responded. “Well, I have a great family. And, ah, I have my health. “ “What else,” I asked. My friend thought for a while. “I have the opportunity’s and blessings that others would give their left arm for.” “Exactly!” I said. “If you live in fear, others will sense it. But if you’re gracious and positive, others will sense confidence and will want to be with you. Whom would you rather be around in difficult times?” My friend left inspired and to this day, he still is employed.

Hard times and good times happen in life. At its essence, worrying shows a lack of faith in God, or your higher power. If you keep worrying about something, you are asking God for your worry to happen. And, what you worry about, in time, WILL materialize.

The next time you feel worried, immediately put the bad thought out of your mind and turn to your faith. Be thankful for whatever occurs. In gratitude, you realize that what happens will be in your best interest- whether you agree with it or not. Instead of trying to “control” a situation with worry, release the fear of worry and be thankful. You will sense peace and calm. This is the natural state of life.

Enjoy what comes your way… and enjoy life!

        "We can only be said to be alive,
when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."
     - Thornton Wilder     

Extending Gratitude Into Our Everyday Lives.

Many of us rush through our days, not paying attention to what is really happening around us.  We're in routines. There is a natural human tendency to focus inward, on ourselves.  But, as you focus inwards, you begin to disconnect to the world around you. When we disconnect, we seek to reconnect through "control."  And as we seek to control our environment, true happiness drifts away. 

But we can find happiness. Gratitude is the key. Gratitude breaks the cycle and reconnects us to the world around us.  And as we reconnect to our world, happiness appears.

A friend once told me, "if you think gratitude doesn't bring you happiness, try living with ingratitude."

"You can't get to happiness
without passing through gratitude. " 
-Jane Goodall
         "The Wisdom Book"

Here are a few ways to get started living a life of gratitude:

• Become aware of and give thanks for everything that you have in life.  Take 5 minutes each day and write down 5 things that you're thankful for in a journal. Science is showing us that just by doing this for a couple of days will increase your happiness, and the longer you do it, the happier you will get.
• Give to others, expecting nothing in return.  This does not always have to be a physical gift, it can be as simple as a quiet thought when you meet someone.  When you meet someone, try to think to yourself, "I hope you have a good day today." "My prayer for you is happiness." Begin to do this daily.
• Focus on others and their needs first. In time, you will find that this rule actually works in reverse.  By helping others, others will begin to help you.  But focus on helping others, or doing things for others without requesting anything in return.
• Remove negative influences in your life.  Many people protest violence in the media, but watch the most violent entertainment of all- television news. Did you notice that after watching the evening news, that you feel emotionally drained?  Or after reading the paper that you feel that the world is getting out of control?  We are constantly bombarded with negative emotions from the media. Simply removing television and other negative media will give you an emotional boost.
• Work exercise into your daily routines.  Even walking for 5-10 minutes can make a difference.  Use this time to focus on your surroundings.  Notice the trees, the sky, others.  Take deep breaths.  Become aware of the life in all forms around you.
• Learn to practice being silent.  During conversations, don't always feel that you have to offer an opinion. Listen to others.  Try to observe what other's body motions and facial expressions are telling you.
• Don't play the victim.  Quit looking at everything as being wrong and start looking at everything as happening for a reason.  Positive attitudes bring positive things.  Negative attitudes bring negative things.  Which do you want?
• During the day, take a couple of minutes for peaceful time.  Notice your surroundings. Notice how your day is going. Give thanks for the enjoyment and gift of life. Again, take deep breaths. Feel life.

You will be surprised at what really makes you happy. Begin to take "I want" out of your vocabulary.  Focus on your daily actions.  Avoid over-planning and seeking control.

Your new found gratitude will begin to temper your attitude towards others. We're all in life together and we're all interconnected. Begin to forgive and understand others.  Remove the stress of carrying unnecessary negative feelings. You will feel better imediately.