Count your blessings

A quote by Zig Ziglar says, gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more things to express gratitude.

With awareness, there comes the responsibility of implementation. Are you ready to do so? Let us see.

Complaining about the daily problems and difficulties has become part of our life. It may be with friends, family members, relatives, or colleagues. Most of the discussions start with some complaints & blames. If we do not find anything to blame, it would be the weather, infrastructure, traffic, society, or system.

We all know that it is not wise to identify the problems in every object or situation and analyze them at length. But somehow, many of us are habituated with it. Knowingly or not, it has become a matter to start the conversation unless we have a pre-decided topic.

Sharing problems to get suggestions is not bad, as we may need help from others to get better solutions or strategies. Discussing our challenges with dear ones will make us lighter. We could get better ways to handle the situations and learn from their experience.

What about the issues for which we are not looking for solutions? We talk about it for the sake of it and the whining that we do by habit. And some other blaming that does not serve anyone. It may help you feel connected or get immediate acceptance from others. Does it lift your mood or fosters self-pity? Sometimes, it may provide a weird satisfaction that you are struggling and surviving despite the adversities.

Of course, we need to reduce the complaining habits and talk about the good things we see. Discussing things that are going well, hobbies and sports may improve our external communication and internal communication (what we say to ourselves) too. When we talk to others about negative topics, the words we utter and listen may enter our minds. The impact may show up later by drowning us down with mental chatter. You may notice if you introspect on what is happening in your mind. Otherwise, they would reflect our emotional states like anger, fear, self- victimizing thoughts, aggression, general sadness, or just feeling low.

Could we change this pattern? Could we think of the good things we have in life? How frequently would you do it? Do you consider being alive and healthy is a matter to be grateful for? Is having access to food and potable water could be a reason to be thankful? Having a regular income and a home to stay in could be another reason to grateful. Do you notice the body parts which are healthy and work without your interference and keep you healthy? There are plenty of reasons for us to be grateful. We need to look for them. Examples: the trees, clouds, rain, water bodies, family, people who contribute for us to have our daily essentials, electricity, gadgets, vehicles, health, thinking capacity, sense organs, educational institutions, work providers, who make our clothes, and other consumables we buy, sellers, banks so on and on. 

It is up to us to identify the good things we have in life and count our blessings. Instead of focusing on what we do not have, let us be happy and grateful for what we have.

• Make it a habit to count your blessings every morning and evening.
• Write down at least three reasons on each day for which you are happy and grateful.

You would be surprised by the changes in your thought process as it starts looking for more reasons to be happy and grateful.

—Anitha KC

=======================================================================================
Wherever you are, or whatever has happened, just be glad. Be glad because you are here. You are here in a beautiful world. Just be glad, and you will have a better reason to be glad. – Christian D Larson, 1912
=======================================================================================

Image: Prashanth Hegde