I noted one day when I was busy castigating some aspect of my life that anger and resentment truly do beget more of the same. In a moment of determination, I chose to spend my mental energy on finding things for which to be grateful, interrupting the litany of negatives that were beginning their daily journey through my head.
“Thank you for my wonderful life.” “Thank you for my good health.” “Thank you for my loving relationship, for my children, my family, my friends.” Soon I was expanding and refining my list of things for which to be grateful. And a funny thing happened. As I began focusing on what was going right in my life rather than what was wrong, more right began to occur. I also noted that I was happier. I felt appreciation for small things, and looked forward to what I could accomplish, rather than complaining about what I was not getting done.
The simple act of refocusing...of reframing my thinking patterns has brought a great deal of inner peace. In conjunction with gratitude for all the good in my life, I realize that in the quotient also must come gratitude and appreciation for myself as I am.
We are all set on this journey, and perhaps the quest is not to find the ideal life, but to appreciate the one we’ve been given. As we gain self-acceptance, we can appreciate others more. And each act of gratitude, appreciation, and acceptance draws us closer to the center of what the heart yearns for and for which we have each been created—the ability to love.