The Power Of Gratitude

In this world full of negativity and self-deprecating humor, we tend to forget that there are still a whole lot of things to celebrate. A bad day is just a bad DAY and not a bad life and sometimes all the challenges that have been thrown at you are not really Kamalasan or that you are just the least favorable person in the universe, sometimes it just means that you're being prepped for the next chapter in your life. I know I'm sounding redundant right now and that you could just scroll to a wholesome Facebook page or a wellness social media and you will see these type of quotations. I was (or still is) part of that group of pessimists who just does not believe in luck and law of attraction anymore because what's the use right? For the past month, I tried the gratitude technique or whatever you want to call it. I read a book by Jen Sincero which I quoted in my previous post. And in that book, it told me to list at least 3-5 things that I am grateful for, sounds simple right? I have known this method for years now but I have not really done it because I am not ready (cue ready to change by Kodaline), I was still stuck in this teenage angst persona that I just brushed that topic off. In my mind I was frowning at that Idea because why would I need to write and reflect on it when I feel like I am experiencing it everyday but I realized just recently that if I am really grateful about all the blessings I received... why am I still like this? Why am I so irritable and why is it easy for me to say insulting things about a thing or a person if I am truly grateful? So, I challenged myself that every night before going to bed I will list ten things that I am grateful for and let me tell you, it was hard at first! I could not write ten things and I am lucky enough to write eight and there were a lot of nights when I forgot to write anything down because of a lot of distractions (internet ehem) but when I started getting into it I noticed one thing: I listed a lot of things that I am grateful for when I am relaxed and happy but when I am in a bad mood and feeling down, it would be hard for me to sincerely list at least five, that for every thought that comes to my mind to list there is a voice in my head reasoning with me why I should NOT list it. With that, I can now understand the purpose of listing these. It helps people to combat their negative thoughts and to see beyond their fleeting emotions and to actually see what we have. It really does help with positivism and lifting someone's spirit but of course, we cannot fight these negative emotions and thought all the time just by being grateful, that is why I coupled this gratitude technique/method with a journal where I can reflect and at least find the root of these unwanted emotions and of course to vent without releasing my frustrations on other people because once my notebook is closed and my pen capped, I have a lighter heart and clearer mind.

Like what Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, said:

If I could teach also people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their face.