How many of us are waiting for that next vacation to escape our everyday life? That next trip to the Apple store to buy the newest technology? That next shopping spree to get the latest trend of clothes?
OR how many of us are waiting for this person or that person in our life to change and act differently? If they change, then certainly we will be happier. I know I have wanted ALL these things. Do I think getting new clothes is bad? NO. Do I think getting a new laptop is bad? Definitely not. But when we focus too much on what we don't have in our lives, we get caught in a vicious cycle of obsessing about what we think we need to be satisfied with life.
Take shopping for example.... when I have been able to "satisfy" that desire to shop and go buy myself the newest trend of clothes, I may be happy for a week, even two. But then suddenly one morning I wake up, and I want more. I continue looking for more clothes, more shoes, more jewelry, etc. It's never enough. It becomes an unending, unsatisfied thirst for what I think I need or am lacking.
I think we all have wake-up moments when we want to change and become better versions of ourselves. I had that at the beginning of this year. I found myself emotionally and physically exhausted from concentrating on certain things that I thought I needed to be happy, whether that be my 15 month old sleeping through the night, buying more furniture for our house, getting myself in shape, saving up for a vacation, certain people in my life changing and becoming more kind, the list goes on and on and on. We can ALWAYS find an excuse to not be happy. The more you focus on what you think you are lacking in your life, the more trapped and depressed you feel.
At the beginning of this year I desired to make a change. I am still working on it and have a long way to go, but I want to be the kind of person that people are around and are filled with joy and hope about life. I want to be the type of mom that when my son has a rough day at school, he can come home and be filled with encouragement. I don't want to be focused so much on what I am lacking or what I think I am lacking that I become trapped and depressed and don't have much to offer others. I want to fill my mind and soul with good encouraging thoughts and gratitude so that that is what I leave other people.
At the end of last year and the beginning of this year I started to spend more time alone, more time in quiet. And in this time, my soul whispered to me, reminding me of what I truly longed for. I was not looking for a closet full of beautiful clothes or extravagant living or even people in my life to change. I was looking for serenity and a deep peace in my soul. If we are still for long enough- we all hear this message. We are reminded of who we are. We are reminded that we are good, that we are loved, and to be grateful and content for the abundant blessings God gives us everyday, whether that is having enough money for food on the table or experiencing the beauty of a sunset.
When I surrendered this desire for worldly security or for things to change and sought serenity instead, I started to look at my life differently. I saw that I had so much in my life to be grateful for: my incredible husband, my beautiful and healthy baby boy, my health, our home, food on the table, safe cars to drive, clothes to wear, and a beautiful community of people who love and care for us. When I started to focus on all the good in my life, I became more content, more peaceful, and more grateful for all the blessings around me.
If we all surrender this unquenchable desire for worldly security or for circumstances in our lives to change and become aware of the countless blessings in our lives, we will experience life differently. Our hearts will overflow with gratefulness. We will start giving thanks for everything: a smile from a loved one, the first sip of tea in the morning, the sweet aroma of a baby's hair after a bath, bacon, eggs, potatoes, and coffee for Sunday breakfast, and hearing the words "I love you" from our loved ones.
When I started becoming aware of all my blessings, I began to see that everyday offered me authentic moments of deep pleasure and contentment. But haven't I always had these moments? YES. I just have now opened my eyes to them and have started appreciating these gifts. This is the power of gratefulness.
Let us all take a second look at our lives. Are your basic needs met? Do you have a roof over your head? Clothes for you and your family? Food to eat everyday? Regular money coming in? What about your health? Can you see the beauty around you or listen to beautiful music? Do you have wonderful friends and family in your life? If so, you are abundantly blessed :)
My hope and prayer is that people start to feel more content with their lives (this includes me). We live in a society that tells us we are never enough, that we never have enough. But we belong to a God who tells us constantly that we ARE enough, that His love is the ONLY thing that will satisfy us. He desires to bless us in countless ways everyday, but our eyes must be open to them. No matter what anyone is going through, God is still blessing us constantly. Let us take a moment everyday to listen to His voice and be aware of His love and blessings in our lives so that our hearts are filled with peace and that we become people of hope, not only for ourselves and for our families, but for the world.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie
OR how many of us are waiting for this person or that person in our life to change and act differently? If they change, then certainly we will be happier. I know I have wanted ALL these things. Do I think getting new clothes is bad? NO. Do I think getting a new laptop is bad? Definitely not. But when we focus too much on what we don't have in our lives, we get caught in a vicious cycle of obsessing about what we think we need to be satisfied with life.
Take shopping for example.... when I have been able to "satisfy" that desire to shop and go buy myself the newest trend of clothes, I may be happy for a week, even two. But then suddenly one morning I wake up, and I want more. I continue looking for more clothes, more shoes, more jewelry, etc. It's never enough. It becomes an unending, unsatisfied thirst for what I think I need or am lacking.
I think we all have wake-up moments when we want to change and become better versions of ourselves. I had that at the beginning of this year. I found myself emotionally and physically exhausted from concentrating on certain things that I thought I needed to be happy, whether that be my 15 month old sleeping through the night, buying more furniture for our house, getting myself in shape, saving up for a vacation, certain people in my life changing and becoming more kind, the list goes on and on and on. We can ALWAYS find an excuse to not be happy. The more you focus on what you think you are lacking in your life, the more trapped and depressed you feel.
At the beginning of this year I desired to make a change. I am still working on it and have a long way to go, but I want to be the kind of person that people are around and are filled with joy and hope about life. I want to be the type of mom that when my son has a rough day at school, he can come home and be filled with encouragement. I don't want to be focused so much on what I am lacking or what I think I am lacking that I become trapped and depressed and don't have much to offer others. I want to fill my mind and soul with good encouraging thoughts and gratitude so that that is what I leave other people.
At the end of last year and the beginning of this year I started to spend more time alone, more time in quiet. And in this time, my soul whispered to me, reminding me of what I truly longed for. I was not looking for a closet full of beautiful clothes or extravagant living or even people in my life to change. I was looking for serenity and a deep peace in my soul. If we are still for long enough- we all hear this message. We are reminded of who we are. We are reminded that we are good, that we are loved, and to be grateful and content for the abundant blessings God gives us everyday, whether that is having enough money for food on the table or experiencing the beauty of a sunset.
When I surrendered this desire for worldly security or for things to change and sought serenity instead, I started to look at my life differently. I saw that I had so much in my life to be grateful for: my incredible husband, my beautiful and healthy baby boy, my health, our home, food on the table, safe cars to drive, clothes to wear, and a beautiful community of people who love and care for us. When I started to focus on all the good in my life, I became more content, more peaceful, and more grateful for all the blessings around me.
If we all surrender this unquenchable desire for worldly security or for circumstances in our lives to change and become aware of the countless blessings in our lives, we will experience life differently. Our hearts will overflow with gratefulness. We will start giving thanks for everything: a smile from a loved one, the first sip of tea in the morning, the sweet aroma of a baby's hair after a bath, bacon, eggs, potatoes, and coffee for Sunday breakfast, and hearing the words "I love you" from our loved ones.
When I started becoming aware of all my blessings, I began to see that everyday offered me authentic moments of deep pleasure and contentment. But haven't I always had these moments? YES. I just have now opened my eyes to them and have started appreciating these gifts. This is the power of gratefulness.
Let us all take a second look at our lives. Are your basic needs met? Do you have a roof over your head? Clothes for you and your family? Food to eat everyday? Regular money coming in? What about your health? Can you see the beauty around you or listen to beautiful music? Do you have wonderful friends and family in your life? If so, you are abundantly blessed :)
My hope and prayer is that people start to feel more content with their lives (this includes me). We live in a society that tells us we are never enough, that we never have enough. But we belong to a God who tells us constantly that we ARE enough, that His love is the ONLY thing that will satisfy us. He desires to bless us in countless ways everyday, but our eyes must be open to them. No matter what anyone is going through, God is still blessing us constantly. Let us take a moment everyday to listen to His voice and be aware of His love and blessings in our lives so that our hearts are filled with peace and that we become people of hope, not only for ourselves and for our families, but for the world.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie