After the initial days or weeks of a painful situation, it is important to begin thinking about what you are thankful for.  It’s a choice. You may not feel it but do it anyway and watch what happens.

If you live in a culture that emphasizes self- indulgence (what you deserve or what makes you happy), you can get used to living by how you feel.

Taking a moment and considering the things that went right instead of only what went wrong has a physiological affect. Studies show amazing benefits to name a few-  increased positive mood, a sense of belonging, better sleep, increased energy, and fewer incidents of illness.

According to WebMD, feelings of gratitude were at high levels after 9-11.   

How can this be? When tragedies happen, things that really matter come into perspective.

When you’re hurting, I know you want to stay there. Many cultures practice a time of mourning the loss of a loved one by wearing dark or muted colors and withdrawing from social events. In Western culture, I think it would be good to revisit these practices.

Yet, there comes a time when we put away the mourning clothes and face the future with hope and optimism. Remembering what you are thankful for will put you in a hopeful and optimistic mindset.

You have the rest of your life to live!

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Photo credit: That Guy Who’s Going Places / Foter /Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)