I wanted to talk about gratitude today. Something so simple, yet so underutilized. Gratitude by definition is "the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness."
We can all be guilty of putting ourselves in the victim chair by thinking of all the "bad things" going on in a single day. I've done it, you've done it, I'm sure the Pope has even done it. However, we can try to limit those thoughts and negative vibrations by simply being grateful.
When I have an early morning and I am just painfully exhausted hearing that alarm blare, I take a minute to think of why life is so sweet. Some simple things I say to help put some pep in my step and not be miserable trudging along that morning are :
I am grateful for my life
I am grateful to be healthy enough to go to work
I am grateful to have a bed to sleep in
I am grateful to have a job
I am grateful that I get to help people at my job
I am grateful to wake up another day
I am grateful for the running water I need to brush my teeth
I am grateful to have food in my kitchen
I am grateful for my loving pup
The list could go on and on. When you say these things, whether out loud or in your head, don't just say it to say it. Say it and really mean it. Be grateful.
I find myself in a much better mood and head space after thinking about these things. Along with being grateful, I like to thank (the universe, God, or whoever you find your higher power to be). Appreciate what the universe has provided for you and it will never stop providing with exactly what you need. I have found this time and time again. This also relates to positivity and eliminating the negative thoughts from your life. That'll be a whole other post (or more) :)
I have found when I start spiraling a little in dark thoughts, those thoughts generally come true in some fashion. I'll give a quick example:
One time when I had to work a 12 hour shift at an office I don't usually go to (I'm a dental hygienist) I dreaded it all week. Thought about how exhausting it was going to be, stressed about running on time, stressed about making sure I proposed treatment properly so the dentist and front desk folk wouldn't get upset with me (I do not like conflict), stressed about the xray unit (that doesn't always work), stressed about making sure I kept my patients happy and still did a good job for them. This list could go on as well.
You know what happened? I didn't have a great day. It was stressful. I did have time set backs. I couldn't keep everyone happy. It was indeed a miserable, long, exhausting day that needed a bottle of wine when I got home.
I took this day and evaluated it. What could have made it better? Why were all of those things happening/why did I let them bother me so much?
It's been a work in progress but I think I've come close to mastering it. Fast forward to last week where I had to work another 12 in the same office. I had a great day! Sure, I was a little tired when i got up in the morning but nothing too terrible. I even had more patients this day than that miserable day. I had a leaky air/water syringe but nothing I couldn't work around. I couple times I had some time set backs but I was able to catch up. Some of my patients were pretty difficult too now that I think about it. It was also a gorgeous day out that I spent indoors from 6:30 am to 7:15 at night.
Doesn't sound like a great day to you? Let me tell you how I made it to be.
All week I put myself in the mindset of, "Thursday is going to be a good day. It's going to go by fast because I'm going to enjoy it. I am fortunate enough to get to help people all day and that just feels good. Any obstacles are minor and nothing I can't handle. I get to work with some of my favorite people. I'm making some extra money. I am truly grateful for this job and opportunity to work more."
What a difference from my first mindset, huh? It truly made all the difference in the world. Moral of the story. BE GRATEFUL. Gratitude is all about the attitude. You can say it, but you need to feel it and believe it.
It may take some time to get in this habit. It didn't happen over night for me. I've been working at this for at least a year if not more. However, you will see the changes in your mindset and in your daily life.
Dreading the thought of going to the gym? How about this, I am so grateful my body is healthy enough to work out. I am so grateful I have the funds for a gym membership.
Things will start to turn around for you, so long as you turn around those ungrateful thoughts. Life is so good :)
Always love,
Cait
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