Life is similar to a rollercoaster; like every rollercoaster, there will be ups and downs, good times and bad times, happiness and sadness, wins and losses and occasionally, it is a straight ride when nothing much seems to happen. While you are on the down side or on a plateau, it might be hard to see anything good but remember that you are always going forward and that you will be at the top again. Your peak times may pass too soon, followed up a long downward journey but you will get to the top again.

Sometimes, you might not be happy with the path that your life is taking, you might feel like a helpless onlooker. In such moments, looking back at the wonderful moments could help you look at your life in a new light. Count your blessings. Enjoy the little things. These may sound cliché but these are cliché for a reason; it helps you to appreciate your life more. There would always be some things or persons in your life that you would be grateful for. Be grateful for the things that did not go wrong. Be grateful for the present. Be grateful for the journey. Be grateful for the memories. Be grateful for the experiences. Be grateful for the lessons that you have learnt from your mistakes. Be grateful for the downs that make your ups so precious.

Count your blessings

Mankind’s ambition is as old as time itself. Though it has its positives, a negative aspect of it is that we tend to always think that the grass is less green where we are. Instead of thinking about all the things that are going wrong, take some time to concentrate on those that are going right. There will always be positives. If it helps, make a list of the good things and the people you have in your life. Look around yourself. Isn’t it beautiful? Appreciate the beauty in your life. Be grateful for what you have.

Hop on the time machine

Hop yourself on to the imaginary time machine and take a look at your journey. Look into yourself and see what made you ‘you’. Isn’t it all the cumulative things that happened to you throughout your life that moulded you? Including the good AND the bad things? You might want to wish away the bad things but these have helped to shape the present ‘you’. Look back into your life and try to remember the things that you enjoyed as child, things that you now take for granted. Be grateful for that things you have had.

Make a plan

When you feel that nothing is going right and find it hard to feel grateful, try to make a game plan for the future and work towards positivity. However, it would be wise to remember that life can be unpredictable. Just like it throws curveballs at you, it will also give you unplanned and unexpected happy moments. These are the things that make life interesting and worth living. Appreciate them while you take off your critic hat. Always be grateful for what you have, what you have had and strive to achieve what you do not.

Expressing gratitude

Do you need to express the gratitude that you feel? If so, how do you do that? Positive actions help to bring in positivity. Have you heard how plants thrive if you talk positively to them? Positivity and gratitude encourage growth. It is true not just for plants, it is true for every living being, including you.

• Be grateful to your body for keeping you happy and healthy. Talk positively to yourself. Help yourself grow and thrive.
• Thank the earth for always giving you what you want. Grow a tree, water a plant, volunteer to clean a river, be more sustainable. This is how you can express gratitude to Mother Earth.
• Express your gratitude to the people in your life; the ones that make you laugh; the ones that make you a cup of tea when you are unwell; the ones that take you out for ice-cream when you feel low; the ones that make your work interesting. Say kind words to them. Return the favours. Be there for them.
• Leverage the power of mindfulness to feel and express gratitude for each moment. Feel the cool water cleansing your body while you shower and say thank you to it. When you drink a glass of water, be grateful that you have access to water that can quench your thirst. Be thankful for the people who have helped to make your life what it is.

Not all of us might have everything but instead of worrying about all the things we don’t have, remember that we have so much more to be grateful for.

Article By,

Salma Jennath