Stop for a moment and reflect on what you are grateful for.
It’s easy to get caught up in all the bad stuff that’s happening in our lives and in the world around us.
Don’t misunderstand…it’s OK if you’re struggling!
However, consider for a moment if you have become so hyper-focused on the negative that you forget that there is still good and beauty in the world.
Negative begets negative. This can easily become our normal. We become so used to negative “stuff” happening around us that we become accustomed to negative feelings. It then becomes all too easy to fall into the unhealthy trap of looking at everything with a “glass half empty” type of approach. From a spiritual standpoint, keep in mind that the devil wants to manipulate our suffering. He wants us to turn away from all that is good, holy, and beautiful.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to give the constant negativity power! You DO have the power to deal with the bad stuff but you also to experience joy and peace at the same time.
Embracing a grateful heart takes time. It takes consistent practice. It takes asking God for the grace to open our eyes and recognize His presence. How do we do this? My advice is to pray for the grace to recognize God’s presence in your life – to recognize beauty and goodness. Then, make it a point to make a list of all the things you are grateful for at the end of each day.
Here are some prompts to help get you started:
-What is something in nature that you are grateful for?
-What is your favorite food?
-Did you accomplish something today?
-Did you do something fun or relaxing?
-Was the weather beautiful today?
You can do this mentally or write things down on paper (whatever works best for you). You don’t need a long list. They can be seemingly simple things (for example, I am grateful for the ability to breathe). If you write these things down in a journal, you can use this on days when everything seems hopeless and bleak.
We need God’s grace to learn how to live with our pain and not in it constantly.
By the way, embracing gratitude, doesn’t mean that all of your problems are erased. It is not a guarantee that you will suddenly be walking around with a new spring in your step and a wide grin on your face at all times. You will certainly feel better, though! You will be able to cope better.
Anything is possible with God’s grace.
Lord, break the chains of negativity in my life! Help me to see your beauty and goodness!
Just for just a moment, do your best to put aside all the difficulties you might be facing and ask yourself: what am I grateful for today?
Do you have a question about victimization and/or healing? Email me at AskASurvivor@ruthinstitute.org. Your name and personal information will never be used in my public responses.
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