Dennis Prager, author of Happiness Is a Serious Problem, reminds us that gratitude is more important than just a reason to share a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving: "There is a secret to happiness and it is gratitude. All happy people are grateful, and ungrateful people cannot be happy. We tend to think that it is being unhappy that leads people to complain, but it is truer to say that it is complaining that leads to people becoming unhappy. Become grateful and you will become a much happier person. I try to be happy unless something happens that makes me unhappy, rather than unhappy unless something makes me happy."
There is power in gratitude and a sense of thanksgiving. Giving thanks helps sustain a positive, optimistic attitude. Unrealistic expectations are a sure road to unhappiness and disappointment. Optimists hope for more, but are not thrown by less.
Why? Expressing gratitude keeps one's frustrations and setbacks in perspective. Stressful worry and thankful thoughts are incompatible. Instead of focusing on the problems on your to-do-list, try counting today’s blessings.
The media may make a living bringing you the worst, but the people making things happen in the world don't have time to watch. They're too busy inventing a future they want to live in!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving week, choose to live Thanksgiving every day this week. Count your blessings more than your problems. Instead of dwelling on what might have been, look for the unexpected openings that present new opportunities you don't want to miss. Trade your preoccupation with things out of your control with constructive action. Be thankful for the exciting adventure ahead as you work to invent an even better future one day at a time.
This video message and insight is compliments of Dr. Terry Paulson at http://www.terrypaulson.com. For more information on his speaking programs contact him at 800-521-6172.
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