Have you ever had a time when you hoped for something, got disappointed that it didn’t happen, and then, down the road, realized what a blessing it was that you didn't get what you wanted?
Everyone has experienced times in their lives when they were sure they knew what they wanted, only to realize later they dodged a bullet! When I think about this, I think of the Garth Brooks song, Unanswered Prayers, and how easy it is to look backwards and say, “Whew!” But not everyone dodges those bullets in their lives.
We all have challenges that can seem overwhelming until we see some of the challenges others are dealing with.
When we think about our problems in a larger context, the word that often gets used is gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful thing that has almost become a catchphrase in our society. We are told to be thankful and to show appreciation for everything we have in our lives.
We all have people and situations in our lives that remind us how lucky we are. We know to be grateful for friends who are support systems and family members who would do anything for us. When we think about having roofs over our heads and work to go to when we wake up in the morning, we express our indebtedness. When we are given a clean bill of health, we treasure the feeling.
But have you ever thought about the other side of gratitude? Have you ever thought about being grateful for what you don’t have?
What do you not have to deal with on a daily basis that others like you do? You may have experienced some of these things at times in your life, or might even be working through some of them right now. But I invite you to shift your gratitude mindset for a moment and consider the things you don’t have to worry about.
- Insurmountable debt
- No place to live
- Zero support from friends/family/coworkers
- Constant pain
- No computer or cell phone to connect with the world and do your work
What would you add to this list?
The philosopher Socrates said, “If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be content to take their own and depart.” While being grateful for what you have is important to feeling safe, fulfilled, and happy, being grateful for what you don’t have can take your gratitude to the next level.
Want to learn how to bring more gratitude into your daily life? Read my article, Everyday Gratitude.