Count Your Blessings
“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” ~ Brené Brown
As we prepare to celebrate a day of gratitude, it’s only fitting I take this moment to emphasize the importance of being thankful for what we’ve overcome. It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of the next big thing, but don’t forget to be grateful for the present. We tend to take for granted what deserves our gratitude the most. Count your blessings. Be thankful for every good thing in your life. You may not be where you want to be, but you’re not where you used to be. Reflect over your past and acknowledge the progress you’ve made. When you practice gratitude, what you have in the moment feels like enough.
“Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us.”
~ Nicole Reed
In addition to being grateful to God for the things you’ve obtained, be equally grateful for not getting everything you thought you wanted. Be thankful for both the open & closed doors. There are times in life when something may be good, but not good for you. You may lack the capacity for what you’re desiring, and a blessing can feel more like a burden when you don’t have the grace to handle it. Your discernment can be clouded when it’s something you really want. For this reason, you must practice patience and trust God to divinely orchestrate your life.
“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”
~ Alfred North Whitehead
It takes a village to get through this life. Whether you’re willing to admit it or not, you didn’t get where you are by yourself. There is no such thing as self-made. Your life has been littered with people who helped pave the way for you. Be thankful for the people in your life who love you, support you, and genuinely want the best for you. But don’t get it twisted. God has used both strangers and your enemies, more times than you’ll ever know, to bless you.
“I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
When going through hard times the last thing most people want to hear is things could be worse. But whether you want to hear it or not, taking a step back & looking at the bigger picture can help you gain a different perspective. A perspective that isn’t shrouded in feelings of self-pity. A perspective revealing the fact that even in your darkest moments…light is still present. With this thought in mind, practicing gratitude should become an essential part of your daily life. A grateful heart strengthens your spiritual infrastructure. Paving the pathway to more blessings. Supporting the bridge to more joy. Boring the tunnel to inner peace.
*Affiliate Link
Follow Terrance L. Moore on Instagram