The Power of Gratitude When Times Are Hard
07 June, 2022
07 June, 2022
Gratitude, in the face of difficulty, can be a much harder practice to maintain than in the context of everyday life.
However, it’s during challenging times that saying thank you can be an even more powerful tool for help and change.
The old cliché that says, “When Life gives you lemons, make lemon-aid,” is essentially a form of gratitude. It’s a way of reframing the sour parts of your life into something palatable.
Scientific studies show people who practice gratitude during hard times have…
Below are a few ideas to help keep your perspective centered so gratitude can become a routine response.
1. Let the difficult times teach you
Looking back on the difficult circumstances in your life, ask yourself, “Am I better for it?”
Growing through difficult times shows you are a student of life, and giving thanks for that growth shows the universe you trust its path.
This can be a powerful practice because you’re offering your gratitude upfront. You are trusting the lessons within this circumstance and acknowledging you can grow from them, just as you have done in the past.
2. Fewer expectations
Having expectations is a normal, human condition we all share. At the same time, expectations can often get us into trouble.
Saying thank you when your expectations are not met and you’re hurt and disappointed, can remind you of your expectations in the first place.
It can also redirect your opinion of what happens with better, more accurate information should you find yourself in this circumstance again.
3. Appreciation
A quick mental turn-around when you’re troubled is to stop and appreciate the luxury you live in, no matter how humble. You can always appreciate the abundance of products, freedoms, and health available to you.
4. Simplicity and order
How many times have you “thought yourself” into being overwhelmed?
It’s easy to get lost in the “busy-ness,” convincing yourself you have little or no time for the most basic things.
Gratitude, during these times, can help you deal with the here and now. You can see what’s most important, prioritize your tasks, write them down, and leave them on paper.
The feeling of order and simplicity are beautiful benefits of this practice.
5. Perspective
The contrast between a difficult circumstance and happier times is defined as “perspective.”
We see perspective in our everyday life with colors, shadows, and the changing seasons.
Winter may be cold and barren, but winter also offers the most beautiful sunrises and snow-capped scenery that no other season offers.
Reframing your perspective to find beauty is a form of gratitude that the Universe responds to with encouragement and perseverance.
6. The feeling of expansion
When you’re in the middle of a difficult situation, you tend to focus only on that one circumstance.
Giving thanks can shift your world from a small blanket to a much larger tapestry, and its feeling of vastness can be felt immediately.
7. Eliminate the “snowball effect”
We’ve all experienced hard circumstances coming at us one after the other. It feels as though the universe is ganging up on us and where the expression, “When it rains it pours” came from.
Offering gratitude with each difficulty that comes your way can minimize and even stop the successive momentum of the negativity. This can lead to loosening your grip and letting go a little more.
8. Stop complaining for 3 days
Ever find yourself complaining more when you are in the middle of a challenging situation?
You’re not alone.
Complaining incessantly about a problem versus working through a problem with integrity and patience, is a form of true character.
Complaining also runs the risk of sending the wrong message to the universe, which may give you more of what you are complaining about.
When we respond with humility, curiosity, and the willingness to learn, we open ourselves up to help and support from others.
Having a brave conversation with yourself or a trusted friend is good and healthy, just don’t belabor it.
9. Accept that some situations are beyond your control
A situation beyond your control can be one of the hardest wisdoms to accept.
Giving thanks can remind us that we can only control our response to what is happening and nothing more.
10. An opportunity to re-evaluate your life
We usually only take a closer look at our lives when we’ve reached the end of our rope or are close to it.
Re-evaluating your circumstance shows you are a student willing to learn and do better.
This is a perfect time to stop, become present, ask the universe for help, and listen.
Listen to your heart because your heart speaks the truth.
Giving thanks during a hard time is the highest form of respect you can offer the universe and yourself. It’s your humble and simple way of trusting the universe while in confusion and hurt.
Gratitude can reframe your difficulties into light, so be ready to receive all the good and abundance life has to offer you!
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