Do you live a life of gratitude or foreboding joy? As I read Daring Greatly (by Brene Brown), I reflect on this question.
Some people live a life waiting for "the other shoe to drop". Anytime something good happens they wait for the bad that inevitably follows. Living a life like that sounds exhausting. You are never able to be joyful for the good because it's ruined by the expectation of something terrible. I once heard a friend say, "you cannot experience great pain without great joy". I think she meant that you need to allow yourself to feel both in order to live a balanced life. If you decide to cut off the painful part of life you in turn are also cutting yourself off from the great joys. I'm reminded of this thought as I read.
What's the antidote to foreboding joy? Gratitude! Being grateful allows us to realize that we are enough and we have enough. I love to be grateful in the little moments. Moments I get to spend outside looking at the mountains or feeling the sunshine. Moments where I enjoy the people I'm with or conversations I feel blessed to be a part of. People don't owe me anything so I am grateful when they share with me a part of their story.
Where can you say no to the pessimistic thoughts in your head and say yes to gratitude? It makes life a whole lot happier!
