Happy Thanksgiving! Want to be really happy? Try this?
This week as I was thinking about Thanksgiving approaching, (and was dealing with some head trash
about the family get togethers and a few other things that were starting to hijack me), I decided to focus
on gratitude. And while all week long we have seen something about gratitude, and for years, we have
learned that gratitude can help shift our perspective and focus, in my conversation with a client I had
another insight I would like to share on this most Thankful of days.
When we think about gratitude and what we have to be thankful for, I experience the “list three things
you are thankful for” approach. It does help in the start of the shift. And it can start a trend, but
sometimes we think of three things and then go back to the one thing that is bugging us.
What I want to encourage you to do as you go into social gatherings, family get togethers or anything
that is really rocking your world, is to think about the fact that this negative thing (Aunt Sally always
talking about when you were a snot nosed kid, Uncle Ben saying something inappropriate, or all the
screaming kids) the reality is those things MIGHT be about 10% of your world. The other 90% is really
awesome. And yet, we let that 5-10% be the thing that occupies our minds, distracts us from the good
and impacts how we experience our world.
Today and going forward, I hope you can focus on the 90%. Even if you have to endure that same story
again by a relative or hear some political view you don’t agree with. Focus on what you do have. What
you do love, what you do get to do and that 10% will pale in comparison.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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