Gratitude in Tough Times

Caught up in the immediacy of our family chaos, economic woes, unwelcome health issues, many of us find gratitude -- the central value in the Thanksgiving holiday -- difficult to muster up.

Our twin monsters of fear and shame rob us of our ability to experience gratitude. Who knows why, but scaricity and distress can focus us on what we have, rather than who is missing at the table or what we've lost. When we refocus from what is not to what is here now, we CAN experience gratitude.

What are your experiences with gratitude? What are your blocks? How will you plan to deal with the non-Hallmark moments this holiday season?

Please share your questions, comments, experiences. I like hearing from you.

drpatty@drpattystephens.com

Comments

[Lance Morrisey]

I know how to be grateful about the things that I have. Maybe, sometimes, I just forget but there are a lot of things, events and people which will remind me that I should be thankful because I'm lucky with what I have in my life.

[Noah Berkowitz]

Thanks for sharing brilliant post!
Nice article!

[reinaelliston]

True. I'd encountered countless financial and emotional problems this year but I can't still create an adequate list to include all the things I should be thankful for. My technique is to look at the brighter side, treat every problem as an opportunity, and always bring enough hope.