How Can I Be Grateful When Life Knocks Me Down? Here is Your Answer.
How can I be grateful when life knocks me down? I get asked this question a lot.
We don’t always see it, but in the midst of chaos, there is always a silver lining. Let’s be honest… it’s easier to feel grateful when life is butterflies and rainbows, but that’s not real life.
Life will hit you with challenges. That’s a fact. How you respond to those challenges is what matters most. Don’t get me wrong. I am not suggesting that gratitude comes easily when it feels like everything is going wrong. However, when you choose to view negative experiences as opportunities for learning, your entire perspective changes.
A life-threatening accident that left me with a spinal chord injury taught me about the power of gratitude. From that experience, I learned to appreciate the small things in life that so many of us take for granted, like feeding yourself and walking. It was because of the pain and hardship that I experienced during my two years of recovery that I finally understood what I meant to live, fully.
Are you ready to learn how to be grateful when life knocks you down? Here is your answer.
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Did you know that there are so many things to be grateful for?
It’s easy to forget when we are going through hard times. Staying positive amidst life’s curveballs and unexpected turns can feel difficult to near impossible. However, trust me when I say that it is the best coping strategy at your disposal when you need to be uplifted.
A growing number of studies inspired by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness are showing that – rather than resisting them – embracing difficult situations actually increases well-being.
Gratitude in the face of life’s challenges simply means embracing a positive attitude and focus on the good things in your life. In the midst of a failing business, burnout, a brutal divorce, the loss of a job, the grief of a dead loved one, or the breakdown of a relationship, there is always something that we can pull upon that reminds us that there is still life after pain.
Let’s talk about 4 ways that you can find gratitude when being grateful is the last thing that you have the energy for.
1. Start With Something Small
When life knocks you on your ass, grab hold of any little thing that makes you happy. It could be as simple as your favorite song, a show that makes you laugh, or a friend to call. Oftentimes, the small things are actually the big things. Over time, they add up and impact our lives in ways we would have never dreamed of.
“Be grateful for small things, big things, and everything in between. Count your blessings, not your problems.”-Mandy Hale
When you are present and give thanks for the beautiful things that still exist in your life, amidst the chaos, it can shift your entire perspective. You will tap into the realization that life every moment of your existence is something to be treasured and not taken for granted.
Oftentimes people don’t practice gratitude until something bad happens in our lives. This is why, when so many people are on their death bed, they start living every day to the fullest. If you knew that you only had one day left to live, would you sweat the small stuff or would you find joy in the simplest of things?
2. Help Someone In Need
We all experience challenges in life. When you give back to others in need, it not only lifts others’ spirits, but it also reminds you that you aren’t alone. Not only will it make you more grateful for the things that you may take for granted, but studies have shown that volunteering increases our own well-being, and thus our ability to have more gratitude.
Contribution provides a powerful lens from which you are able to look at your problems from the outside. When you give back, not only does it give you a sense of purpose, but it also makes others’ lives better. It’s a win-win.
3. Surrender To What Is
By surrendering to pain or challenges in life, you live with a deeper sense of trust that everything is happening as it should. Without surrender, you are in a state of resistance, which leaves zero space for gratitude. As difficult as it is, there is beauty in letting go of what you cannot control.
Tap into your body’s innate intelligence. Feel your pain, fully. Don’t try to force it to go away. Trust me, that only makes it worse. Simply observe it and let it move through you.
Life’s knockdowns have always forced me to slow down, re-evaluate and go inward. I’ve come to realize that, sometimes, pain is part of the journey back to a form of freedom that you would have never known had you not walked through the fire to get there.
It all comes down to your perspective. Know that the trials you are going through are just a slice of your life. It’s not the whole damn pie.
4. Laugh Through The Pain
I am sure that you have heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine.” Laughing is one of the best ways that I am able to lift my spirits when I feel like shit.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that pain is funny. It’s far from it. However, your response to challenges is what determines how well you are able to cope with them. It’s OK to feel sad, but it’s not healthy to stew in this negative place.
Even in the most difficult of times, I think that if something is funny, you should laugh for the sake of laughing. Seize any opportunity that allows you to escape the chaos that is consuming your mind. Trust me when I say that, the burden that is lifted when you release all of the ‘stuff’ that weighs you down, is a beautiful thing.
In the words of Laura Ingalls Wilder, “A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing.” Humor shines a light on the darkness, making it more manageable. In my eyes, there is nothing wrong with that.
Wake up every day and be eternally grateful for your life and the people in it.
We never plan for disappointments in our lives. We always hope for the best. Consequently, most of the time, we are unprepared when life knocks us down. The next time you find yourself wondering how to be grateful when life knocks you down, I hope my insights have inspired you to give thanks for your life and the people in it.
Always be encouraged to look at the brighter side of life. Like someone said, “Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.”
Get up and live.
Are you ready to learn how you can get back up when life knocks you on your ass? CLICK HERE for instant access to my free resilience mastery guidebook!
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