Gratitude is a Resilient Attitude
A reflection on attention, gratitude, and resilience.
The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.
-Marcus Aurelius
What you focus on, you get more of.
If you look for it, you’ll find it.
Attention amplifies.
I have a great life. That’s primarily because I choose to continually focus on the best aspects while controlling what I can within it.
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not but rejoices for those which he has.
-Epictetus
It would be easy to pay attention to the shortcomings of my loved one’s, my failures, unfair circumstances, and how terrible things can be sometimes.
Amplify the negative.
We are all flawed. There isn’t a person in my life, including myself, that I couldn’t make out to seem bad by focusing on their imperfections.
This is why reflection on, and interpretation of our thoughts is so important.
Judge Your Thoughts
I was sitting in my steam tent other day reflecting on the importance of our thinking patterns, specifically the judgement of our thoughts.
If you’re looking for a problem or a threat, you’ll find one.
If searching for a solution or lesson, you’ll find many possibilities.
Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.
-Marcus Aurelius
Perception influences reality.
Gratitude or regret.
Thankful or resentful.
Content or greedy.
These are choices that we often delegate to the subconscious or external influence.
No.
Not anymore.
Hard days are inevitable.
What upsets people is not the things themselves but their judgement about things.
-Epictetus
My life isn’t easy.
Good.
I wouldn’t want that anyway. Chronic comfort is detrimental.
My life is often chaotic.
Good.
Opportunity to practice management and balance.
I have many weaknesses.
Good.
Opportunity for training.
Others have it perceptually better than me.
Doesn’t matter.
Others have it perceptually worse too.
Neither perspective is reliable or productive.
Many people in my life are difficult.
Good.
Opportunity for empathy and impact.
I’m no longer close with my childhood friends and family.
Good.
Opportunity to create new communities.
I’ve experienced many tragedies.
That’s unfortunately a part of life.
Our response and support systems ultimately determine growth vs. prolonged trauma.
I often struggle to be happy.
Good.
Happiness is an intermittent byproduct of chance or skill application.
Chronic happiness is unreasonable and even detrimental.
Pursue contentment. Satisfaction is sustainable.
Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not in your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
-Charles Dickens
My life is good because I choose for it to be.
With consistent conscious effort, we can rewire our thought patterns, make habits of beneficial skills like gratitude, and change our outlook.
Control what you can.
Train your mindsets to influence your mental states.
Amplify the positive.
Use the meaning of today’s holiday to remind yourself that there is always a silver lining.
There is always opportunity.
There are always things within our control.
There are always reasons to be grateful.
Satisfaction comes from gratitude.
Happiness is fleeting.
Contentment is lasting.
Resilience is the foundation.
Therefore, I hope you have a Resilient Thanksgiving!
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget the highest appreciation is not to utter the words but to live by them.
-John F. Kennedy