Appreciate What You Have

For nearly a decade, I have kept a gratitude journal called the Five Minute Journal. Each day, whether in the morning or at night, I take a few moments to jot down three things I am grateful for. It's a simple practice, one I don't always manage to do consistently, but I try my best.

This habit has basically trained my mind to appreciate what I have and see the positive side of anything I experience. The clothes I have, the car I drive, the bed I sleep in, the warm water in my shower, the health of my body, the food I have access to, the technology in my hands, the ability to work. I have come to truly appreciate my family, my friends, the cities I’ve lived in, and the people I meet. I have learned to accept and enjoy the challenges that have shaped me. I have even trained myself to appreciate the “bad” events that caused me pain and redirected my path.

Why dwell on the things you lack, the places you have yet to travel, or all the things you desire to do? Don’t do it. It’s like shooting yourself in the foot, as the saying goes. Shift your focus to the present moment instead, to what’s in front of you. Accept what life has given you, love it, and use each experience as a stepping stone for growth. 

Imagine receiving a gift from a family member and not thanking them for it. And then letting them know that you wanted something else. Do you think that person will ever give you another gift after your lack of appreciation for the one they just gave you? Of course not.

Now imagine that family member is the Absolute. It is life itself, giving your soul what it needs to unfold. Presenting you with the things, the people, the circumstances, the places, and the experiences of daily life. Appreciate them! Be grateful for all of it, the good and the bad.

Think about three things you are grateful for today. Write them down. It takes no more than five minutes of your day. And as you write the things you are grateful for, close your eyes, imagine those things, and feel the gratitude. Make this a habit. The more you genuinely feel that gratitude, the more reasons you’ll find to be grateful.

You’ll find contentment with you current situation, you’ll stop wishing for something else or taking for granted what you have, and you’ll develop a more positive perception of everything that happens around you.

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