I think it was Jim Rohn whose concept of being thankful rang home the loudest for me. I am paraphrasing, but what he said was “How can you make room for more goodness in your life if you don’t already appreciate what you already have?”
It makes so much sense on both a logical and emotional level. How can we persuade our minds to work with us to achieve the goals we have – or the dreams we have in our hearts if we don’t already appreciate what we already do have? A picture comes to my mind of someone wanting to buy a brand new Seabreeze yacht. Yet, the rowboat he already owns has been neglected. He has left it out in the rain and sun. It is weather-beaten and developing patches of rust.
What does a goal of a new bigger boat signal to this man’s mind? Isn’t he really sending his mind mixed signals? Aren’t his goals out of alignment with his behaviors?
It’s the same with health, with money and just about everything else we may possess in abundance. Why not be thankful for health today instead of taking it for granted? Can we truly be healthy long term if we are not thankful for our health now?
I remember seeing an interview with a young woman in a wheelchair once. Her friend asked her what she would do if she could walk again. Her reply was “I wouldn’t walk. I would run! So many people who can walk never run.”
So for this thanksgiving, I’d like to encourage all of my readers to spend a few extra minutes writing down what you are thankful about. Thanksgiving comes only once a year. So take this one time to do it. You might even consider making it a part of your dinner prayer or blessing. Repeat the process as much as possible on non-holidays to be happier and make room for your future goals.
Some of the things I am thankful for are:
1. My family. We are all pretty happy and healthy this year.
2. My struggles. It may sound strange to be thankful for my struggles. But when you consider the struggles of others who may not have food or who are out of work, then my struggles are a walk in the park.
3. To have enough to be able to share. Share with you, share with my family, share with my friends.
4. To be able to write and have loyal readers. So, dear reader, I am thankful for you…yes you!
For those things and many more, I am thankful.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving,
Brad Isaac
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So true man.
I think about this a lot myself. Just this Thanksgiving, I was with the family, and I was thinking about how lucky I am to have a great family. All families have drama, and mine is no exception. But our drama pales in comparison to others’.
It’s great to be able to reflect on things like this, and actually be thankful.
Do you think that being thankful can be demotivating at all? I was just thinking that, after reading your post. If someone is always mindful of what they have, and what they’ve accomplished, can it make them gunshy about pulling the trigger and accomplishing more?
Glad you had a good Thanksgiving
I think we all have to deal with becoming too comfortable and comfort can be demotivating. If I am perfectly happy working 8 hours and coming home to watch TV for 4 hours and then go to bed every single night. That’s comfort, not thankfulness.
Someone who truly appreciates their gifts and abilities would be more likely to use them. If you don’t use them you’ll lose them. The old saying “use it or lose it” comes to mind.
An example from my own life. Age feels like it is creeping up on me and I’m not able to run as quickly and effortlessly as I could when I was 20. I don’t seem to have the same energy as when I was young either. If I was comfortable with the decline, I’d just let it go. Let my health and abilities I do have slowly decline to where I might one day have trouble climbing stairs.
No, instead I choose to appreciate the health I do have by making time for excercize several times a week.
Excellent points all.
Great read. All so true.
I use this principle to melt away the holiday fat – I give my kids their present(s) on the day that says, “thanks giving”
What an awesome article, and a deep truth! How can I handle more of anything if I can’t even handle what I have? Your writing really put a new perspective on an old idea for me… thank you.
Thanks Lyman and welcome to the site. Hope to see you again soon.