Practicing Gratefulness in Challenging Times

Take a moment to notice the details of your surroundings here and now. Look carefully. Can you see them as if it were for the first time? When you are ready, let your thoughts stretch beyond your immediate situation to things that have happened to you recently. What have been your greatest joys lately? Your toughest challenges? Bring these joys and challenges clearly to mind in descriptive words or images.

Now narrow your focus solely to whatever you’re finding hardest to handle. Ask yourself: What qualities does this obstacle call me to develop? Can even bereavement or job struggles, for instance, call forth a creative response? The loss of a loved one can make you aware of bonds from heart to heart which neither distance nor death can break. A job or class you consider impossible can teach you much if you rise to the challenge. In fact, it can show you more about your competence and courage than three dozen self-help books can. Think of any hardship as an invitation. You only need to shift your perception to see the difference. Any difficulty you encounter can draw out the highest good in you.