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Daily Question, October 1

How might I be grateful in “bad” times as well as “good”?

  • Marnie Jackson

    I most recently discovered the phrase ….”I get to….” so even in “bad times” I get to find the thing that I am going to learn and grow. It may be painful and hard, but adversity always helps me to be a more compassionate, empathetic person

  • Mike

    By remembering that much of what is good in my life has come to me by grace, utterly undeserved; and that I will be given the grace to get through what is bad, even when I’ve brought that bad on myself. and my getting through it is equally undeserved.

  • Malag

    Sometimes the bad is just bad. Sometimes I see that some growth will happen, something different, something that acts on me and moulds me a bit different. And then there’s the contrast of experiencing something beautiful in the midst of heartache. Like the story of seeing the juicy strawberry within hands reach when your hands are otherwise occupied holding onto the edge of a cliff.

  • Nancy Walton-House
    Even in “bad times” I can recognize and savor my everyday blessings beginning with the realization that I am alive. I can remember that I have faith, a faith community, a family, friends and associates. I can remember that I have food, water, housing, heat or cooling when needed, healthcare, dental care, transportation, books, music, TV, films and the internet to expand and enrich my world. I have interesting and satisfying activities to do. I have treasured memories of people, pets, pla...

    Even in “bad times” I can recognize and savor my everyday blessings beginning with the realization that I am alive. I can remember that I have faith, a faith community, a family, friends and associates. I can remember that I have food, water, housing, heat or cooling when needed, healthcare, dental care, transportation, books, music, TV, films and the internet to expand and enrich my world. I have interesting and satisfying activities to do. I have treasured memories of people, pets, places and experiences I’ve enjoyed. I also have ways to give my time, talent and treasure to causes I support. There are so many gifts I’ve been privileged to receive. Deo Gratias.

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  • Heather

    This is a struggle for me at times, especially since both my husband and myself have mental disorders. When I have a shred of mindset I do a grounding activity (which does have to do with gratitude). 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 that you can touch, 2 things you can smell/taste.

  • dcdeb

    There are always good things going on. It is very difficult for me to find the good things and can take some time, but since i know ahead of time that the good things are there i keep trying.

  • Don Jones

    Personally, I feel gratitude is a state of being rather than an action. So, if I am grateful, it doesn’t matter what is going on around me.

  • Ose
    It was often the difficulties, which by overcoming them helped to develop an increasing inner knowing of being held in His Love no matter what troubled my heart. This was and is something of the most beautiful which could happen to me, but the process was not easy at all, in fact quite painful, and for the deep seated struggles it took a while. I guess it was not easy as well for the ones who had the will and the heart to confront me with what I could not see, for which I will be forever gratefu...

    It was often the difficulties, which by overcoming them helped to develop an increasing inner knowing of being held in His Love no matter what troubled my heart. This was and is something of the most beautiful which could happen to me, but the process was not easy at all, in fact quite painful, and for the deep seated struggles it took a while. I guess it was not easy as well for the ones who had the will and the heart to confront me with what I could not see, for which I will be forever grateful towards the ones concerned. Finding strength to face inner despair, to observe it with compassion and to let go of these old phantoms which brought me to were I had landed became a door to gratefulness. Meditation was a huge help, and you all who share here, too. Beneath all I read here in your beautiful and warmhearted posts and and was taught or said by friends, I could sense what connects us all. And this comforted even in the most painful moments. May His beams soothe and radiate to the ones who struggle, may you sense it beneath all pain, may healing be on its way to all who suffer. For this I pray.

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  • pkr

    My experience with “bad times”, & trust me I have had many, like many here, is that there is a lesson to be learned & there is growth. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow & to learn. I know easier said than done. I guess so much of it, life, is how we look at it. Our attitude is half the battle. Happy October to All. 🍁🍂🍁

  • Chester

    Be grateful for the strength to persevere and take the next step.

  • Carol

    I can be grateful in bad times when I remind myself that the biggest battles are always within. Mindset has a lot to do with choosing to respond instead of react to my life situation. When I’m feeling challenged and losing hope, I pray for wisdom–the willingness to learn from what is happening. Go with the flow. I don’t know if that is equivalent to being grateful for the bad times but by not labeling what is happening, I avoid seeing it as a problem.

  • sunnypatti

    Honestly, if I look at myself in the midst of any “bad” time, I can’t say I was practicing gratitude during them. But! Upon reflection, I always look for the lesson, for something to be grateful for. There have been times when the lesson takes days, even months, to reveal itself to me, but the good thing is that I’ve learned to practice gratitude daily, so I can always find something good in my life, even if it’s not stemming particularly from something happening to me in the now.

  • Carla

    When in the midst of a challenging event; I pause. Through prayer & meditation I’ve come to know & believe “this” too shall pass. This experience that I’m in may stretch me in ways I’d rather not grow. However, the God of my understanding does provide me with the tools & skills I need to walk through the rough time.

    • Carol

      The God of my understanding is an evolutionary god that wants me to evolve. Sounds like yours is, too.

  • Holly in Ohio
    First I had to learn that having a tragic life is not the kind of competition that I want to win. I'm embarrassed to say that, but it's true that when I was a teen I fed the sadness, focused on the bad, and milked it for all the sympathy and love I could get. Only when I got sick of it did I start to learn. Then I went through a phase of, "Well at least it's not worse." There are people starving in __________, as our mother's used to tell us when we didn't want to eat what was for dinner. Bu...

    First I had to learn that having a tragic life is not the kind of competition that I want to win. I’m embarrassed to say that, but it’s true that when I was a teen I fed the sadness, focused on the bad, and milked it for all the sympathy and love I could get. Only when I got sick of it did I start to learn.

    Then I went through a phase of, “Well at least it’s not worse.” There are people starving in __________, as our mother’s used to tell us when we didn’t want to eat what was for dinner. But comparisons are not comforting! Suffering dutifully through bad times is not comforting.

    At last I learned to look for the good around me and in life. I started to look at my power to comfort, to bring cheer, to give, to appreciate music or nature, to share a laugh, to love. It is here that I found reasons to be grateful, even when my friend was dying young, even when my daughter made poor choices, even when my health was bad, even when I was anxious. The march of life’s events continue, but gratitude and love are constants.

    Gratitude is a practice. It doesn’t fall in our laps because we are lucky. Rather, we are lucky, because we practice gratitude.

    love to all of you this morning. ❤

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    • Kevin

      There’s a recovery phrase that goes: “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired,” that people who have made it through to a better place have used as a stepping stone and way out to a better life, that your story reminds me of, Holly. Thank you..

      • Holly in Ohio

        Yes, it does. 🙂 And as I look back, I could say that feeling sorry for myself was like an addiction. Thank you, Kevin. That’s very useful.

    • Carol

      Holly, Do you hear my “Amen!”

  • Cintia

    I pray for “One day at a time”.

    God! Just give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do… during bad or good times.

  • Mary Pat
    I am grateful in bad times to remember the thought that I know it is not going to last forever….it will pass…as one quote goes-Like a Kidney Stone, But It Will Pass- It is something I make sure I remember, that it is not a forever event. And it awakens me to see those around me who are willing to walk whatever road I am on alongside me. And they are not always the same people. It is a path, a journey. An adventure waiting for me to discover something new, maybe not fun, but something to lear...

    I am grateful in bad times to remember the thought that I know it is not going to last forever….it will pass…as one quote goes-Like a Kidney Stone, But It Will Pass-
    It is something I make sure I remember, that it is not a forever event. And it awakens me to see those around me who are willing to walk whatever road I am on alongside me. And they are not always the same people. It is a path, a journey. An adventure waiting for me to discover something new, maybe not fun, but something to learn that others can relate to…..so another connection to another soul…..

    Read More
  • Blossom

    I was about to have a high risk surgery , followed by chemo and radiation. I had such simple thought, I was grateful that I had found happiness before going into all that was about to be done. Today I am still grateful, everyday is a blessing. 🙏

  • Nelson

    If it’s an event, I look for the helpers during times of crisis. If it’s something personal, I have to remember I’ve been through tough times before. I’ve always came out a stronger, wiser, more resilient person afterward.

  • Katrina
    I look for what I am learning. But sometimes that cannot be seen until the situation is long past. I had severe chronic migraines for years I was grateful for the days with no headaches, but that was about it. I was scared the rest of the time, and scared when I didn't have a headache, because I knew another one was moments, or days away. What I learned is compassion for those with chronic health issues. They are real. I am grateful I learned that. But it was very difficult to be grateful in the...

    I look for what I am learning. But sometimes that cannot be seen until the situation is long past. I had severe chronic migraines for years I was grateful for the days with no headaches, but that was about it. I was scared the rest of the time, and scared when I didn’t have a headache, because I knew another one was moments, or days away. What I learned is compassion for those with chronic health issues. They are real. I am grateful I learned that. But it was very difficult to be grateful in the midst of it all.

    Read More
    • Kevin

      I certainly understand this, Katrina. Wishing you the very best of good health that is possible.

    • Linda

      I agree with Holly. I had migraines for years in my 20’s. No medications available at that time. They were miserable and lasted several hours. Recently they returned (40 years later!) but I now have a medication that stops them in their tracks. I am so grateful! I hope you have access to these now.

    • Holly in Ohio

      Dear Katrina, I used to experience migraines with regularity, I deeply sympathize! They can be quite debilitating! Please read all you can about migraines and work with your doctor. For me, water, nutrition, and stress relief were enough to bring it under control, but today they also have better medicines. They can do so much more now than they used to. I will add you to my prayers.

  • Patricia

    A little prayer we started with our first child was, “Dear God, thank you for today and all the things that happened today.” Some nights, it sticks in my throat… but it has reminded me to look for what is behind or inside some of the things I initially believe to be without value.

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