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Daily Question, January 30

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

  • Dusty Su
    A practice that has helped me greatly is to remember that in one hand I hold incredible beauty, Grace, joy, and blessings. In the other hand, challenges, discouragement, even tragedies. This is life! When I can hold these two together without judgment, but with great gratitude, knowing that one hand will be stronger at times than the other, but no one hand will not dominate all of the time, this helps greatly. I try to respond to either of these hands and what they present to me daily, rather th...

    A practice that has helped me greatly is to remember that in one hand I hold incredible beauty, Grace, joy, and blessings. In the other hand, challenges, discouragement, even tragedies. This is life! When I can hold these two together without judgment, but with great gratitude, knowing that one hand will be stronger at times than the other, but no one hand will not dominate all of the time, this helps greatly. I try to respond to either of these hands and what they present to me daily, rather than react.

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  • Tahsin Tabassum

    counting the gifts I have in my life and blessings

  • reality

    I’ve found that the suffering I experience allows me a greater understanding, empathy for others suffering; and I’m grateful for that 🙂 reality

  • Megalodon

    It isn’t easy to be grateful in bad times but I have been grateful for the support I have gotten in those times. I’ve also gotten to realize that those bad times bring good growth. “It is a dark cloud indeed that does not have a silver lining.”

  • Present Moment

    I love the Guthrie quotation. .

  • Michele

    Always being grateful. Period.

  • Malag

    That even in those bad times I know that some change will happen that will bring me to a new experience, maybe what happens changes me or the situation changes. That has been my experience of bad (but, not terrible) times. Growth has emerged.

  • SaVaLoS

    The ? inside tries to say by becoming worse than the bad situation and getting “even” which usually entails creating far more trouble but anyways I guess by becoming more grateful which I should look into and work on.

    Otherwise I seem to be stuck in a perpetual bad time right now and I can’t wish it away nor use the devil inside to pull a bank heist or diamond or art robbery winning millions?! Gambling is a terrible idea too.

    I guess I should work on gratitude!

    • dear Trev, we can be open to both evil and good. You are not alone. It is a matter of choice, as Palm wisely says below. I think your awareness will help you, I’m sure. Take yourself where you feel safe, peaceful, grateful, joyful. I join Palm in wishing you peace.

    • Palm
      Dear Trev, I relate to what you say about that voice that tells me to become worse and get even. I have done it myself, and yes, it creates more trouble, and afterwards it makes me feel awful. One thing that has helped me is to listen with my whole body and do the next right thing. Things may take longer to balance out, and I may have to be stubborn and insist with myself in just doing the right thing, but I’ll have peace of mind knowing that I have not perpetuated suffering. Still work in pro...

      Dear Trev, I relate to what you say about that voice that tells me to become worse and get even. I have done it myself, and yes, it creates more trouble, and afterwards it makes me feel awful. One thing that has helped me is to listen with my whole body and do the next right thing. Things may take longer to balance out, and I may have to be stubborn and insist with myself in just doing the right thing, but I’ll have peace of mind knowing that I have not perpetuated suffering. Still work in progress for me… Sending peaceful thoughts

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      • Cathy

        “do the next right thing” ← Powerful. Not ‘do the right thing’ but ‘do the NEXT right thing.’ TY, Palm.

    • Mary

      Even when I’m not really feeling it, it does always seem to be the best option.

  • Ose
    What is “bad” and what is “good” times? To stay grateful no matter what. More and more, it is possible to experience that it it is a matter of perspective. For example, while being in a hurry two hours ago to have things fixed for a meeting, I fell down, hurting my face, fell on my nose, much nosebleed, fortunately no fracture anywhere., but I will have bruises in my face for days ? , reminding me of my being busy much too much since many days, one thing after the other in various field...

    What is “bad” and what is “good” times? To stay grateful no matter what. More and more, it is possible to experience that it it is a matter of perspective. For example, while being in a hurry two hours ago to have things fixed for a meeting, I fell down, hurting my face, fell on my nose, much nosebleed, fortunately no fracture anywhere., but I will have bruises in my face for days ? , reminding me of my being busy much too much since many days, one thing after the other in various fields nearly without a break except for some hours of sleep. So now I stop, and the “bad” and painful, which happened turns out to be a “good” shift. It helps me not to take it too personal, not accusing myself or others or the bad light on the street or the rainy condition where I slipped, but to allow change in aspects which might not be in balance and take rest, enjoying my time on my sofa now while sharing this despite my swollen and hurting nose ?

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    • Ose, I am sorry for you, I wish you a quick recovery, but at the same time, let me say that you are a fantastic woman!

    • Palm

      Get better soon, Ose ?

      • Ose

        Thank you, dear Palm, for your care. Have a good night`s sleep, dear Palm and a beautiful new day!

        • Mary

          Ose, so sorry you fell! That must have really hurt! But I do see what your saying. You’re using that to help you remember to slow down. Sometimes it seems like I need something difficult to happen before I can see, or before I am willing to see that I need to make a change.

  • Eva

    Fully acknowledge and accept the bad and allow myself to grieve. At the same time, not to let myself forget there are still beauty and joy in this world, and let myself feel that, too.

  • Cailinrua

    The letter on the home page from Danny, incarcerated for over 30 years, is the most inspiring answer to this question that I can think of. I can’t even begin to imagine how he has survived and can be so positive, but he does it every day!

  • Chester

    Through Intention – then faithfully start with the precept of being grateful, and fill in the blank.

  • Hot Sauce
    My whole philosophy of life is that the so-called "bad times" are learning experiences that help us grow in wisdom, resilience, and compassion for other people. It doesn't mean we spiritually bypass the negative feelings about it and pretend everything is all rainbows and unicorns when it clearly isn't; instead, it means we can hold the pain of the moment and feel whatever feelings come up while simultaneously remembering that, if nothing else, this is a learning experience that will help us gro...

    My whole philosophy of life is that the so-called “bad times” are learning experiences that help us grow in wisdom, resilience, and compassion for other people. It doesn’t mean we spiritually bypass the negative feelings about it and pretend everything is all rainbows and unicorns when it clearly isn’t; instead, it means we can hold the pain of the moment and feel whatever feelings come up while simultaneously remembering that, if nothing else, this is a learning experience that will help us grow stronger. Gratitude and pain are not mutually exclusive.

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    • Malag

      I read this after mine. Says more what I was trying to articulate. Thank you.

  • Raven

    By embracing each day that pain is necessary and unavoidable. Knowing that the “bad” times are when we are presented the opportunity to move into greater freedom, love, bliss, wholeness. Grieve as necessary.

  • Ann

    Reframing, based in a belief that the universe is an organizing energy force of well-being, helps me shift from an unconsciously-chosen, unpleasantly-feeling “story”. Also, remembering that I have the choice about what to focus on and that what I focus on increases also helps me to choose gratefulness rather than remaining stuck in a unpleasantly-feeling perspective.

  • Butterfly

    By focusing on what I have and not what I feel I have lost.

  • Katrina

    Find the lesson – there is always something to be learned; look for ways to be helpful or kind – e.g. Mr. Rogers; get out in nature – she speaks volumes to our souls.

  • Jackie

    Sometimes it is like mining, trying to find the bit of gold in a dark cave without a headlamp. But usually there is something to be grateful for. I have to intentionally look for it.

  • sunnypatti

    Look for the lesson. Grow.

  • GCharlotte

    In ” bad ” times there is confusion just as there is confusion in “good” times as well with gratitude there is peace in both times.

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