Finding Happiness in Being Grateful

If I was to be very, very honest with you, I would tell you that for me, the last few weeks have been shrouded by a dark cloud. It’s not that there has been anything in particular ‘wrong’ per say, I’ve just been very fed up. It has seemed like the simplest of things have been difficult to cope with. I’ve found my temper with the boys become shorter (much shorter) and I’ve been spending most evenings sobbing. Simply sobbing. My poor husband has tried his best to be loving and supportive, which must be hard given that he has only got soggy cuddles in return and not much else.

I’m trying to cheer up.

In my heart of hearts I know I’ve simply got a case of the blues and I just need to look after myself better, relax a little more, get more sleep and try to be a little bit more positive about things.

I’ll be right as rain soon, so don’t worry peeps.

In the meantime, I’ve noticed that lately, while listening to people around me talking about their lives and general events, I keep hearing versions of what seem to be pretty much the same thing, like some kind of theme is coming through;

Being grateful.

One of my friends recently spoke of how when she found a moment to ‘thank the universe’ for something good in her life, something else fabulous immediately happened. Then when she thanked the universe for that, two more happy events occurred.

Last week my Mum even had a book published (her first finished piece) on Kindle and paperback, which you can purchase here, all about being grateful.

I haven’t read it, it being a ‘religious text’ and all, but from the blurb I’d say if one was that way inclined, it’s a very inspiring read. It's all about prayer and trying not to come to God with a list but rather to be thankful for what he has already provided.

It seems to me that whoever you are, however you see the world, whomever you feel is ‘in charge of things’, as it were, if we take a moment to be grateful and to dwell on the good things, the happier and more successful (however you might measure that) we become.

There’s a great Ted Talk about being grateful.

And there is some excellent advice here about learning to be more grateful.

It makes perfect sense to me that the more time we spend thinking about the great things in our lives, the happier we would be.

Of course, in doing so we have less time to dwell on the crappier side of things, so we naturally become less miserable.

Even cynical old me has watched miserable people grow sick and weary under the pressure of their bitterness. Like their own bodies couldn’t cope with the negativity and literally gave out under the weight.

If only they could’ve just cheered the hell up!

Being angry and miserable will never do us any good, but happiness, smiling, laughter and hugs are all things that have proven healing powers (Google it if your not sure there's scientific proof).

oh dear, I've quoted Oprah :/

Also, I feel I should add, that I spend a lot of time looking to the future. It drives me to distraction and I so wish I could live in the moment more. I know I'll never be happy while most of my efforts are spent thinking things will be vastly improved in a few months, when the house is done, when the garden is finished, when we've saved up for that, when we've paid that debt off, etc, etc. The moments I feel actual happiness are the moments when I stop. When I stop thinking and just be in the moment, usually with my boys, just playing or simply watching them play. I feel like if I carried on like this, moping about the things that aren't good enough yet and waiting for certain things to improve, I'd look back to find grown men. I'd miss it. Children really do grow too fast. My littlest guy was five last week. Ridiculous! How did that happen? I definitely need to spend less time sulking and more time just enjoying the day to day stuff.

I love this idea.

So this is what I’m grateful for;

My two little boys, their enquiring minds and ceaseless zest for life.

That my children, my husband and I, are all healthy.

My loving & supportive husband.

That we can afford to pay the bills.

Family.

Great friends.

A small breeze on a warm day.

Birdsong.

Warm sunshine on my skin.

My driving license.

That little sign my dog makes when she’s comfy.

The sound of rain.

Silence.

My body.

My mind.

My creative fingers.

Clean water and electricity in our home.

Music.

Books.

Other people’s stories.

This was surprisingly difficult to write, so I ended up just trying to write a list of everyday things which make me happy. I didn’t want to get all sentimental on you, but it appears that it’s impossible to avoid when it comes to things like this.

So let’s be soppy together!

What makes you happy?

What are you grateful for?

Write in the comments below x 

If you need some inspiration for writing your own list, this might be of use;

If you fancy it, maybe join in with a #thankfulthursday or follow thankful thursday on facebook. Or maybe make a photo diary, a little like the #100happydays (which I got through almost 70 days of before I got annoyed with it - oops. I just kept having days that ended in such personal darkness that I couldn't see any light), but weekly might be more do-able.
Wishing you all the happiness in the world my lovelies xxx