Everyone strives to be happy. But sometimes when we encounter life’s challenges, it becomes difficult to focus on the positive and we dwell on the negative instead. Recently, I dealt with the decline of my grandfather’s health due to prostate cancer and eventually his passing. From September of 2015 to March of 2016 my family and I struggled with the heavy emotional burden of caring for a terminally ill loved one. My grandfather was one of my best friends and his illness and death were some of the most challenging situations I’ve ever faced, however, I decided that I still needed to focus on the countless positive aspects of my life. In this article I will share 10 things to do to help you recognize your blessings even in the face of life’s obstacles.
1. Think of one thing you’re grateful for daily.
Initially, practicing gratitude can be challenging because you may not know where to start. Personally, I incorporate my gratitude time into my prayer time. I recommend thinking of the simple, yet obvious things in life for which you are grateful. For example: “Today I am grateful that I woke up this morning” or “Today I am grateful for my mom”. Eventually, you’ll recognize the small but integral parts of your life that are deserving of gratitude. Example: “Today I am grateful that my best friend and I laughed for 10 minutes over a lame joke”.
2. Start writing in a journal.
Write down your emotions, thoughts, ideas, or just doodle. Writing about your hardship can relieve stress, or writing about something completely unrelated can help to take your mind off of it. Either way, journaling is a reflective and freeing experience.
3. Reward yourself for your hard work.
Reward yourself at least once a week for having the strength to tackle your everyday routine while dealing with life’s challenge, by doing something that you love.
4. Take time to silently evaluate your emotions.
We are so busy that we are rarely ever in silence. Pure silence gives us an opportunity to evaluate what we are feeling internally without the distractions of what is occurring in the outside world. Try to take 5 minutes each day to sit in silence and reflect on your day and your emotions, and maybe even write it down in your journal!
5. Write a letter of gratitude to a loved one.
We have so many people who support us through life’s challenges. Write a letter to that person who is always there for you and express to them how thankful you are to have them in your life.
6. Do something new that you’ve wanted to try.
Start a new hobby! You can go out with friends and do a group activity or do something nice for yourself such as getting a massage. Just have an experience that will bring you joy.
7. Think about one thing you love about yourself each day.
Self-love is so important and we often forget to do it. We are our worst critics, but it’s essential to realize how amazing we are and credit ourselves for the beauty we possess inside and out.
8. Pray.
Prayer is another form of venting. As a Christian, I know that God supports me through everything, but I sometimes just check in with Him and let Him know how I’m feeling and will ask for a little extra help.
9. Complete one random act of kindness each day.
Making other people happy helps us to be happy. Pay for the Starbuck’s drink of the person in line behind you or bake cookies and bring them to your classmates/co-workers just for fun.
10. Read a self-help book.
There are so many self-help books out there today and two that I have read and recommend are: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey and “You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living An Awesome Life” by Jen Sincero. You can read a book that gives you tips on life in general or tips on how to succeed in a specific area that you’re passionate about.
Ultimately, the key to being happy when life is difficult is seeking out the positive. Anne Frank once said, “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy”. Be grateful for the gift of life, your friends, family, home and so much more and realize that they negative aspects of your life are so miniscule compared to the immense positivity surrounding you.
