Take The Time To Be Thankful

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Take The Time To Be Thankful

Being thankful. It’s such an “in” phrase this time of year. With Thanksgiving having just passed and time moving quickly towards Christmas and the rest of the holidays of the Holiday Season, we are reminded a lot more about what we have to be thankful for. Last week I wrote that you don’t have to be loud to be a leader. Today I want to discuss why

Being Thankful Is So Important

We all have so many things to be thankful for, ALL THE TIME. Whether we’re talking about health, family, family health, work status, career advancement, opportunities for fun outside of work, or any number of other reasons, we all have a number of things to be thankful for. Even in the darkest of times, there’s things to be thankful for.

I realize that right this very moment some people are trying to survive some very tough circumstances. In those situations it often seems difficult to be thankful, but it’s still important, even when it feels like you’ve lost everything or simply can’t go on anymore. It can mean the difference between recovering and not.

If I were to put 100 people in a room who had just lost everything to their name, or were fighting a particularly nasty disease, I guarantee you there would be some who had already written everything off and some who were thankful for what they still had. Which group do you think would have the best chance of beating their circumstances? And even if they aren’t able to recover from their setback, who do you think would be better able to enjoy themselves even for the circumstances they were in?

I’m not saying that you’ll never be shocked and get down by some particularly unexpected and devastating news. We all get down from time to time, especially when some sort of bad news comes out of left field. But, those that are better able to process the information and then remember all the things in their lives that they have to be thankful for are the ones who have the best chance of moving past whatever setbacks they have faced. They have the best chance to recover and taking steps in a positive direction.

Ultimately, the ball is in your court. It’s up to you. You’re the only one that can improve you. But it’s worth the effort.

Here’s one more challenge that I pose to you. Don’t just be thankful during this holiday season. Be thankful in March or May or June or August. Be thankful when very few others are thinking about being thankful for what they have. That will set you apart and help you to achieve everything you’re destined to. Until next time…

Image credit to TheChangeBlog.

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NOV
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Categories: Attitude, Communication, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation, Personal Development, Success, Values

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About the Author:

Barry Overstreet is somebody who's struggled in the past to make money online, and he's finally started to figure it all out. He knows what it's like to be new in the industry and what it's like to struggle trying to figure out your unique selling proposition. He's here to help you get your USP figured out.

Discussion

  1. Mitch Mitchell  November 28, 2012

    As long as we acknowledge that it’s hard for some people who have suffered some catastrophic losses and continue having problems to be thankful all that easily, I’m with you. There are people who just had their homes totally demolished by the city of New York because it was determined they weren’t safe anymore, and they lost everything in those homes as well. Telling those folks to be thankful they’re alive probably doesn’t do them much good.

    However, for the rest of us who haven’t suffered anything that disastrous, it really is important to find the right reasons for being thankful. Kind of like the Who’s in Whoville in the Grinch story. Just having someone, anyone, who likes you a lot or loves you, just having the opportunity to wake up the next day and have another chance to make a difference in your life and someone else’s life… that’s great stuff to be thankful for. :-)
    Mitch Mitchell recently posted..Leadership During TragedyMy Profile

    (reply)
    • Barry Overstreet  December 1, 2012

      Hi Mitch,

      I wholeheartedly agree that there are some losses that are tough to overcome. In those cases I think timing is one of the most critical issues. I wouldn’t necessarily expect a Sandy survivor who just lost their house and everything they own and still don’t have shelter or food to be running around all smiles as happy as can be. They need time to grieve and to heal. But, at some point they do have to move on or run the risk of being stuck in a negative spiraling funk for a long, long time.

      Even much more minor situations need some time to deal with the loss. It’s just human nature, and I didn’t mean to say that people shouldn’t be allowed that recovery time. But too many people run around thinking about how bad everything is for themselves instead of looking at all of the positive things happening in their lives. That’s all.

      I hope you have an outstanding week, my friend! Thanks for stopping by again.

      ~Barry

      (reply)
  2. Adrienne  January 5, 2013

    Hey Barry,

    I agree with you 100% and I am one of those people who wakes up thanking God every single day. Not only do I thank him for allowing me another day on this earth but I quickly go down my list of things I’m thankful for.

    I honestly believe that I am where I am today because I am extremely appreciative of what I have. It might not be much by some people’s standards but it’s all mine and I’m darn proud of it.

    Thanksgiving brings out in those people who aren’t thankful everyday at least some kind gestures. I hate that usually something horrible has to happen in their lives before they finally “get it”. I got it early on with my Dad being ill my entire life. I watched people pass away at a very young age and I learned way back then that life is promised to anyone. Enjoy each day like it’s your last and don’t have any regrets. Just thank God that you’re still here alive, healthy and blessed.

    Thank you for this wonderful reminder Barry and here is wishing you a fabulous New Year!

    ~Adrienne
    Adrienne recently posted..2013 Here I ComeMy Profile

    (reply)
    • Barry Overstreet  January 5, 2013

      Hi Adrienne,

      Thanks for stopping by!

      It’s so easy to get caught up in all the negativity that we all face daily. We all have bad things happen to us in some form or fashion, and I truly believe our success lies in how we handle it. Obviously with tragedy comes grief, and people need time to heal. That being said, at some point you have to move on if you want to overcome. It just simply has to happen.

      Unfortunately, too many people lose themselves in their situation, which then grows to eventually define that person. They never get out of the funk and never again strive for or reach their potential.

      Thank you for the well wishes! I hope you have a truly outstanding 2013 as well!!

      ~Barry

      (reply)
  3. Mary Stephenson  January 6, 2013

    Hi Barry

    I started writing down 10 things to be thankful for each day since the end of August. It has made me appreciated the things that I do have and that I may be struggling but am much better often than a great deal of other people.
    One just has to look around and I am here right now and others don’t even have the ability to read or have a warm house to live in.
    Being thankful each day changes the attitude of sadness into happiness and that is very uplifting.
    Wishing you a wonderful 2013.
    Mary
    Mary Stephenson recently posted..The Intruder and What Could Have Been a TragedyMy Profile

    (reply)
    • Barry Overstreet  January 14, 2013

      Hi Mary,

      Sorry it took so long for your comment to get approved. It got caught up in my SPAM filter for some reason and I just found it while clearing out those comments.

      Anyways, you’re absolutely right. All we have to do is look around us and we can find many things to be thankful for. We sometimes lose sight of this because of current circumstances, but in the end we have to come back to being thankful or else we run the risk of being consumed by whatever it is that has hurt us.

      I hope you, too, have an absolutely outstanding 2013 and I also hope to see you back around here again soon!

      ~Barry

      (reply)
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