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“Gratitude turns what we have into enough” – Melody Beattie (American author)

Regarding all that we have received, all that we own, and all that has not befallen us, gratitude is the attitude of feeling and expressing thankfulness. Being discontent is the opposite. The fact that almost every experience has both good and bad sides is important to understand. Even if it sometimes takes more effort to find the good and discover its treasures, if we put in the time and effort to look intently and actively explore them, we will eventually succeed. Regardless of how bad or hopeless things may appear to be, there is always something to be grateful for.

Photo source: George Dolgikh

Gratitude alters our viewpoint. Most of the minor daily irritations that we tend to pay so much attention to can be eliminated by it. Gratitude is a way to reduce self-pity and self-centeredness, boosting feelings of well-being, and triggering conscious awareness of things outside of ourselves, such as a sense of connectedness to others and the larger world.

When we practice a grateful attitude, even in the face of difficulty, we will reap many benefits of a grateful attitude. Following are a few reasons that practicing gratitude has been shown to have beneficial benefits on our lives:

• Relationships are made stronger through gratitude

It increases our sense of connection and connection with our friends and romantic relationships. When we feel and express gratitude for our spouses, we feel happier in our union.

• Contentment is facilitated by gratitude

One of the most effective ways to improve contentment and life satisfaction is to cultivate gratitude. By fostering feelings of optimism, joy, pleasure, elation, and other positive emotions, it also elevates our mood. Gratitude, on the other hand, also lessens anxiety and despair.

• Enhances mental health

One of several components that supports good mental health outcomes is gratitude. Regular acts of gratitude might lessen anxiety and depressive symptoms. Gratitude is also associated with happier moods. Regularly expressing appreciation promotes positive emotions and can support a sense of well-being.

Nothing but the word of God comes with assurance, and for that matter, nothing should be taken for granted. Every day and each breath are gifts. We get to decide what we do with them.

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Dominion TV, Africa’s Christian Lifestyle Network for Inspired and Empowered Living.

‘An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality.’ – Brian Tracy (Motivational speaker)

Photo source: Jason Villanueva

The term “positivity” describes our propensity to view things positively. Negativity, on the other hand, focuses on thinking, feeling, and acting negatively. When we are optimistic, we may think positively, feel positive, and act favorably. Positive thinking cannot make all of our problems go away like magic. It will help us approach difficulties more positively and constructively by making issues seem more doable.

Several approaches, including positive self-talk and positive imagery, are shown to be beneficial in promoting positive thinking. Here are some pointers on how to think positively.

• Demonstrate gratitude

It has been proven that cultivating gratitude can lower stress, boost self-esteem, and promote resilience even during extremely trying times. We should try to express our gratitude by reflecting on the people, events, or things that make us feel some level of comfort or satisfaction. Numerous options exist for doing this.

• Be humorous

Studies have shown that laughing reduces tension, anxiety, and despair. Additionally, it raises one’s mood, coping mechanisms, and sense of self. In every circumstance, even the challenging ones, we should be receptive to humor and allow ourselves to chuckle. It quickly lightens the mood and makes everything appear simpler. Even when we are not in the mood, feigning ourselves to laugh can lift our spirits and reduce stress.

• Engage in constructive self-talk

We are often the hardest on ourselves and the harshest judges of ourselves. This can eventually lead to us developing a bad opinion of ourselves that is challenging to overcome. We must be aware of the voice in our heads and reply with encouraging words, commonly referred to as positive self-talk, to stop this.

We can increase positivity if we so choose. All we have to do is be careful not to push positivity when it does not seem appropriate. We can become happier by using positive thinking techniques more often.

Photo source: Gursharndeep Singh

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Dominion TV, Africa’s Christian Lifestyle Network for Inspired and Empowered Living.

“Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others.” – Brené Brown (American Professor)

We are involved in a wide variety of interpersonal connections, including those with our spouses, colleagues, coworkers, family, and in-laws. Even though their intensities vary, we often find ourselves a part of these important interactions as part of our busy routines. The majority of us have trouble setting boundaries and perhaps feel embarrassed to bring up this crucial subject for discussion and action.

When used in a relationship to request time or space that can be perceived negatively or appear unwarranted by the other, the word “boundaries” in itself can trigger negative feelings. While we consistently associate boundaries with weaker emotions of love, admiration, or even detachment, setting the way for eventual separation.  We consistently fail to understand that boundaries are not actual limits but instead a place where we find ourselves apart from interpersonal relationships. The possession of our personal space allows us to define intrapersonal space and investigate our daily routines. We visit this area not out of a lack of affection or adoration, but rather because we value discovering an adequate inner self.

Although the nature of relationships is constantly shifting, the effort we put forth to keep them strong is what matters most. Every relationship goes through a stage where we try to build a channel for communication, but we should also build a channel where we are open and sincere in meaningful interactions about our true selves. Boundaries can include prohibitions on physical behavior, such as requests that a partner refrains from looking through our phones or from interfering with our home-based job. They can also be psychological, such as when we ask our partner to acknowledge that sometimes our objectives and dreams may not line up with theirs. The importance of healthy boundaries, however, includes the following. 

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• Establishes guidelines for interactions with other people.

• Defines each person’s role in a relationship.

• Distinguishes our desires, needs, thoughts, and emotions from those of other people.

• Give us a sense of self-worth and freedom.

• Assures both our mental and physiological comfort.

Our relationships may become poisonous and unfulfilling without healthy limits or boundaries, and our well-being may suffer as a result. We run the risk of destroying our relationships if our boundaries and those of others are consistently crossed. It is not only in intimate relationships that we need boundaries. They are also necessary at work, where our demands could be ignored or monopolized by management or coworkers. Poor quality of personal life can result from unhealthy boundaries that we have at work.

We as individuals are therefore advised to make deliberate efforts in setting boundaries in all areas of our lives.

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Dominion TV, Africa’s Christian Lifestyle Network for Inspired and Empowered Living.

Every now and then, we all have bad thoughts. Nevertheless, conquering negative thoughts can be a huge and challenging undertaking for certain people, especially those who deal with depression or low self-esteem. Social anxiety, despair, frustration, and low self-esteem are just a few of the issues it might aggravate.

Understanding how we think presently is essential to modifying our negative thoughts, after which we can employ various techniques to alter or lessen their impact. However, we may also learn how to alter our cognitive patterns. Therapy is frequently beneficial in changing negative thoughts.

The tips and techniques discussed in this article can help us alter our negative thoughts.

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• Talk About It

Finding someone close to us and talking to them can help us get past negative thoughts and feelings. Not only may this help us vent, but it can also be a great chance to rethink negative thoughts more positively.

• Discover a Way to Offer Help

Putting our attention on something that will benefit someone else is one strategy for overcoming negative thoughts. We give ourselves a chance to improve our lives by assisting others. Whether it is just listening to a friend or helping others in other ways is a terrific way to help us overcome negative thoughts.

• Develop The Ability to Handle Criticism

The assertive defense of the self is referred to as another component of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that can occasionally be beneficial for people with social anxiety. We must be able to deal with rejection and criticism since it is likely that occasionally, people will genuinely be critical and judgmental of us. To develop our assertiveness skills and assertive reactions to criticism, this procedure is frequently carried out in therapy with a pretend conversation between the individual and the therapist. 

• Change the Negativity Around Us

Our daily experiences can have an impact on the thoughts we have. Knowing the main causes of negativity in our lives is crucial. These sources may include individuals, publications, music, etc. Once they are recognized, we need to figure out how to swap them out for uplifting influences.

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Dominion TV, Africa’s Christian Lifestyle Network for Inspired and Empowered Living.