No experience is ever entirely good or entirely bad. Instead, experiences are a mixed bag. So...happy people train themselves to be grateful in any given moment. To feel appreciative means that you have to quiet your brain down and become aware of what's going on.
Sometimes in the middle of the night, I get what I call "crazy brain". All the things that bring chaos into my brain come rushing in. I've learned a trick to deal with this: I force myself to think of all the things I can be grateful for at the moment: a warm blanket, the soft night sounds of the country, my children tucked into their beds in the adjoining room, the dog snoring beside me... Soon, my brain crazies disappear and I can go back to sleep.
It's good practice to express appreciation for the people in your life too. And, don't forget showing appreciation for yourself as well!
How often do you inventory the number of things you are grateful for in your life? Expressing appreciation helps you to focus on the positive aspects of your life rather than the negative. In this way, practicing daily appreciation can transform the way you think and feel about your life.
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Kathy Mattingly--COMM 315
ReplyDeleteThis blog post goes along with the one I posted about dealing with loss. In the midst of my job loss, I've really reflected on what I have to be grateful for. I have a very supportive boyfriend, family and friends. I know that no matter what happens they will always be here for me. I have a roof over my head, clothes on my body, and food in my belly. I'm not destitute and can afford to get through a couple of months without work. Knowing these things has allowed me to better deal with the loss. I try to acknowledge the things I have to be grateful for at least once a week. I'm sure I should probably do it more often but I get preoccupied with life and forget to stop and be thankful for all I have. I really like your remedy for "crazy brain"! I have the same thing and it's so hard to turn it off and sleep! I think I will have to try this new remedy and see if it works for me as well. I don't have the sounds of the country but I do have a sound machine! I'll try it and let you know what happens.
When I feel overwhelmed by work, school, or life in general I tell myself why these things are good in my life. When I feel overwhelmed with my classes I remind myself that I am grateful to be able to go to college. I tell myself that this process is one step closer to the career that I want. I sometimes even picture myself where I want to be in the future. I also remind myself that I am 27 and still working on my bachelor’s degree because I let myself become overwhelmed and unable to finish my degree in the past. I am still combating that in my life but reminding myself of my goals and what I have to be grateful for helps me get through college.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I dislike the job I have now, and I want to do something else or I just don’t want to go to work. I tell myself that I’m lucky to have a job, let alone a job with cheap, great insurance. In our current economy millions of people are losing their jobs, I feel lucky that I can feel secure that my job will be there tomorrow.
As obstacles come up in life I try to see the positive side of things. It isn’t always easy, I sometimes feel gloomy and want to be negative about everything. I try to remember that being negative doesn’t make me happy. I have to choose to be happy and sometimes that means reminding yourself about the good things in life that outweigh the bad.
Brandee Flynn Comm 315
Life is overwhelming itself. The thought to fall behind and not progress can be depressing. I have always been raised to view the positive aspects of life and keep God as my number 1. Mother advised to hand God all my troubles and keep on going.
ReplyDeleteThere are time, I do become discourage, but I keep my head high and smile. I have came along way and I appreciate all the great things in my life including the bad that helped me become a stronger individual. "What doesn't kill you makes you strong." Now, I appreciate the little things in my life also; like having a place to live! Life is hard and I no longer try to keep up, I just stay at my own pace. "Sometimes I maybe ahead and sometimes I may fall behind. But at least I will always finish in time." This is my quote.
I feel overwhelmed often. There are some times when I am just doing some grocery shopping and while I'm reading the grocery list all of the things I have to do for the day or the week just start flowing in my head. It also happens while doing an assignment or maybe just watching television, everything just comes to me and bothers me until I get it done. It may take a lot to calm me down, especially if I do not get those things that are plaguing me done, but then again it may be due to my Enneagram style. I have always appreciated the things that I have and I have to step back a lot and remember what I have at this moment suffices and allows me to live, but there is nothing wrong with striving to be more and have more for the ones you love.
ReplyDeleteMonique Stepney Comm 460 wrote the above post
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, giving appreciation for things I have to give appreciation often enough, definitely not on a daily basis. I deal with the “crazy brain” on a daily basis though, every night while trying to get to sleep. I struggle with finding the quiet inside my head, because all I can think about is what I accomplished that day, but I still have left to accomplish, and any and everything else that may be weighing on my mind that night. If I’m having a particularly difficult night then I’ll listen to some music. I guess I must give appreciation for my Ipod which allows me to focus on music instead of the noise inside my head. Tonight, however when I’m trying to get to sleep I’m going to try your trick and see if I have success.
ReplyDeleteTurner - 315
I for sure don't think about all the things I should be grateful as much as I should. I have though had to recently train myself to think more about the things I am grateful for rather than the things that are annoying me or blocking my path to success. Since my husband returned from Iraq and the economy has taken a turn for the worse things just aren't as easy as they have been in the past so to keep my spirits high I think that I am lucky my husband returned from war safe, I have a healthy little boy, and a great supportive family.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing about being grateful for things: when my husband was in Iraq I missed him greatly, especially since we got engaged one week before he deployed then got married on his two week leave and didn't see each other for another 5 months after that. I remind myself everyday that things could be like that again and I need to be grateful I have him home now. It really makes me appreciate our relationship and aids in keeping our arguments at a minimum.
Megan Rudolph- Comm 460
I really struggle with showing appreciation for the things in my life. It seems that I only show how much they mean to me when there is the threat of losing them. I think the major reason for this is that I am so busy. I know this isn't an excuse, but it is hard for me to slow down and show my appreciation. When I do get some down time I want to just relax and spend some time by myself, but that time alone usually turns into time for school work etc. Hopefully when my life slows down some I can try to practice showing it.
ReplyDeleteNicole Carey Comm 315
I am glad this blog was made because I have been trying really hard recently to bring appreciation into my life. I have a very busy schedule juggling too much a lot of the time. I too get the "crazy brain" feeling in the middle of the night and will now try your recommended exercise. I think American's encounter lack of appreciation frequently. I am reading a book right now about French culture and they seem to relish each moment and complete activities one at a time. I try to take this philosophy and apply it in my life but find it very difficult since I feel I have mastered the art of multitasking. Just yesterday I found myself driving with a coffee between my legs and my other hand reaching in my purse looking for my cell phone. Instead I should have been appreciating my drive and the things going on around me!
ReplyDeleteIm greatful for waking up every day and i think that is the least thing you can be greatful for. We as a society wake up everyday thinking we have to do this and we have to do that, we do have to do certain things but sometimes you have to look at the big picture. I think alot of happy people have a higher power, someone or something they have faith in. I do believe in God but my God may not be the same as yours.
ReplyDeleteCarrie Flanagan COM 315
ReplyDeleteI try to remember to appreciate what I have, but I am like everyone else who gets caught up in things that they don't have. I'm not all that materialistic, but I do wish that I had my degree already and perhaps a better job. However, I am very happy with my life as it is right now, but I'm always looking to make improvements. I definitely get "crazy brain" at night too, and I think of all of the things I need to do, or all of the things that I should have done in the past. Though, I think out of all of Dr. Werking's posts so far, I think this is one of my biggest hang-ups. I really struggle with trying to live in the present and be content with life for just a moment. I am always looking to the future and trying to make improvements. This makes it very hard for me to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy what I have. I will try to take this all to heart and try to slow down this week and be happy for what I've got now.
I don't appreciate the things I have enough. The day goes by so fast that I just rush through the day. I think we all take things for granted. One day my water pipes froze and I did not have water for an entire day. I was miserable because I couldn't take a shower when I wanted to. I never thought about how important water is because I take it for granted. When my water came back on, I was so thankful.
ReplyDeleteI think its important to take a step back to appreciate the relationsips we have with our family and friends. It is my goal to always take a step back to enjoy life and to be happy to be alive. I must tell all my family that I love them and how much they mean to me. Life is short and we don't have time to sweat the small stuff and enjoy our time here. I try to erase any negative thoughts and enjoy my life.
I agree that it is a good thing to stop every once in a while and take inventory of all of the good things in life. Too often do I get stuck in the midst of things and start comparing myself to others and thinking and analyzing too much and makes me unhappy.
ReplyDeleteI've read that there is a difference from ego and self-esteem. Ego is having a reason behind being happy like money, a car, education. Self-esteem is being happy just to be happy. Babies have no ego- they don't own anything they just sit around and are happy as long as their needs are met. But they do not sit around and think that they are happy- they just are. Once we realize that difference we can start to work towards that.
Tokova 460
ReplyDeleteI have learned to appreciate what I have in my life. When I found out that I was pregnant, my life was a mess. I was not really with my boyfriend at the time, I was getting ready to start playing basketball again, and I was kind of seeing a new guy. My pregnancy turned my world upside down. I took the lemons and made lemonade out of them. My American family stood behind me and gave me all of their support. My boyfriend finally came around and accepted his responsibility. By having all of their support, it has made me appreciae the life that I have been blessed with.
"Crazy brain" is something that I deal with a lot. I will also have to try your remedy and see if it helps ease the mind. I try hard not to overlook the things that I have in my life and to be grateful for them. I have a place to stay, a car to drive, a job to go to, friends and family who care about me, a college to attend, etc. I am very appreciative for all of these things, but sometimes overlook them because there is always something we want that we don't have. For example, I want to move away from this area and pursue my acting dreams. This hinders me from appreciating the current place I have to live. This blog makes me realize that it's not always about what we want, but rather what we already have, which is very challenging for me because I'm not content with my life at this point. I feel that I am capable of more. - Zachary Dobson 315
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog it really made me think about all the things I am fortunate enough to have. I have always been considered a positive person. I never really harp on the negatives in life but I focus on the positives. Everyday i realize how blessed and highly favored I have become. I am very appreciative and grateful to be in my situation. I believe if you focus on the negatives in life it depresses you. There have been times where I thought I was in a bad situation and was very depressed. After talking to my mother she always help me realize that it could be worse. I think everyone needs someone to help them see through the storms of life.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Bussey Comm 460
Okay twice now I've deleted what I've wanted to post here by pressing the back tab key, so I'm a little annoyed. But I feel that is fitting for what I typed twice now! In my last two attempted posted I talked about what a great remedy you've come up with for the brain crazies. I talked about how last year I really was just fed up with everything and everyone. MAybe I was depressed, maybe I was just growing up I don't know. What I do know is that instead of looking at the positive, something I always prided myself on, I was throwing myself a grand old pity party, and doing the whole woe is me bit. I then realized how lucky I was to even have some of the opportunity I had, and how even if they caused me stress I was lucky to experience and learn from them. I also realized how some of the things werre self inflicted and Could easily be repaired. Take waiting until 11:45 to post to this blog then deleting your post twice! I started being thankful again. I realized someone will always have more, but many will have less so be thankful for what you have. I remembered my friends little sister who had finally pasted after a two and half year emotionally draining struggle with leukemia. A battle she had won once already. Then I realized how trivial my problems were in the grand scheme of things, and remebered that no matter how much life may suck sometimes, it always beats the alternative.
ReplyDeleteI feel great when I feel appreciated. I don't think that I so appreciation to others enough. I feel appreciated that my boys are healthy & happy. I appreciate my job that takes care of my boys. I'm thankful that I have a family. I we take the smallest things for granted. Like electricity, everyone took it for granted until they lost it for a week or so, & now they appreciate it.
ReplyDelete