Welcome to Day 7 of our 12 Days of Journal Challenge. We are going to talk about why dealing with hard times will help us appreciate the good. If you missed Day 6 please read it by clicking here.
Hopefully, you won't feel preached to or “talked at” while reading these words. They're meant to be a gentle nudge toward expanded consciousness and a way to open the door to positive people and opportunities. Who isn't dealing with some difficult or even devastating issue? We all have to deal with hard times, and we have to find ways to keep going and deal with it. Then appreciate the good in some form or other.
Do you ever feel as though life is an all-uphill battle, with no relief in sight?
Truth is, some days may be harder than others to allow a feeling of gratitude to permeate out being. But it's okay to honor these feelings that we all have from time to time.
It can be a challenge to make yourself feel grateful when you've just had a terrible argument with your spouse and you went to bad feeling misunderstood, shut out, angry and hurt.
It can be a challenge to feel grateful when it seems like you give endlessly to your children but all they do is take you for granted and ask you for more.
It can be a challenge to feel grateful when the bills are late or you didn't get that promotion at work or your mother's been diagnosed with a serious illness.
But the thing about gratitude is… you aren't expected to force it. In fact, that's the worst way to bring about a positive mindset.
When you bury difficult feelings or refuse to acknowledge disappointment, these things come up to rear their ugly heads in more passive aggressive way that can hurt our relationships.
So, be honest that not every day feels like a day to be grateful, and that's okay.
But once you get past those life hurdles and tough situations… you can reflect on the past and appreciate the good that remains.
Maybe you and your spouse had a difficult month… but it caused you to seek counseling, and that's brought you closer to one another.
Maybe you haven't felt respected by your kids for a while… but now they are becoming more independent, struggling through their own challenges. And they've grown to recognize all that you do for them.
Maybe you didn't get that promotion. But now you're inspired to begin building your own business doing what you love.
Exercise 7: What Good Has Come of Your Hard Times?
Journal Tip: Use this exercise to record the hard times you are dealing with, or have dealt with and the good that came from them. Treat this as a therapeutic exercise and it could help you deal with some hidden emotions. Select a time of day that you find it easier to write and let your heart flow.
- Write about a situation that you persevered through despite its challenges.
- How did you feel?
- What actions did you take to improve your condition?
- What did you learn?
- What were you able to have appreciation for that you may have taken for granted prior to this period of growth?
Life challenges help us grow and master tough lessons. Without them, we would remain stagnant in our development and child-like in our minds.
Wisdom keeps us from making the same mistakes over and over. For this alone, we might decide to feel grateful.
Think about a recent setback or disappointment that you experienced.
How did this experience, though initially discouraging, show you the light of goodness in your life?
What were you able to appreciate once the difficult time passed?
Get your feelings on paper and you might find it made a big difference in your life and the way you think about this situation and dealing with hard times in general.
We really hope that you have been enjoying this days of gratitude challenge. Once you have completed today’s journal exercise feel free to leave a comment below, or come and join in the conversation on our Facebook Page.