By Tina O’Conner

November. A month of gratitude. “A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset. When you wake up, take a second to think about what a privilege it is to simply be alive and healthy. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing, I assure you it will start to feel like one.” (author unknown).

Why is it so much easier for human beings to focus on the stressful parts of our lives? Why is it that we can quickly enumerate our “failures” but have such difficulty sharing one positive quality? In my personal and professional life, I have found that fear, the risk of rejection, and the possibility that it may just be true is what gets in the way.

Here is another challenge. Each day for the month of November think of one thing that helps you feel grateful. Such as your boss recommended you for a promotion, your co-worker helped you finish a project on time, or the person who shares your office asked you how you were feeling. Write it down, share it on social media, tell someone. Doing this challenge daily will change your perspective.

Sometimes we have to search hard. It is worth the time it takes to find the positive in our lives. This may also mean turning off the news, spending more time enjoying the leaves turning instead of social media, and actually listening to what someone is sharing.

Some things I feel grateful for: my husband, my family, my dog (Duke), the young ladies in the girl’s group at Octorara Junior High School, my therapy practice, how my clients have changed my life, Kacie’s Cause, and the many people who have come into my life and allowed me to breathe and have accepted me for who I am.

Another quote from Snoopy…. “There is a lot that is good in your life. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t get so focused on the struggle that you miss the gift of today.”

Let’s pay attention to this advice and challenge ourselves that once a day I will express my gratitude and take the time to focus on all of my blessings.

_________

Tina L. O’Connor, MS, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a private counseling practice in Parkesburg. Tina attended college in Phoenixville and West Chester. Tina and her husband Doug have three amazing adult stepchildren and two beautiful grandchildren. Tina can be reached at Experience Positive Therapy via telephone at (610) 857-8089 or email at exppostherapy1@verizon.net.

_________
Top photo credit: Gratitude via photopin (license)