Daily Gratitude: It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others and see how we don’t “measure up”. We rarely take time to compare and say “wow, I’m not so bad at that” or – gasp – “I’m actually pretty good at that”. Why not? Have you ever asked yourself why you don’t use comparison to identify the good things in you? What would happen if you did that? Could you possibly find things that you are proud of? Even if you didn’t have the courage to blatantly tell others, could you at least admit the good qualities or achievements to yourself? Could you stop “wishing you weren’t x,y, or z” or “hoping you could do or have ‘that’ “, whatever ‘that’ is? Can you give yourself a little test? Take a few days and track how often you are using comparison (isn’t that the same as judging but with a different name?). Every time you notice you’re comparing (and beware that it can show up in subtle ways), dissect what you’re doing and how you could think or feel differently about the situation. See if this can change the way you look at things around you….and how you look at your own life now.

Daily Gratitude: This is such an important point when thinking about how we can be happier and lead a more fulfilled life. When something has happened, there is absolutely nothing you can do to change it. It’s in the past and has been carved into stone, so to speak. So, it does no good to entertain “what if” or “if only” thoughts. Accept it and move to the next key step. How do you feel about what happened? Are you bitter, angry, resentful? If so, how are those thoughts and emotions making you feel? Is your life better when you continue to hold on to the fact that you wish “it” had happened differently? Or can you accept it as already done and start to concentrate on what you can do about whatever it is? You can’t change “it” but you can change how you feel about it and you certainly can change what you do about it. Perhaps, though, the only thing you need to do is just accept that it happened and turn the page. You can change your feelings and then your subsequent actions. You’d be surprised how much better you’ll feel when you start to focus on what you need to do next. That’s why I try to look at things with a “so what? What’s next?” Attitude.

Daily Gratitude: Short and sweet! So often you hear people talking about what they are going to do. Then a year later you hear the same boast. They are still “going” to do it. But they never get started. When you make up your mind about something, don’t announce it to the world, just do it. I know people talk about it being an accountability thing but is it really? Do you require the mere words of others to push you to start doing something? No. It has to come from within. Do you think I first decided I wanted to try to walk across Tennessee because someone said “oh that’s a great idea, Terrie, go for it”? Heck no. Does the encouragement help once you’ve started? Sure it does but it I relied on x number of people telling me “you can do it” to keep my tired butt moving, I’d be in sad shape. You cannot rely on these “externals” to motivate you to do anything. It has to come from within. Just start and then continue.