Okay, the title might be a little dramatic... But hear me out.

Today's message is a simple reminder.

I recently found myself in a very negative mental state, lost in a storm of nagging thoughts about work and life issues.

Then, just like divine intervention, I saw a video on social media: kids begging for food in a war zone.

It was a gut punch. Damn.

It forced me to re-evaluate everything, to see how ungrateful I had become lately. How pathetic I looked about minor amenities.

My life, with all its challenges, isn't even close to what some people are enduring.

I try to actively remind myself to be grateful, but as a flawed human being, sometimes I fail. Happens to the best of us.

It's good when I get a gut punch like this. Once in a while it happens, and usually when I am feeling overwhelmed, which honestly is when I need it the most. It awakens me.

The truth is we get so used to things and get so lost on the pursuit of progress, that we forget our blessings.

How far we've came, how well we are doing.

We forget we are healthy while others are sick. We forget we have food on our tables while others starve. We forget we have a roof over our heads while others are homeless. We forget we have electricity while others live in the dark. We forget we have water while others are thirsty.

We forget we have a phone, a computer — things many can only dream of.

I particularly mention this because just last week, my laptop had a total meltdown. It shut off suddenly and wouldn't turn back on. This was one of the sources of my stress. My work slowed to a crawl, and I was frustrated.

But then I got an older temporary laptop. It wasn't as fast or as good, but it worked while I waited my main laptop to be fixed. It helped a lot. At least I had an option now. Imagine if I couldn't even resort to a plan B on this situation?

We often forget that even when life isn't where we want it to be, still having a chance to turning it around is such a major blessing.

We have opportunities. We have hope. And that is priceless. The feeling that you have something to look forward to and the idea that tomorrow can be a little better is priceless.

I don't think I ever got to a point of complete hopelessness in my life.

I never got close to ever thinking "damn, it's over for me, no chance it can get better".

I know this might sound a bit over the top to some, but this is a major privilege.

Some people lose the spark, lose the hope, lose the ambition and become completely jaded out here.

So many are stripped of a chance at a better life, simply for being born in the wrong place or facing injustice. They don't have options.

Options are treasures, they are luxury, they are freedom.

If you got health and options, you are good.

So today's message is this: be grateful.

You, right here, are blessed in so many ways. Got so many possibilities ahead of you.

Don't let the minor setbacks and detours make you blind to all the good things in your life.

Gratitude isn't about ignoring the bad things. It's about acknowledging the good things, despite the bad. When we practice gratitude, we shift our focus from what we lack to what we have.

This simple act can transform our outlook and reduce stress. It reminds us of our resilience and the resources we have to face challenges. In a world full of noise and negativity, gratitude is an anchor to reality, keeping us grounded in the truth: everything might not be all good, but it isn't all bad either.

Making gratitude a habit can be a powerful practice.

There's a few practices I recommend you doing:

• Create a gratitude ritual: every morning or night, take a few minutes to remember the things you are grateful for. They can be big things, like your health, or small things, like a good cup of coffee.

• Reframe your thoughts: pay attention to when you start complaining or thinking negatively. Instead of letting those thoughts spiral, consciously try to reframe them. For example, if you catch yourself thinking, "Ugh, I have so much work to do," reframe it to, "I'm grateful to have a job that provides for me."

• Stay grounded in reality: it's easy to get caught up in our own small bubbles. Go touch some grass, occasionally take a moment to look beyond your world. Watching a documentary about people in different circumstances or reading an article about a global issue can serve as a powerful reality check, reminding you of the bigger picture and the many blessings you might be overlooking.

• Look in the past: think back on all the challenges you’ve already overcome in your life. Remember how many moments felt completely unbearable at the time, and yet, you made it through. When you look back, you’ll probably realize some of those issues weren't as big as they felt. Use that perspective to understand that whatever you're facing right now might not be as huge a problem as it seems. That can be incredibly comforting.

• Gratitude for subtraction: it's easy to focus on what you have, but sometimes it's more powerful to focus on what you don't have. Be grateful for the absence of things like debt, illness, or conflict. For example, "I'm grateful I don't have to worry about where my next meal will come from" or "I'm grateful I am not dealing with a chronic illness." This can be a very powerful way to put your life into perspective.

SPEAK

Did you relate to the feeling of getting lost in negative thoughts, only to have something jolt you back to reality?

Have you ever had a similar "a-ha" moment that shifted your perspective?

I'm curious if any of the gratitude tips I shared resonated with you or if you have a unique practice of your own.

If you have any questions or comments, just reply to this or send a message on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you.

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