RichardHarlos.com

Is it possible to live every day as gratitude-aware as we are on Thanksgiving Day?

I think it is, and that it’s personally — as well as socially — beneficial to do so; here’s why:

There’s an old adage that says, “You are what you think.” In other words, the attitude that a person holds most often in their awareness is likely to be the governing perspective both for how they view the world as well as how they respond to it. When we look around at life and notice — or give our attention and focus to — the things around us that aren’t perfect, we tend to see our glass as half-empty. That focus on what we lack, or on what’s not right, helps us interpret life as unpleasant, unfair, etc.

Life isn’t anything of the sort, dear Reader. Life is nothing at all, in fact. It’s our experience that’s something, and it’s our interpretation of our experience — born of what we give attention to, what we focus on — that determines how we see, feel and think about life.

I’m not suggesting that we pretend that the world is something entirely beautiful and without flaws; that would be denial. Instead, what I’m suggesting is that we each have a choice about where we focus.

What is your life experience right now? Have you had a good day so far? Perhaps more important: what will your next moment be like? Ask yourself one simple, attention-directing question: What are you choosing to focus on right now?