When your life feels like it’s in a downward tailspin quickly crashing to the earth, it’s easy to think your life sucks and there is no way out of this deep hole of despair.
During this time where I had no idea where my life was going after discovering the affair, I started reading and learning how to deal with this pain from as many sources as possible.
One common thread emerged, it was to focus on what I was grateful for in my life right at that moment.
Here’s the thing, it’s not as effective if you just try to “think” about it.
You have to use good old pen and paper and write it down.
When you write it down (usually in a journal), it makes you brain actually focus on what you are grateful for.
I started doing this exercise each morning.
I answered the question: “Today, what am I grateful for?”
It could be the smallest thing like, “I am grateful to be on this earth enjoying this cup of coffee.”
“I am grateful my son is healthy and happy.”
“I am grateful I have a supportive family during this period of heartache.”
It can be anything.
I found on days I didn’t do this, I would easily lapse into a depressive mood.
When I wrote in my journal doing this gratitude exercise, it seriously lifted a little of the weight off my shoulders and little at a time.
So, that’s my challenge to you, go and do this gratitude exercise for the next 30 days (and hopefully keep doing it afterwards).
If you need help with this, here’s a great tool for writing your daily gratitude thoughts.
Wayne
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