(Every Friday we will be featuring a guest author.)

A Light in the Darkness

Recently, one of the founders of Change Your Life Friday asked me if I would be interested in writing another guest post for the site. This would be part of a 40 Days of Gratitude series. Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity. Gratitude has been a part of my daily practice in mindfulness for several years now.

However, as I started to put pen to paper, I asked myself what I could write about gratitude that hasn’t already been said. We already know that gratitude can help us sleep better at night, facilitate new friendships, and cause an overall increase in well-being. Athletes have been shown to have higher self-esteem after practicing gratitude, it has a positive impact in the workplace, and it’s even good for your heart.

While all of these studies show, from a scientific perspective, what gratitude can do for us, I have to point back to my own experiences of how this simple practice has made my life richer and more fulfilling.

Fostering an attitude of appreciation and thanks has become the drumbeat to my every day life, which has allowed me to overcome disappointments, betrayals, failures and the general, run-of-the-mill malaise that comes with being completely and utterly human.

Gratitude has pushed me to cultivate true, fulfilling friendships while being thankful for the people who I had to cut ties with, as they taught me that I deserved better. It has whispered in my ear that my life-goals, drive, and aspirations are valid, while also reminding me that every setback in my career was just a stepping stone to where I am now, and where I will be in the future. Gratitude has taught me that forgiveness is a higher calling than bitterness, hope rules over fear, and love conquers hate.

In a lot of ways, being thankful has made me resilient. It has lifted me through the darkest times in my life while also helping me cherish all of the good times, too.

Ultimately, gratitude has helped me persevere. And for that, I am incredibly grateful.

Today I will use gratitude as a light in the darkness.

Gratitude List:
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