Re: Gratitude is more important than being Positive

[Guest guest]

I love this post Gretchen.

You are, indeed, what you act (and what you eat to quote an old saying)!

Donna from London

[Guest guest]

I think of being grateful as part of positive thinking rather than being

distinct from it.

Being positive to me means striving to be appreciative of life/abilities/others

and expressing that gratitude, being content with myself and my circumstances,

living in the moment, focusing on things I'm still able to do, controlling my

mind so as to not dwell on negative things - especially those things I cannot

change.

Being positive has been shown to reduce stress, improve overall well-being,

reduce pain levels, and improve one's ability to cope. (Gretchen has posted

articles on this in the past.)

Nonetheless, a positive person can still get down temporarily, especially in the

face of new challenges.  It takes a bit of time to adjust and come back fighting

(as Jan explained so well). I find that love, encouragement, practical

suggestions, and expressions of sympathy from others help me get my positive cap

back on when I'm down. 

Here's a video of a service dog.  I love this story as it illustrates the value

of focusing on our own unique strengths, rather than our weaknesses, in order to

maximize our personal potential.  Get your tissues ready.