Since its Sunday: Gratitude IN not FOR

I will admit I feel a tad bit guilty for having a little rant about being ok with not loving your trials and sorrows. (see THIS post for more)

I'm always gonna say what I think and not sugar coat it.

Trials and bad stuff...rotten.  Rotten and no fun!

And its ok to think that...

BUT  

(there is always a but isn't there)

It is also important WHAT we do with our feelings.

It can be really really hard to not become bitter, jaded, and cold when the world seems to have nothing good in it.

We have to be careful.  Positivity is a virtue that sheds a ray of sunshine on a difficult time.  And we can't let it hide and negativity take over our attitudes and outlook on life.

But how??  When life super sucks how do we see the positive?

Well one helpful little thing is gratitude.

"But I've tried gratitude" you say.  

And yeah, for a little while thinking of all the things I'm grateful for makes me happier.  But then I start making a lit of all the things I'm SOOOO not grateful for!"

Oh so you are chronic pessimist like me!  Yeah!  Buddies!!!!

Trust me...I know its hard to  not see the negatives outweigh the positives.

A great leader in our church, whom I admire greatly Dieter F Uchtdorf suggested the following....

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.

Again a truth moment....I'm not sure I get this super well and FOR SURE do not practice it well.

Here is some more of what he said that helps clarify it for me a little.

When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.

We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?

I think for me the key is this....its helpful to be grateful for things in our lives.  But it is even better to grateful for our circumstances and the situations we are in.

The idea of an attitude of gratitude is kinda cliche.  But I think cultivating a constant state of gratitude in good and bad times is always going to help.

Its easy to get into the habit when things are good.  So take advantage of that time to practice and make it a habit...a part of who you are!

Then hopefully when the rough times come...it stays.

Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.

THERE IT IS!!!!  That's what I'm saying!!! 

I am VERY good at not being pleased with my circumstances.  Not as good at looking beyond with eyes of faith though.....

(could talk for posts and posts about faith....but we will leave it at that for now!)

This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer.

I'm not saying its an easy thing to do.  But I can be very sure that it is helpful.  And that it will bring a contentment and peace to times of trial and times of plenty.

(To read the entire talk I referenced, click HERE)

SARA B...My Personal Life Coach

Like for REALS this woman ABSOLUTELY rocks my world.

Honestly has she ever written a song that didn't speak to me.

I LOVE my religion.  I feel very strongly that there is no place better to find advice than the scriptures...and the words of trusted leaders of my church.

HOWEVER....
Sara Barellies is a close second.


A little bit ago I got to see her live. And it was incredible.  Life altering and amazing etc.

And I could give you a play by play or put up tons of videos and pictures.  But lets just do this.....

Does anybody know how to hold my heart?

Cause I've had my fair share of take care and goodbyes

I've learned how to cry

And I'm better for that

You can't waste the day wishing it'd slow down

There's too many things that I haven't done yet

Too many sunsets I haven't seen

I hate to break it to you, babe 

But I'm not drowning 

There's no one here to save

All my life I've tried

To make everybody happy while I just hurt And hide

Waitin' for someone to tell me it's my turn to decide.

I'm already out of foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how

To get started, it's all uncharted...

Jump start my kaleidoscope heart, 

Love to watch the colors fade,

They may not make sense, 

But they sure as hell made me.

Compare where you are to where you want to be, and you'll get nowhere

I won't go as a passenger, no

I'm taking flame over burning out 

I want to be enough

I want to let the rain come down

Make a brand new ground

I wish I were pretty. I wish I were brave

And if I were fearless Then I'd speak my truth

And I always felt it before

That the world was filled with much more

Than the drowning soul I've learned to be

I just need the rain to remind me

Well, no more, It's not me anymore

You can be amazing You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do When they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight Sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy

Fallen for the fear And done some disappearing,

Bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

AND FINALLY...

BEST SONG EVER WRITTEN!!!!!

You said, remember that life is not meant to be wasted

We can always be chasing the sun!

My earth is somebody's ceiling,

There's a history through us

Sent to us as a gift from the future, to show us the proof

More than that, it's to dare us to move

And to open our eyes and to learn from the sky

All we can do is try

And live like we're still alive

Keep Smilin' Y'all

Be Happy Be Healthy