Be Grateful for Everything—Even the Tough Stuff

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Declare war on the negative bias: Focus on the things that go right instead of the things that go wrong — did the checkout line at the grocery store go quick? Did you avoid red lights on your way to work? If all you did was look for things to appreciate, you would live a spectacular life.

Everything is connected - “It takes thousands of people to ma... See more

For most people, experiencing delight requires a change in circumstances; they might, for example, have to acquire a new consumer gadget. Stoics, in contrast, can experience delight without any such change; because they practice negative visualization, they will deeply appreciate the things they already have. Furthermore, for most people, the delig

William B. Irvine • A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy

No matter what happens, I still know that every moment offers me something for which to feel thankful, and I make myself available to the exploration.

A Network for Grateful Living • Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted

Rather than spending her days thinking bitterly about the happiness she has been deprived of by the death of her son, Marcia should, says Seneca, think about how much worse off she would be today if she had never been able to enjoy his company. In other words, rather than mourning the end of his life, she should be thankful that he lived at all.4 T