Happiness that holds up in hard times

A key ingredient to happiness that holds up in hard times is gratitude. Instead of noticing what’s missing, train your brain to notice what’s already there. Gratitude helps us do this.

Gratitude doesn’t deny the pain. It just refuses to let pain be the loudest voice in the room. Gratitude helps you focus on the right stuff like scripture says to do – things that are pure and lovely and of good report. 

Gratitude pulls us back into the present instead of staying lost in the worry of tomorrow. Worry comes from staying in the future too much. Be where your feet are, not where they are headed. You will get there soon enough. Reminds me of the verse that says to let tomorrow take care of itself. If He sees the sparrow and provides for them, won’t He provide for you?

Here are two practical things you can do that really could help you begin to notice what you do have when you’re tempted like we all are sometimes to focus on what we don’t have. Write down one thing you are grateful for daily. Tell someone thank you today. And try and make it a habit to be sure you say out of your mouth out loud, “Thank you” to someone every single day.

Gratitude doesn’t change anything around you but it changes everything inside of you. Gratitude grounds you. So if you want happiness that holds you in the hard times, try this and see if this will help you understand just a little bit more of how to happy!

Happy Monday!