Why An Attitude Of Gratitude Can Free Yourself

If there is one place where we should be completely free, then it is in our own mind.

We might have limitations in terms of what our bodies are capable of and what we're allowed to do - but our minds should be free to roam wherever we want, whenever we want.

Unfortunately, this is not the reality most of us live in. Very often, our thoughts are dictated by our circumstances and those circumstances are largely out of our control.

This is why we usually find ourselves feeling dissatisfied and constantly wanting to push forward and look at the jackpot in the future, rather than taking time to enjoy the process and smelling the roses along the journey.

And without being too political or philosophical, our capitalist lifestyles, the Hollywood portrayed false sense of reality, and the consumerism culture sometimes reinforce this materialistic nature that can push us further down the rabbit hole.

The simple question to get a reality check is to ask yourself, "Are you happy right now?"

Most of us are constantly in a position of slight dissatisfaction.

We feel as though there's 'one more thing' that could make our lives better and help us to be happier.

Maybe we said we just needed another one million dollar to feel secure.

Maybe we said we just needed to build a bigger better house to be satisfied.

Maybe we said we just needed a better higher-paid job to start loving to work.

Of course, we do want certain things and there's nothing wrong with enjoying material goods for pleasure.

But often, we have been conditioned (or even brainwashed) by the manipulated images from the media or advertising industry that told us what we "NEED" to have in order to be happy.

More money. More games. More clothes. More drinks. More sex. More friends. More holidays. More this and more that.

So most of us work harder to keep up the buying pace, which eventually stressed the crap out of us to accomplish the next thing in order to keep the economical machine spinning.

Let's do a quick exercise together.

Now, take a think about a game you find yourself (or your kids) wanting.

Aren't there Xbox, PlayStation or computer games on your shelf right now that you haven't played yet?

Aren't there free games you could download or free activities you can engage in and have just as much fun with?

Isn't it just marketing messages that are pushing you towards that next game and that next expense?

Likewise, ask yourself if having a billion more would really make you happier.

You can travel very cheaply right now - the problem is probably more with leaving work. More responsibility isn't going to help that!

So how do you make a change and start to be freer and happier right now?

The answer is that you change your focus.

Instead of fixating on what you don't have and on what you want, instead start to fixate on what you already have and what you're grateful for.

This is called a 'gratitude attitude' and it's the fastest route to having a satisfying and happy life.

People often aren't happy not because they want another thing or they lack certain things, it's just because they FORGOT they already have so many things.

Just make a reminder every night to jot down the top 3-5 things you can be grateful for in your journal.

When you start to collecting these little things of the day, you will open yourself up to see an entire new world of abundance.

Try that tonight, and make it a habit for the rest of your life.

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Really? There Are Things You Can Change About Yourself To Be Peaceful Within

Really! There are things we can change about ourselves to be at peace within? Just like the title says it, you bet ya.

Well, let's get down to business. Man wants to be at peace with itself and just like you, we want peace in our lives as well.

But, to get there we have to change things about ourselves to create this inner peace in our heads.

First the world is not going to change for us, we have to get it through our thick numskull heads. We need to grow up and stop acting as little children and see the brutal bloody reality that it's not them, it's us. Brutal eh?

I am just being honest here, there are things we MUST change about ourselves to get there. Stop playing the sympathy card we are strong man, man in tights, well not exactly but soldiers.

Okay, I am ready. Are you? Getting to the nitty giddy, you want peace, I want peace, we all want an increased peace of mind and perhaps the whole sha bang as well! Yummy. This reminded me a bit about cake. Anyway, we want peace, tranquility everything that is related, concern or married to being well. That is why you're reading this.

But one thing that is for sure keeping us from being at peace with ourselves is our own idea about perfection. We want to think we are perfect or hope others see us as perfect even though in the inside we are dying slowly, melting away.

We come up with these crazy ideas that come our of the blue, "I am not perfect, they are not perfect, why in the world do I have high standards for others... etc... etc... "

Just thinking about this makes me bonkers. But let's be honest and sincere here, we are not at peace in our own mind because we want everything to be perfect, polished, dent-free and because our lives are not a certain way or because we are not a certain way we cry.

Staple a sheet of paper on your forehead that says " I am not perfect and should not expect others to be". Perhaps, and I am saying here perhaps this will help, but more than likely it will not.

We are stubborn people that want fast results, certain things to happen, logical beings, squared, rigid and we want things to be a certain way. Too bad they are not, sorry to burst your navy blue bubble.

I guess what I am saying here is, we have to change us. We have to stop expecting others to change for us when they will not.

We have to grab our... and look at ourselves in the mirror and change. We want to feel that sensation of tranquility in our lives. We need to stop blaming others for our unhappiness or troubled mind. Oh I hope this works.

I guess you're right. We need to change. There is no easy way to this. It's just us against the world. We can do this, if we change the world will not affect us. If they change, well, that would be awesome, but no, they will not change. We change.

How will we get there? It's simple we know that getting there is a personal process, self-development or improvement what ever you want to call it. We have to have hope for ourselves.

Most of us are not at peace with ourselves because we are such pessimistic, miserable people, we're just good old plain negative about everything, come on shine me some light here, I am dying.

Hope, this is what is going to save us. We must have hope that we will gain peace in our lives, hope that we know how to get there, hope that we will learn to work on ourselves.

We are hopeful people and peaceful folks.

Live up to your potential, that is what we must do.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Really?-There-Are-Things-You-Can-Change-About-Yourself-To-Be-Peaceful-Within&id=9358953