Copyright © 2016 by MOTIVATION magazine.  All rights reserved.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things that happen to us in life, and it’s a good decision to do so. Yet, at the same time, it is even more life-enhancing and empowering for us to be thankful for all the other things that happen in our life, too.

A study from the University of California San Diego’s School of Medicine found that people who were more grateful (thankful and appreciative) actually had better heart health, specifically less inflammation and healthier heart rhythms. Based on the study, these filled with gratitude people also lived longer, happier lives.

This brings me to sharing with you my 8 Compelling Reasons Why We Should Always Be Thankful:

FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

If you’re fortunate to be a person whose family cherishes and supports you, be thankful. Friends are the extended families we make. Friends influence and help you to develop into who you are and sometimes who you want to become. They remind you of the value of having friendly and supportive relationships, and what it means to have people outside of family to enjoy and grow through life with. Family and friends are the individuals you can trust and rely on to be there for you through good and challenging times; many people today do not have these types of relationships, so be appreciative.

“Feeling gratitude isn’t born in us — it’s something we are taught, and in turn, we teach our children.” ~ Joyce Brothers

THINGS YOU DO HAVE.

At least you have your health, clothes, shoes, food, a roof over your head, a job, family, friends, opportunities, resources, etc. Heard that before? I am grateful for all that I have right now. It is easy to get trapped into thinking only about the things you feel you want to have or deserve to have that you currently do not have. Stop… take out a piece of paper and a pen to write out a list of things you do have right now, and count your blessings for all of it. We may not have everything we say or think we need right now in our lives, yet, in all honesty — we do. I, you, have been blessed to see another day. Be thankful.

“When you are grateful – when you can see what you have – you unlock blessings to flow in your life.” ~ Suze Orman

AWESOME OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF YOU.

People often complain about their job, calling it the daily grind or worse. But having a job is something for which you can really be grateful. A job probably gets you out of the house every day and adds variety into your daily life so that you are not just sitting at home on the couch. Even more, a job helps you pay your bills and means you’re not standing in the unemployment line or wonderful how you’re going to eat each week.

If you happen to be someone who is currently unemployed and seeking a job, opportunities are there for you, too. I encourage you to continue seeking and interviewing for jobs. If you’ve grown discouraged during this process, motivate yourself to lift your spirits once again and press on. Flip a potential negative situation into a positive one by thinking when it comes to potential opportunities; you can find a new job, go to college, participate in an online training course, or create and start your own entrepreneurial business. Opportunities are everywhere. Be thankful.

“Whatever life throws at me, I’ll take it and be grateful for it as well.” ~ Tom Felton

NATURE.

How lucky are we to have parks, trees, rivers, trails, animals, mountains, hills oceans, and four seasons? Nature is such a blessing, and one for which we should always be grateful. Nature helps us to feel connected to every aspect of this Earth — the ground, the sky, the oceans, and every creature in between; everything. Be thankful.

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” ~ John Milton

KINDNESS IN YOU AND ALL AROUND YOU.

The act of gratitude is never enough if we cannot be good to people around us. Be inspired to deliver continuous acts and words of kindness each day. Believe in and find the good in yourself and the people around you. Be the kindness you seek. And be thankful.

“The trick is to be grateful when your mood is high and graceful when it is low.” ~ Richard Carlson

FORGIVENESS.

Forgiveness is an act that frees us so we can bring more love, understanding, and peace of mind into our lives. Forgiveness releases negative energy and creates space for positivity. The release of negative energy also frees you to live more productively and gratefully with less stress. When we forgive, we are not changing the past, we are changing our future. We’re giving ourselves permission to rise above the situation or person we forgave, so we can move forward again. To have this ability, coupled with emotional intelligence, be thankful.

“I know that when I pray, something wonderful happens. Not just to the person or persons for whom I’m praying, but also something wonderful happens to me. I’m grateful that I’m heard.” ~ Maya Angelou

UNIQUENESS.

Everyone is unique in some way, but in many ways we are different when it comes the talents and gifts that we can have. Some of us are good at getting along with people, some of us are good at inventing, some of use are good at creating, some of us are good at sports, some of us are good at acting and entertaining, some of us are good at math and sciences, some of us are good at fashion, some of us are good at imagining things, some of us are good at writing, some of us are good at leading people, some of us are good at doing things most people considered weird or extraordinary, and some of us are good at multiple things.

It’s Okay to be Different, UNIQUE, YOU! Especially in a world where many people fear and struggle to be themselves. Be thankful.

“I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” ~ Woody Allen

LIFE.

You woke up today breathing and with a pulse. You get the opportunity to appreciate another day, and hopefully you will be blessed to do so again tomorrow. You get the opportunity to see your family, friends, co-workers, classmates, unique people, nature, pets, etc. You also get the opportunity to appreciate nourishment and all that life has to offer.

Life is a gift. Life is priceless. It’s filled with lessons. It can get complicated. It can be rewarding. It’s a beautiful thing. This gives you every reason not to quit on life—and to live your life to the fullest every day, no matter what! Be thankful.

“‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” ~ Alice Walker

There you have it, my 8 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Always Be Thankful. And I will add to it, “Being Thankful is AWESOME!” You should want to read about it, analyze it, practice it, celebrate it, make it a permanent way of life, and more importantly, consistently journal about it.

Find a way to always be thankful — no matter what. You will find new value, comfort, healing, and heartfelt goodness inside and outside of you each time you do. Be thankful.

– End –

About the Author: Ty Howard,
Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of MOTIVATION magazine

Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on personal, professional, relationship and success habits development. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked Untie the Knots® Process, and the author of the best-selling book Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life: A Practical Guide to Freeing Yourself from Toxic Habits, Choices, People, and Relationships, as well as dozens of published articles on relationships, success habits development, empowerment and peak performance worldwide.

For information on the author click on the following link: Ty Howard.