Being Harder For Thankfulness

[Tanishq]

It is like adjusting a camera lense in order to bring something into focus.

Wow Alby, this is quite an art.

Being thankful is an art.

 

[Hashi]

Jaret, do you like nature and attractive scenes? I'm looking at your avatar.

I often find it very difficult to feel thankful for things specific to my life. At those times it's easier for me to be thankful for general things, like beauty around us.

 

[Tanishq]

do you like nature and attractive scenes?

Yes Hashi very much.

At those times it's easier for me to be thankful for general things, like beauty around us.

This is good idea. :)

 

[Britt.f7]

Sometimes, when my depression gets the best of me, I, too, find difficulty in finding thanks. It is not that I do not know I should be thankful. It is that I do not feel thankful. Thankful, to me, is a positive emotion which is very hard to find in my depressive state.

So I remind myself of the things I know I should be thankful for. I try not to berate myself for not feeling it. I remind myself until I start feeling it. It does not happen quickly, but it does happen. Not all at once, but in bits.

I think most of the time I do not feel that I deserve the things I should be thankful for. I really do think that that plays a part in feeling thanks.

Remember it is not the quantity of things to be thankful for, it is the truth in the thanks for that which you have.

 

[Thinkingman85]

It can be a challenge to be thankful for things if you are in pain. There may be a feeling of guilt that you're not as thankful for certain things that you think you should be, but feelings are there for a reason. I think when I am in less pain, I will be able to to be more thankful for things because I'll have a better view of life and hope. Until then, I'm thankful for friends, music, my apartment, internet, and that I'm still alive (even though that can be a challenge sometimes). Basically, anything that helps me feel like I belong again I am thankful for.

 

[safenow]

When I first got on the path of finding things to be thankful for, the only thing I could think of was toilet paper. No joke. I was so down back then, I never even thought to look up. I don't do it every day any more, even though I should. But writing it down can help. On days you can think of anything, just read what you wrote the day before or the day before. I'm thankful I have a safe roof over head to protect me from the storms. I'm thankful for a future that I have control over. I'm thankful I have you as a friend, Jaret.

 

[Tanishq]

Remember it is not the quantity of things to be thankful for, it is the truth in the thanks for that which you have.

Britt, Thank you so much for posting those thoughts. I needed it. It helps!

It can be a challenge to be thankful for things if you are in pain. There may be a feeling of guilt that you're not as thankful for certain things that you think you should be, but feelings are there for a reason.

Gentleman, You wrote my feelings. This is what I feel. Thank you for your opinion. I appreciate it very much.

I'm thankful I have you as a friend, Jaret.

I am also thankful to have you as my friend.

Thank you safenow. Today I learn being thankful for little things doesn't mean it is wrong to be thankful for little things. I used to think we must be thankful for BIG things.

 

[safenow]

Jaret, it is the little things that matter the most. The big things will take care of themself. I am thankful that you are breathing, and can find some peace within yourself. As I see those I speak with doing well, and growing in wisdom, that gives me joy.

Today, I was reading about the life of Mother Teresa. Her life of service makes me feel so useless. At one time in my life, when I was approaching womanhood, I wanted to serve with her the poorest of the poor. But that was not my calling. My calling is a private thing between God and myself. But as I study how others have done it, and the joy and pain they experience, it helps me to be strong.

There is a book called "Man's Search for Meaning", by Viktor Frankl. I recommend it highly. During WWII he was in Auschwitz. Here is a quote he made, that I find interesting: "Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than onseself."

Do you enjoy reading, Jaret? There are some really great books out there that can help in whatever type of search we have in our hearts and minds. Not to nag. Just a thought from me to you.

safenow

 

[Sailorgal]

There may be a feeling of guilt that you're not as thankful for certain things that you think you should be, but feelings are there for a reason.

It's a very true statement especially with PTSD. We KNOW we should be but it's a challenge.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

This is a good reminder to me to be thankful for all I can be thankful for. To have an atitude of gratitude. I was told to make a list of all of the things I have to be thankful for everyday. I have never done that. I think I should start it tommorow in my journal. I need to do something to uplift my spirits. This is a good thread.

I wish you the best. I am thankful that you are my friend, you are a very special person. Hugs.

 

[Sailorgal]

atitude of gratitude.

Excellent reminder to us all Gizmo! :playful:

 

[Tanishq]

Jaret, it is the little things that matter the most. The big things will take care of themself. I am thankful that you are breathing, and can find some peace within yourself. As I see those I speak with doing well, and growing in wisdom, that gives me joy.

Safenow, Never heard of this before.

My calling is a private thing between God and myself. But as I study how others have done it, and the joy and pain they experience, it helps me to be strong.

I understand that thing. We all have different calls to respond.

"Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than onseself."

How accurate is this. I confess I always aimed to be no.1 in skating, but always ended up being #2.

I always aimed at being no.1 and ended up being #6. But #1 in boys. I wanted to be no.1 in all classes including girls,too.

Today I aimed at to get relaxed, but missed it so horribly.

It seems this man has done something important for humanity. Thanks to him.

Do you enjoy reading, Jaret? There are some really great books out there that can help in whatever type of search we have in our hearts and minds. Not to nag. Just a thought from me to you.

Right now, you did great by mentioning me that book. I will try to search that book in free online public library.