Saturday, February 28, 2009

Staying Positive: Help from a Gratitude Bracelet

By Deanna Collins

With all of the ups and downs wreaking havoc in our lives, it's easy for problems in life to get us bogged down. There are two options available to us when times are rough. We let circumstances take over any motivation we have, and claim defeat before we even get started, or we can grasp the challenge by the hand and run with it. Even when the odds seem to be completely against us, with the help of a gratitude bracelet we can go one step further to a positive outlook.

Importance of Gratitude

It's a fact that there is always somebody worse off then us. That might seem like small consolation when life seems to be going along poorly, but recognizing the blessings that we enjoy is a small but powerful step towards cultivating a positive outlook.

It can be a difficult task to detach oneself in order to objectively view various situations. If you surround yourself with pessimistic attitudes, in the end they can only aggravate the situation instead of improving it. Take for example some sort of depressive illness. Many things can appear to be far worse than they really are. A spiralling decline seems to happen when we allow ourselves to view subsequent issues in our lives in negative terms.

A pessimistic attitude can be appropriate in certain situations. Finding a balance and seeking for ways to keep perceptions and reactions in their rightful place is the key to ensuring misplaced optimism or denial does not evolve into situations as damaging as any negative attitude. The most important focus point regarding our experiences and the counterbalance is as important as gratitude itself.

Do I Have That Much To Be Grateful For?

Most of us have far more to be grateful for than we recognize. It's easy to take the positives in life for granted instead of counting our blessings. Keeping a gratitude journal has been proven to be effective in enhancing happiness. It simply means keeping a daily record of what we have to be grateful for. That could be something good that happens, appreciating our friends and family or even celebrating small strokes of luck. Once you seek out the positives, you may be amazed at how many things you have to be grateful for.

Gratitude Bracelets and a Positive Attitude

The key to using gratitude as a tool for maintaining a positive attitude is regular reinforcement. Gratitude journals work by reminding ourselves on a daily basis of the good things in our lives. A gratitude bracelet can work in a similar way. Every time you put it on, take it off or look at it during the day, it can remind you of the many reasons you have to be happy - no matter how many you have to be discontented.

You could wear a gratitude bracelet as a general reminder of the positive things in your life or choose a bracelet with beads that symbolize particular things that enrich your life: people, pets, health, and nature. Choose a color that will remind you of the eyes of a loved one or a material whose feel reminds you of something you have and love.

The possibilities are endless. Once you have made the association, you will be reminded of the positive things in your life every time you see or touch it. Give a bracelet as a gift and the receiver will remember you, and other loved ones, with gratitude. A gratitude bracelet can remind you of all the beauty there is in the world.

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