Gratitude

We’ve all the heard the expression “woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” And we’ve all been there, right? We wake up a little cranky, for no particular reason. To be completely honest, I’m guilty of this happening to me quite frequently. For me, I think it’s more so I don’t sleep well at night. I never really did- I always wake up throughout the night. And then I get woken up in the morning when my body isn’t quite ready yet. I used to let this dictate my entire day. I couldn’t see past it, and I was just pretty miserable most of the day. I didn’t want to be around me, so why would anyone else want to? I got sick of it and needed a change.

I started to do a gratitude journal every morning to get me started off right, even if I woke up in a bad mood. It wasn’t a change I noticed overnight, it took consistency and a willingness to see it through. I often had to go through what I wrote down that morning in my own head a couple times a day when I found myself thinking intrusive thoughts. One day, I just noticed that I really did feel better. The thoughts that once controlled me, no longer did. And I was in a better place than I was before. All by changing my mindset and the way in which I thought about things.

It’s not that I HAVE to get up early. I GET to wake up early. (Or I get to wake up at all.) I get to be the first face my kids see in the morning. I get to decide how their day is going to start. I get to be their mom. They have given me purpose to live. Mostly for them, but now also for myself. I get to start our day and be present in their lives.

It’s not that I have to do dishes. It’s we are fortunate enough to have homecooked meals together as a family, food in our fridge and pantry, and full bellies.

It’s not that I have to laundry. It’s we have clothes to wear.

It’s not that I have a house to clean. It’s we have a safe place to live and call ours.

It’s not that I have to go to work. It’s I get to go to work. And I get to work from home. And I get to help contribute to our family’s financial needs and wants.

When I say changing my mindset changed my life, I REALLY mean it truly transformed my life. You are your thoughts; You are what you think. If you only focus on the negative things, your going to live a negative life. But if you focus on the positive, you feel better about yourself and your life.

I hope today you choose positivity and gratitude.