Replace Your Attitude With Gratitude

It’s so easy (especially this time of year during the holidays) to let stress get the better of us. There’s more traffic and more people than ever in a hurry and being rude. This compounded with the stresses of the over-scheduled calendar, under-funded bank account, and gift buying can make anyone a little testy.

Every year when Christmas is coming I say this will be the year that it will all run smoothly and I will get through it feeling calm and peaceful. I am improving slightly if I make a strenuous effort – ha ha, but it is compounded with my sons birthday being 2 weeks before Christmas. (I guess I will always have an excuse.)

If you feel this way, do you know the destructive affect this is having on you and your health? If you give into these negative feelings and stressors you are allowing your body to go into the “fight or flight” mode which served us well thousands of years ago but not so much now (unless you need to react quickly to miss that little old man going 40 miles per hour on the interstate).

During this “stress” mode most of your bodily functions (like digestion and blood flow to the brain to name a few) are severely impaired. You are literally “dumbed down” and I think you know what that can lead to! Being brain power impaired and angry doesn’t mix well. Detrimental adrenaline and other chemicals are dumped into the blood stream and if repeated, over time will wreak havoc on your whole system causing a cascade of serious health issues.

I hope you will take a serious look at yourself and know that you are in control of your feelings, emotions and reactions. Yes, negativity may rear it’s ugly head but recognize it quickly and put it in check.

I am reminded of a new project my son is doing now. He is in a group that must work together to create a story with a “flip”. I hadn’t heard “flip” used in this way before but it is a place in the story when the main character has a change of heart. For example what happens in the story “The Scrooge” to make him change from being a humbug to a happy and giving person is the flip.

Now I am not saying you are a Scrooge, but you probably know where you could make some adjustments. I like to take the attitude of gratitude and I can literally say I have had an attitude adjustment or a “flip”. Life is a gift from God and we should treasure it. I make an effort to think of things everyday that I am grateful for.

When you spend more time in gratitude you will experience a shift. I know of a friend that received a gratitude stone as a gift. She carries it with her and it is a reminder to find everyday things to be grateful for.

We can even live in gratitude by giving. When we can give a gift freely without expecting anything in return we are truly in the attitude of gratitude. At the same time if someone gives you a gift even as small as a compliment, accept it graciously and let them know how much you appreciate it.

There will always be stress in our lives but how we react to it is the true test of who we really are. Stay in the attitude of gratitude to God every day and you will be rewarded greatly.