There is a prayer that says “I accept the things I cannot change.”

This is a great topic for discussion. When we focus on being grateful for everything in our lives, we begin to appreciate all of the good in our lives and stop worrying about what we can’t control. Sometimes it takes a difficult or unexpected challenge for us to figure out how much we have to be grateful for. 

What challenges have you had in your life? How did they help you become stronger, wiser, more compassionate?

How did they show you what you were capable of achieving if only you believed in yourself?

It’s easy to see how these lessons can make us better people- but perhaps we should look at them as gifts instead. People who are grateful about whatever life brings them achieve “more happiness and well-being.”

The positive effects of gratitude include living longer, healthier lives. When we focus on all that is good in our lives instead of what isn’t or what could be better, it reduces the harmful physical effect stress has on our bodies. Being grateful can even reduce depression and anxiety. 

Since gratitude for anything helps us live longer and healthier lives, why not try to see every challenge as an opportunity? Why not turn your obstacles into gifts? When we’re faced with a difficult situation, it’s natural to feel down.

Our first instinct may be to focus on what’s wrong and how the challenge is making our lives harder. However, if we can shift our perspective and look at the problem from a different angle, we may find that it has the potential to make us stronger.

For example, imagine you’ve been laid off from your job. This would be a tough situation for anyone to cope with, but if you focus on being grateful for the experience, you may find that you learn new skills and meet new people. You may even find that this leads to a better job in the future. Challenges can also make us more compassionate towards others.

Imagine that the same challenges that you are facing right now could become opportunities for growth, happiness and success. 

The key is to try to be grateful in all situations, even when it might seem hard or impossible at first. Even negative experiences can open our eyes to new possibilities and help us understand ourselves better. If we always look on the bright side of every situation, then nothing will ever hold us back from achieving true happiness. What’s stopping us?

What stops us from being truly happy is our own fear of failure and loss of control over aspects of our lives that really matter to us – whether it’s our relationships with others or feeling important in society.