Choosing a Positive Perspective: #1 Why I am Thankful to be with my Family
Time with your family seems to be the most obvious and talked about benefit in this situation. I know some people are probably tired of hearing enjoy the time while it lasts. It is hard to enjoy something when you are scared, sad, angry, and just totally stressed out. We will talk about how to manage your stress next. (It starts with a gratitude practice so though we would start here.)
If your family is anything like mine, I know your family doesn’t always get along well. I know your children fight with their siblings, they don’t always listen to you, they are always asking for food and maybe even walking in on work meetings. How do you find the joy in this Ashley?! Well I have… and I have a teenager!
The trick is to really pay attention to the times together that you are thankful for. Write a gratitude list in a journal, pick at least 5 different reasons you are thankful for your family every day. They can be big things or small things. It really helps when you pick things that have happened in the past 24 hours because it forces you to pay attention to gratitude.
Here is my family gratitude list today:
1. My protective husband taking care of our family
2. When my children are laughing and getting along with their siblings (I have 4 children, so this doesn’t happen often but when it does it makes it that much sweeter.)
3. Reading to my boys before bed
4. My daughter helping around the house and keeping her room clean
5. Having time for a coffee and chat with my husband in the mornings
6. Our morning walks paying attention to the signs of spring
7. Home schooling (as frustrating as it is to teach our children, they are at least getting the one on one attention they might have needed.) *Bonus: you know what your kids learned today without asking them.
8. Lots of dancing. I have even got my husband learning a fad dance, cause what else do you do?
9. It is so much easier to keep the family on a routine. People aren’t getting home at different times or having places to go after work/school.
10. Sunshine, birds chirping and Hopscotch on our morning walks.
Repeat this practice daily. This may be hard at first but the more you practice gratitude the more you will pay attention to the little moments in the day that make you happy that you are with your family at this time.
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