This is Day 5 of the 15-Day Affirmation Challenge held in July 2014, where we practice positive affirmations for 15 days. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.
Dear everyone, welcome to Day 5 of our 15-Day Affirmation Challenge! :D
Here is the overview of all the posts for the challenge so far:
- Affirmation Challenge announcement and signup details: 15-Day Affirmation Challenge | 430 Participants!
- Affirmation Challenge Day 1 [New Beginning] | 62 Comments
- Affirmation Challenge Day 2 [Self-Love] | 63 Comments
- Affirmation Challenge Day 3 [Ability] | 42 Comments
- Affirmation Challenge Day 4 [Setbacks] | 21 Comments
For those of you already in the challenge, remember to share your results via the comments section for each day! We are having some amazing sharing and exchanges by participants Vivian, Jun Xiang, Samuel, ASLO, Alia, Lina, Calae, Chloe, VickiB, Jaleen, and many other participants, and I look forward to read more in the next two weeks. :D
Now, let’s move to today’s task, which is on…
Day 5: [Gratitude]
![Affirmation Wallpaper, [Gratitude]: "I'm grateful for everything in my life."](https://personalexcellence.co/files/affirmation-gratitude.jpg)
Today’s affirmation: “I’m grateful for everything in my life.”
Consider these statements we hear when things don’t go our way:
The weather sucks. I planned to go cycling but I can’t now because of the rain.
The bus/train is taking so long to arrive… why is the public transport here so bad??
I wish my partner is more organized/sensitive/understanding/caring/responsive/capable/<insert adjective here>.
My co-workers are such a pain in the behind. I’m so sick and tired of their bad attitudes.
So much work. Sigh. I wish I can have less work.
My housemate is so inconsiderate. She’s always leaving her dishes in the sink, without cleaning them. Why can’t I have a better housemate??
Recognize them? Have you said any of the above before, perhaps in your own way?
Well, I have. I sometimes crib about the weather, especially when it gets too hot in Singapore or when there are sudden downpours that make going out a hassle. I often grumble (to myself) about the public transport being late, even though I’ve traveled widely and I know that the public transport system in Singapore is easily one of the best in the world. I have grumbled before to Ken about him not being X or Y even though he is being the perfect man for me and I’m simply reacting from my issues (well, sometimes!).
Known as “complaints”, these statements are the expressions of our frustrations when things don’t go our way. Say we have an expectation of A, but the situation/thing/person we’re dealing with falls short in real life and gives us B instead. Depending on how big the gap is, we then respond with a level of angst that matches the size of that gap. The bigger the shortfall, the more frustrated and annoyed we become, and the more frequent and intense our complaint becomes.
Complaining is the opposite of gratitude, which is a feeling of appreciation of something. When you’re grateful, you see the goodness of everything — be it good or bad– and give thanks for them. If something is good, you recognize its goodness, relish in it, and celebrate it. If something is bad, you see the silver lining behind the dark cloud, recognize its goodness (where others can’t), relish in it, and celebrate it still. You recognize that life isn’t about having everything your way or only being happy when things are 100% in line with your vision, because these aren’t what life is about. You recognize that life is a journey where you celebrate all that you have now, feel perfectly happy about what you have and don’t have, all while working hard to achieve your grandest goals and dreams.
Last year August, I conducted a 14-day gratitude challenge which was a terrific success with over 200 people participating from all around the world. (In fact, many participants in our current affirmation challenge are alumni of the gratitude challenge!) During the gratitude challenge, we performed 14 tasks of gratitude over 14 days, just like how we are practising 15 affirmation tasks over 15 days right now.
Whether you did the gratitude challenge or not, gratitude isn’t something that you just practise for one day, 14 days, two months, or even two years and call it quits. Gratitude is something that you practise EVERY DAY, in every moment of your life. Because to forget about gratitude is to take your life and everything that you have today for granted, when all these things are GIFTS that you have been bestowed upon. Yes, your life today is a gift, whether you recognize it or not. (Many people have the belief that their life is an entitlement when so many have had their lives prematurely ended before their time.) Everything (and everyone) that’s in your life today is a gift. (Yes, including your current problems, because you could have far worse problems but you aren’t — or not now at least.)
Today your task is to embrace gratitude. Now, let’s get started!
Your Task Today
- Identify three things that you tend to take for granted. These can be anything, from planet Earth, to your parents, to your healthy body, to your home, to your life. (For ideas, read Gratitude Challenge Day 11: List 3 Things You Tend to Take For Granted.)
- Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your life. Anything goes here — from people, to objects, to events, to life itself! If you think 10 is a lot, you’ll probably think otherwise by the time you identify your 10th item! (For ideas, read Gratitude Challenge Day 1: Write 10 Things You are Grateful For.)
- Identify ONE thing you can do TODAY to express gratitude to any one item on your list. For example:
- If you’re grateful for having food to eat and not living in a famine-stricken country, you can give thanks for your food.
- If you’re grateful for a loved one, you can write a gratitude note to him/her.
- If you’re grateful for the good service you get at a restaurant, you can give a bigger gratuity tip than usual.
- If you’re grateful for everything in general, you can do a gratitude meditation.
- Say today’s affirmation. Pause for a second. Think about everything you have in your life now, and don’t have yet. Appreciate them. Know that they are gifts in your life and there are people who want to have these things (yes, including your “problems,” simply because their problems are far worse), but can’t/don’t. With a heart full of gratitude, say today’s affirmation:
“I’m grateful for everything in my life.”
(If you think it’s silly to say this out loud, you can say it silently in your heart.)
I encourage you to write down today’s affirmation so that you can always see it and commit it to heart. Repeat them every day to yourself, for as many times and as long as needed, until they become part of your default thinking.
Affirmation Wallpaper: [Gratitude]
Today’s affirmation wallpaper, for download:
Download (right click and save): [1366×768] [1600×900] [1920×1080]
Further Reading
- For more on gratitude, check out the gratitude challenge and all its 14 tasks of gratitude: Gratitude Challenge Overview
- Complaining often comes hand in hand with impatience. Here’s my guide on how to be patient: How To Be Patient: The Only Guide I’ll Ever Write on Becoming Patient
- Last but not least, for those of you with Be a Better Me in 30 Days, be sure to review Day 28: A Complaint Free Day, where you practise a day of no complaints.
Share Your Results!
Share your results, check out other participants’ responses, and interact with each other in the comments section! Remember, this challenge is a community effort: by openly engaging in the discussion, not only will you help others, you’ll also help yourself.
If you think today’s affirmation has benefited you, do share it with your friends and family.
Once you’re done, proceed to Day 6 here: Affirmation Challenge, Day 6 [Self-Worth]
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I really, really like this task!
3 things I tend to take for granted: my health, my parents, and my laptop.
I’m grateful for: having a job, a family, a roof above my head, house utilities and appliances, food in my fridge, money in my bank account, clothes, furniture, the possibility to follow superior studies; knowing how to read and to write; having access to the Internet; being healthy; living in a safe free country; having a best friend who is always there for me; for the existence of public means of transport, fruits, public libraries, music, bookshops, and tea houses; for speaking two foreign languages. Those are more than 10, but there’s even more that I’m grateful for.
Going to tell my parents how important they are for me and how much I appreciate everything they do for me. We might not be on the same page all the time, but I know I can be a pretty difficult person as well (like they say, there are 3 sides to any stories: yours, theirs, and he truth).
I am grateful for everything in my life!
Lina, the 3 sides stories is fantastic! I can relate this to lots of stories in my life.
I love your list and how it includes things a lot of people take for granted — like living in a free country and having access to things like public libraries and transportation. And music, yes! I wonder if I have tea houses in my city (state? country?) — plenty of coffee places, but not sure about tea!
Great to be connected !
Three things I take for granted my house support person, my friends and the day that breaks with the same brightness and cheer
I am grateful for my children, my home, my house person without whose support, my work would be really difficult for me, that i am able to walk around and work well, i am grateful tor the opportunities i have, that i am able to learn and understand, i am grateful to my husband and children, my brother, for the beautiful flowers in the park, the green grass and for the beautiful music that is composed.. and i can go on…
I am going to write to my brother and share my gratitude and let him know that – how much being in contact means to me.
.
“I am grateful for everything in my life !!”
Thank you Cele !
OH this is SO lovely Renu!!! Please keep us posted on how the letter of gratitude goes and how he responds!!! And if you need any pointers or references, you can check out Gratitude Challenge Day 3: Write a Gratitude Note to Someone and Kindness Challenge Day 9: Write a Letter to Someone Who Has Made a Difference in Your Life, both of which are about writing gratitude notes to others. I’m really excited for you!
I love this topic. I am so grateful for having chance to learn together with this learning community.
Here are few practice works for me, for your thoughts:
A. Take grateful journal, write the 3 things feel grateful everyday. For example, I am grateful that I am still live. I am grateful that the sky in Beijing is blue today. xxxx the beauty of grateful journal is have a realization that nothing is granted. Nothing is granted, the sunshine, the air, the water.
B. I would like to recommend the book of a complaint free world, I read the book 4 years ago and with the purple wristband. When you realized that you are in complain, change the wristband from left to right, then change again when you next complain. It’s quite interesting in the first month, especially the first week. Then getting better and better.
C. Carrying the weather. When the weather is nice, I am so happy, when is raining, I am bad. I used to behave this way. I used to have Victim mind-set. I am so lonely, I am so hopeless. I am a victim, why me? why others treat me this way? I want to do activity, why the weather is bad? I am so unlucky. I used to think this way. When I changed my mindset that I am not a victim, I am the product of my choices, and I am responsible for my life. I got control of my life. If it is to be, it’s up to me. I am responsible for what happened in my life. If people treat me not well, may be I didn’t something they feel not good. What I can do to get this solved?
I learned from one of our executive about the definition of complain. Complain is without intention to get the issue solved. If you want to change something, go to do that.
Your Task Today
A. Identify three things that you tend to take for granted.
1) My father, I had friend whose father passed away after high school, I always fight with my father, and take this granted. In fact, I feel so grateful that he still with me.
2) My job. I used to hate my job, feel my job is the worst in the world. In fact, I have chance to work in the my current company, when the day I got offer, I feel my dream come true. Just because I took this job for granted, I didn’t realize lots of good benefits company offered.
3) My son. My boy is too mature, he did lots of things by himself, even he just 3 years and 4 months. I am so grateful to have him in my life.
B. Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your life.
1) PE. I believe when the student is ready, the teacher will show up. I met PE in the moment I do need help. Grateful to have chance learn from PE and learn from this community, from Celes!
2) My husband. He is my soul mate, he is very supportive, when I am waiting the post of today’s post and he is taking care own son, and shared lots of housework, which is not usual in Asia context. He is my best friend, mentor, brother, lover, father, and my second son.
3) My friend. I am so lucky that I have lots of girlfriends. They all quite nice and very supportive in past few years. For some, we met in middle school, and we now knew each other over 2 decades.
4) My company. As shared, when the day I got the offer from my current company, the feeling is my dream come true. I learned a lot in past few years, without the supportive culture of my company, I won’t be able to become who I am today.
5) My ex-manager. She just left company recently, but the difference she has made in my life is unchangeable. She hired me in the company, and coach/support me in past few years.
6) My job, although I complained a lot about my role as administrator when I in that position, but being an executive assistant is very important experience for me. I won’t be able to grow/interact with senior managers and learn a lot through those interaction. I have chance to experience the talent management, organization development, training program, which helped me to find my passion and made decision to pursue this as a career. As the leader for the administrators, I have chance to offer training/small group coaching to people, which made me insist that I love training/coach and continue want to pursue my passion.
7) My mother. Although I shared that my whole family want to have a boy, but my mom insist that she only want me when I was young. And she provided unconditionally love for me in certain area. Without her support, I won’t be able to go through the journey.
8) Landmark forum. I did landmark forum in 2008, without the landmark forum, there is no chance for me to become who I am today. That is the life changing course for me, also because that, I made decision to engage in training.
9) People who made me cry/angry/… just because those people, I had chance to practice what I learned, and continue grow. They all come for different reason to help me in different way.
10) One of my girlfriend. She means a lot to me. As I shared, I am not confidence. She is the one who believe me when I don’t believe myself. She is the transition person for me, I can’t imagine what will happen if I won’t meet her in my life.
I can continue the list for couple of days. The list is the hope for me, whenever I met challenge in life, those grateful made me become courage again.
Identify ONE thing you can do today to express gratitude to any one item on your list. For example:
1) I went to bed room to give a warm hug to my husband, and told him I am thanks for his support to enable me continue the affirmation challenge;
2) I will write email to my friends, thanks for their support for years.
3) I am organizing the family gather this Sunday to celebrate the 59 years anniversary of my grandparents. I will share my gratitude to my family.
4) I will follow the gratitude challenge
5) I will continue my grateful journal.
Say today’s affirmation.
I am grateful for everything in my life, including those things I don’t have, and those problems on my way. Even myself, my self-limitation thoughts, my negative thoughts. I am grateful for everything.
“I’m grateful for everything in my life.”
One big realization here is I am so grateful for myself standing in my way to achieve my dream. I see I am struggle, and frustrated, and I am so happy to see myself really working on it. It sounds terrible on one hand that I am stand in my own way, but in fact, it’s hardest and easiest part I can conquered.
My link for day 5: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_a2fd0f5f0102ux27.html
Thank you so much Vivian. You’re too kind, really; I’ve done nothing and you are the one who’s creating all these positive changes in your life. I’d like to thank you again for your wonderful sharing and participation so far; you’re being a great support in this challenge, and I’m sure other participants (whom you’ve been posting encouragement and advice to) really appreciate your comments too!
Oh he sounds like such a wonderful man! I’m so happy for you that you’ve found the one for you. I didn’t realize that you have a son — that must be triply busy for you, being a mom, working in your job, and participating in the challenge. How old is your son, if I may ask?
He is 3 years now. I had a great time with him this morning. This challenge help.
It is wonderful Vivian how we both had those who have hurt or angered us in our grateful list and i wrote your line in my cupboard this morning “They come for different reasons to help us in a different way….” It reminds me to be grateful for the chance of growth….not disappointed and repeating “why always with me?”
Wonderful to hear about your son :) these young princes in our lives are the best!
This is beautiful! I especially love that you’re thankful for the people who make you cry or angry because they give you the opportunity to grow — what a powerful statement! I hope one day I can think the same way.
I also have someone in my life who helps me with my confidence, my boyfriend. I never knew what it was like to have someone believe in you until I met him. And while it’s been slow, I’ve also begun to believe in myself. It really is a beautiful thing and I’m glad that you have your girlfriend that helps you feel that way, too!
With all this gratitude, I’m sure you can achieve anything you want to! =)
This was particularly challenging because all of the things that I thought of that people take for granted, like health and good weather and family and being able to sleep are things that I have reason to be particularly aware of and grateful for. For instance, my husband’s poor health constantly reminds me of how lucky I am that I can walk, that I can eat pretty much what I want, that I can write by hand (he has severe tremors), and that I can carry things. Because last winter was so severe and created problems for us in getting him out of the house, I am very appreciative of the freedom that we have when there isn’t snow or ice on the ground! Because my husband and I couldn’t have children and adopted a seven-year-old boy (31 years ago), I don’t take for granted having children, and because we were foster parents too, I am aware of how much children need families and how many don’t have good loving families like I do. My lifelong struggle with insomnia, which I wrote about earlier, means that I don’t take sleep for granted.
When I made the list of things that I am grateful for, I didn’t stop with ten. I could easily make a really long list.
So I asked myself: What if I think of the things that I complain about and then find a way to be grateful for them?
Instead of complaining about having to park far away from the store, I can be grateful that I have a car and that I am able to walk that distance.
Instead of complaining about the noise from the television (which my husband watches and I don’t), I can be grateful that I can hear and also that he is home to watch it!
Instead of resenting that I have to go shopping, I can be grateful that there is an abundance of food available and that I can afford to buy some.
I can find a reason to be grateful for all the things I complain about. (Except maybe mosquitos and poison ivy.) (That was a joke.) I am grateful for everything in my life.
Vicki, it’s not a easy journey, you said painlessand very peaceful. I am grateful to know you in PE, your attitude to life is amazing. In chinese we have a term, the salt you took is much more than the rice I eat. Your sipiritual in lifelongLearning and love to the world is amazing. I never met one in my real life. Thanks for being there.
Thank you for your kind words and your support.
I too love this topic. I am grateful for my lovely boyfriend and family, for living in the beautiful place I do, for having supportive friends and the opportunity to read and use the internet to learn so much from so many people.
My blog post for today: http://livingwithaltitude.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/attitude-of-gratitude/
I’m inspired as always by the other comments, thank you to everyone
It is so easy to forget to be gratitude of life and as long one is healthy, one
can master amost any difficulties.
I feel that emotions run through your blood and heart and change your thinking, and one has
difficulties to see the problem/difficulties as what is is without colour it.
I feel blessed of my life when I see other who must live with circumstances that they can
not control over. I saw a child born without arms and legs. Suddenly
I feel ashamed that I complain to myself of my situation. I must be to weak not se the reality of life. Am I still a child or just human.
To master gratitude of life gives strength and purpose in order to wake up every morning
to face the days opportunity and to make the change that will gradually come .
I feel that it is important for me to change the dialog speech within me, as there are not
so many I can model upon. If I can not find someone to be my model of life it is my responsibility to create that model I admire, because no one will do it for you.
Visdom and gratitude help me to come back to right “track”
1. Identify three things that you tend to take for granted.
1. Having a home
2. My mum
3. Having access to lots of food with supermarkets and shops (even though I don’t have a lot of money and can’t always buy what I want, there’s a wide choice of food available)
2. Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your life.
1. My family
2. My cats
3. My house
4. My dancing group
5. Summer
6. Music
7. Books
8. Chocolate
9. The internet
10. Living near the countryside
3. Identify ONE thing you can do today to express gratitude to any one item on your list.
Let my mum know that I’m grateful for all she does for me. :)
P.S. Since doing the Gratitude Challenge I try to write down 5 things I’m grateful for every day and I find that it does help me to feel better. :)
I was one of the graduates of the Gratitude challenge last year and I still hold it’s teachings and learning close to my heart….
1. Identify three things that you tend to take for granted:
– My uncle and aunt: They brought me up right from when I was a baby to my marriage. Though they are both no more now, I sometimes feel I under appreciated them though that in a way is human conscience and after you lose something dear to you you feel like you could have done more for it…
– My son and daughter: These two pillars of my strength give me reason to persevere, I may sometimes falter due to the situations and I may take them for granted, but that is only for the moment. I’d say it here, “I love you my darlings”
-Myself: I have lived till now trying to please others, seldom seeking anything for myself, my goals, my wishes, my ambitions have always taken the back seat. So I’d thirdly list myself
2. Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your life.
-My son: He has been my supportive and understanding support system over all this years, I thank god for the wonderful man he has turned out to be. Sometimes I may not be willing to directly see as they are but he always says things to me as they are, it may be bitter at that time but it is always wanting the best for me.
-My daughter: A reflection of me, she has her kindness and love uninhibitedly abundant for me and I am grateful for her.
-My upbringing: Having being brought up with the values and virtues that were instilled into me by the various mentors and teachers in my life including my uncles and aunts and my teachers. I can say I am grateful for my upbringing and the principles I have in my life.
-My closest friend: Sometimes having a person who’d listen to you and you can say anything in your heart to and she’d understand is a gift and I appreciate that I have such a friend. She came into my life unasked for and I am forever grateful
-My library: The little library of books I have resourcefully gathered, I wouldn’t shy of saying my books are my life and I am grateful for them.
-PE: This wonderful wonderful website, i cant remember the time when I joined this movement by Celes but with every challenge and article i have participated/read its brought out the best in me and I shall forever be grateful
-My circumstances: If I didn’t have the falterings and setbacks which I do have in my life, I would never have found reason or motivation to seek betterment.
-Nature: Seeing birds pick on grains of rice strewn in the garden for them or the flowers in the garden, nature always brings me to peace and at one with myself.
-Meditation: From the meditation challenge we had in PE all the way back in 2011 to date, a constant partner to every morning of mine is meditation. I thank this practice for the peace and decluttering of mind, body and soul. I am grateful to Celes for invigorating the practice into me.
-Celes: Over the years for giving us so many opportunities to grow. Selflessly you have run this website growing with us, motivating us and leading us on! I am grateful to you too.
3. Identify ONE thing you can do today to express gratitude to any one item on your list: I do not prize any one item on my list more than the other. I am equally grateful to all my 10 choices. I may not be able to individually reach out to each of my choices but with time I shall do so and today I shall end my day with a prayer for the good life, health and prosperity of all I have mentioned in #2 and express my gratitude in prayer to each of my choices…In a way it would be a sort of gratitude meditation.
“I’m grateful for everything in my life”
ASLO, it’s so great to know that you engaged from 2011. It’s a great inspiration.
Your grateful list is very thoughtful. I appreciate that you feel grateful to nature and circumstances. I now fall in love with the Tao, nature is Everything.
1. Identify three things that you tend to take for granted (and What You Plan to Do About Them)
-My health, I feel like an old lady if I don’t exercise because my back hurts. A lot.
-My parents’ relationship, they are divorced now from lack of communication. I don’t communicate either.
-My accomplishments. They are different from other people somehow I assume they don’t count because my parents didn’t support me and my crazy dreams. I forgot about them. Thanks for reminding me!
2. Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your life.
1. My life
2. My family
3. My friends
4. My dreams
5. My experiences
6. My accomplishments
7. My resources, I have everything I need right now.
8. My goals
9. The internet
10. PE
3. Identify ONE thing you can do today to express gratitude to any one item on your list.
I already did, I thanked the one person I call my best friend. I have been waiting for one person that understands me and finally had one. I was chickening to say “thank you” I wanted to do it but thought it was silly. I am glad I did. Thanks Celestine for the challenges!
4. Say today’s affirmation. Pause for a second. Think about everything you have in your life now, and don’t have yet. Appreciate them. Know that they are gifts in your life and there are people who want to have these things (yes, including your “problems,” simply because their problems are far worse), but can’t/don’t. With a heart full of gratitude, say today’s affirmation:
– I have to communicate with people to strengthen our relationships.
– I have t0 to exercise to be healthy.
– I need to give myself credit for my accomplishments. I don’t need others to approve of me before loving myself.
“I’m grateful for everything in my life.”
Here’s part of my results of today’s task:
For things I take for granted, I think I’m going to keep those thoughts to myself and work through them on my own.
As for ten things I am grateful for? I can share those:
1. My wonderful boyfriend. He’s really my best friend before all else; I
love how he thinks, he supports me every day, and I truly believe he
cares about me more deeply than anyone has before.
2. My great roommates. I could have ended up in a house with three
other people who don’t get along, but instead we all ended up being
friends and that makes me happy.
3.The fact that it’s Friday! I had a harder-than-usual week, so I’m grateful for my chance to relax and regroup.
4. Seeing my family tomorrow! My little sister is celebrating her
birthday this weekend, and my boyfriend and I are making the two-hour
trip back to my home to see my family for the first time since I’ve
moved out.
5. My one roommate is planning to take me to the store so I can
surprise my boyfriend with a great gift for his birthday/to celebrate
his going to grad school. Can’t wait to give it to him!
6. My fairly new phone, the Moto X, and the fact that my dad gave me
some money towards it. It’s such an awesome device, and I’m so grateful
to have a smartphone that actually works well and has great battery
life!
7. The internet. Man, I use it constantly, it’s just so awesome.
8. Mr. Toasty, my Squishable stuffed toast. He’s totally adorable, a gift from my boyfriend, and makes an awesome pillow!
9. YouTube, for having videos which entertain, teach, and inspire me.
10. Life as a whole. It’s so beautiful it boggles my mind.
What’s one way I can share my gratitude for one of these things?
Well, geez. I say “thank you” to the people in my life all the time —
I try really hard to make sure people know I’m appreciative of what
they do for me. I think my act of gratitude wherein I’m getting a gift
for my boyfriend will work; a big reason why I’m getting him what I am
is because I want him to know how much he means to me. Not that he needs
a gift (he knows already), but I want to show him in other ways that
he’s precious to me. This is one way I can think of.
I’m also planning on really thinking about and reflecting on the
things I take for granted — especially because I feel it may be
detrimental to take them for granted for too long.
Here’s my post for today, if anyone wants to read it: http://hackmyheart.com/affirmation-challenge-day-5/
PS: A beautiful TED talk/video I found on gratitude moments before writing out today’s challenge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ
The three things I take for granted are 1. the warm weather (it gets pretty hot here!) 2.A good night’s sleep, and 3. Exercise – especially exercise! I want to start thinking of it less as a chore and more of a privilege! Among the things I am grateful for today are being with someone who loves me, air conditioning, my new knitting skills, and public transportation. Today I expressed gratitude by actually using my new knitting skills and finishing up a knitted square I was working on in order to start an afghan. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but I’m gaining new skills that I didn’t think I could learn because I had tried in the past and failed. So I’m very happy today, even though my square came out a little wonky. Practice makes perfect, though!
1. Identify three things that you tend to take for granted.
A) I tend to take my parents’ love for granted. Even though my mother may keep trying to buy and prepare food for me, she is not trying to sabotage my diet but it is simply her way of showing affection and love. (And that does not necessarily mean that I need to eat everything she prepares either.) Indeed, when I look at the way I have behaved in the past I am kind of ashamed.
B) Not being in danger of starvation. I am lucky in that I live in a relatively developed country. In the really worst case when I am somehow homeless and unemployable, I can think of many (scheming! :) ) tactics to get food like ambushing the leftovers from bakeries etc.
C) The ability to direct my attention. I recently realized that even though I might have problems, I can conciously choose to redirect my attention to feel gratitude for the things I do have in my life. For example, I may feel frustrated at my eating problems, but when I choose to apprecieate the taste of the food I eat, I find that it is much easier not to overeat. I have a strong suspicion that the very root of my eating problems in unhappiness; and if the unhappiness stems from focusing on what I don’t have, I suspect that making gratitude a habit will solve the problem.
2. Identify 10 things you are grateful for in your life.
1 – Personal Excellence and other cool personal development blogs
2 – The Internet. How can you beat free (excluding ISP fees), on demand access to effectively unlimited quantities for information?
3 – Libraries.
4 – The Wind
5 – Waking up in the mornings
6 – Holidays and free time
7 – Good friends
8 – Peace. Singapore, please don’t go to war! I don’t want to be called back for reservist!!!
9 – Humour
10 – The joy of being alive.
3. Identify ONE thing you can do to express gratitude to any one item on your list.
The next time I am feeling unhappy or worried, I will conciously choose to feel gratitude for what I do have in my life, and in doing so honour my ability to conciously choose to feel grateful.
4. Say out the affirmation.
I am grateful for everything in my life.
http://samuelimyongen.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/affirmation-challenge-day-5/
I’m happy to see this on the list of challenges because lately it’s something I’ve been wanting to bring about more often into my life. I have been facing some setbacks, and have been reminded to focus on
the good in each day and what I take for granted in order to feel better
about my circumstances and to uplift my mood. Three things I take for granted:
– my limbs (arms and legs). Thankfully, I am blessed with the use of all my limbs. It is so easy to take our bodies for granted, especially our limbs, but when you think about it, almost every single thing we do in a day is facilitated by these body parts. Our arms and hands drive us
to work, type on our laptops, make our meals, feed us, and on and on. And everywhere we’ve ever been, we’ve gotten there because of our legs! Whether it be walking to the bus stop, shopping in the mall, or something as simple as getting up in the morning and getting ready for school or work.
– a home with running water and electricity. For a long time I was unhappy with our living conditions due to circumstances that were beyond our control. I kept focusing on all the bad things and discomfort we were feeling because of our situation and it kept me constantly unhappy and down. Lately I’ve been trying to change my mindset and instead be grateful for the positive within the situation. The fact that we have electricity 24/7, running water in the taps, hot water, beds and covers and pillows, and a/c when it gets very hot (which is often) is a lot to be grateful for. While we are still striving for a more comfortable space, being grateful will help us get through this phase.
– the ability to read. This ability is one that is so easy to take for granted because it is assumed that everyone can. However, not everyone has had the opportunity to learn to read, and many of those who do, suffer from disorders that make it very difficult for them. Being able to read has gotten me through all the years of my education, allowed me to communicate with others, find a passion in writing, as well as the many little things we don’t think twice about: filling out forms, reading instructions, even reading for pleasure which I do voraciously.
So I went all out today and wrote a lot, but I don’t want to take up too much space in the comments so if you like you can read the rest here! http://hopeafterheartbreak.blogspot.com/2014/07/15-day-affirmation-challenge-day-5.html I’ve put a list of the things I’m grateful for and some reflections on gratitude :)
Thanks for this task today, Celes! It has really boosted my mood and made me feel a lot better about my life right now :) Hope others are feeling the same way :)
I usually take some of my family members, one of my close friend and the fact that I am breathing, I am alive for granted.
The things I should’ve been grateful for are
1. My family- a constant support throughout my life
2. The fact that I am breathing, I am still alive
3. The fact that I can afford to buy so many things I fantasize, when people are out there who don’t even have enough to buy a morsel
4. My brains- I have got a really great ability to introspect and correct things when I make mistakes
5. Sleep- I can practically fall asleep whenever I want (so many of them are on medication for insomnia!!)
Gratitude meditation! That’s what I am going to do today.
That’s nice that you can fall asleep whenever you want to!! I have no issues falling asleep too, but during the extremely few times when I want to sleep but can’t (usually because I’m forcing myself to sleep early for an early appointment the next day), it can feel pretty frustrating!
Hi everyone. Three things that I take for granted are having a job, having my health (although with some minor issues) and my pet cat’s affection. I am going to be more appreciative of those things and try not to grumble about them.
Ten things that I am grateful for 1) my long time relationship with my partner 2) education 3) how good my life is 4) having food to eat 5) sleep, I love sleep 6) that I am reasonably fit and can exercise 7) having a warm house, it is pretty cold at the moment 8) for my friends and family 9) for the opportunity to grow 10) for being able to share this challenge with all of you.
Today while at yoga I took time to appreciate how lucky I was to be alive and had my health to be able to do a yoga class.
Happy challenge everyone!
That’s awesome that you combined the gratitude task with your yoga! I’m grateful for being able to run this challenge with you and everyone else here. :)
I also want to thank you for being a beacon of encouragement and support on my Facebook page too; I often see you “liking” my posts and posting positive comments, which really light up my day.
Thank you so much for being here Kae! :)
Alia, it’s so nice that you mentioned the ability to read. Reading do open windows for us to know the world better. I realized that all our passion to learning,to personal growth, also something should not be takengranted.
You’re so right, Vivian! I hadn’t thought of it before, but we really shoul be grateful for the drive to be better and the motivation to make positive changes in our lives :)
Samuel, Iam grateful to see you mentioned the wind and peace. I will pause to think these 2things when i am in bad mood.
Vivan, we tend to take these simple things for granted, especially in our materialistic Chinese society. Even if you are a billionaire, you will never be happy unless you learn to be grateful for the things you do have. So why not be happy now?
3 Things that I tend to take granted:
1. The love from my parents, my boyfriend and friends. They always think to give their children the best they can, and so my brothers and me always take for granted. We know that our parents can settle everything for us in our lives. It’s the same that, my boyfriend and friends always take good care of me. I’m still learning on taking care of people’s feelings. :)
2. My income. Recently, I faced a problem which my overtime claim was cut for more than 50% due the change of policy. I was so mad about that at that point of time, and I scolded, complained about the change of policy. Of course, nothing has been changed. But, when I think again, I really take it for granted. I used to have my overtime claim since I joined this job, and I have planned on the usage of the claims. Therefore, I shouldn’t expect too much on the overtime claim as it is not in our contracts. I should think that, at least I still have an amount of claim. Why not I just utilize the amount of claim left?
3. The natural elements surrounding me, including the air, water, plants, etc. They are important in our lives, but I didn’t really appreciate that how they make me alive every moment. :(
For the 10 grateful things that I have for now.
1. Of course is the love from my parents.
2. The care and understanding from my boyfriend and friends.
3. My dream job.
4. My dream house.
5. My job’s flexibilities in working hours.
6. I remember my birthday because of the reminder from my boyfriend. XD
7. I have 2 reminders to tell me the time to sleep: My dad and my boyfriend.
8. I have met good people to teach me how to make up ^^
9. I have friends going shopping and give me opinions on buying clothes.
10. I have completed 6 courses in my Master Degree program.
Today, I received a souvenir from my boyfriend who just back from his trip. It is a feather nib pen by LA Kaligrapfica. It was the pen that I wanted to buy when I traveled to Taiwan with my friend earlier!! I didn’t tell my boyfriend about that, and now I got it!! I was soooooooo happy!! Of course, I expressed my feeling to him, and I told him, I will appreciate and take good care of this feather nib pen!! ^^
Hi Jaleen, I love how you turned the overtime claim situation to a positive one! And that’s cute that your dad and your boyfriend will remind you on the time to sleep! :)
Aw I’m glad that the task has boosted your mood Alia! :D I love how you expressed gratitude for your limbs; it’s a message I tried to drive with my feature on Barbie Thomas a month ago.
You sound like a very sweet and kind lady by the way; I can really feel your warmth as I was reading your comment. I feel like you’re very introspective and sensitive to others’ needs — have you taken the Myer Briggs personality before, by any chance? I’m guessing you are likely an IN-personality type!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Celes! I have taken the MB personality test and I am indeed an INFP! Good guess :) Also, I hadn’t seen the article on Barbie Thomas before, so thanks as well for that, as I found it very inspiring!
Hi Calae, I think a gift for your BF sounds like a wonderful idea! It doesn’t have to be expensive; what it’ll do is serve as a token and symbol of your love. If it’s a functional item, even better! For example, one of the first gifts I got for Ken was a heart-shaped cushion (very reasonably priced), and I’d say it’s a super-highly-utilized item by both of us as we’ve been hugging it to sleep ever since (it’s already over a year since I got it)! I guess you know what I mean since you have Mr. Toasty which is from your BF! XD
By the way, do show us a pic of Mr. Toasty if it’s possible?? I’d love to see how he looks like! XD
Well, I hope to get my boyfriend a new gaming system, so it’s expensive but it’ll last him a lot of years! I’m partially getting it because he’s going off to med school, and I think he’s gonna need SOME way to relax! Can’t wait to give it to him; his birthday is on Wednesday!
And here you go, a picture of Mr. Toasty! I threw in a tissue box to give an idea of size (he’s huge!); I’ve used him as a pillow several times. If you take a normal sleeping pillow and made it into a square, I’d say that’s a good estimate of his size haha. x)
that has got to be the cutest stuffed toy I’ve ever seen! :D
I got to second that!! Mr. Toasty is so cute!!! *runs to the front to squish him*
Which gaming system are you getting him? Gaming consoles easily cost a few hundred bucks (I used to be an avid gamer myself) so I’m sure he’s going to be super touched when he gets the gift! Do let us know how his reaction is when you give him the system; for the record, next Wednesday will be day 9 of the challenge (Monday is a break day so it doesn’t count as an actual day of the challenge) so I look forward to hearing about it in your task comments for that day!!
Yes, it’s quite pricey! I bought him a PS4; I know he kind of wanted both that and a Wii U, and his brothers and I all weren’t sure which he’d prefer but slightly leaned toward the PS4, so I got him the more expensive of the two. I’ll let him know when he opens it that he’s more than welcome to get it exchanged for the other system should he rather have that one instead haha. I’ll certainly let you know!
Gift giving may be off by a day or two depending when he’s free from family obligations, but definitely some time this week he’ll get it and I’ll update you when I do!
Thanks, Alia! I love him so much, it’s just impossible to be sad when you look at his face! xD
By the way, why is there a “flap” in the upper area of Mr. Toasty? Is it just the cushion design to show the “bread” part of Mr. Toasty?
If you mean the yellow part, it’s supposed to be a square of butter that’s sort of melting on to him (since he’s a piece of toast). xD If you just mean the shape, then yes, it’s just supposed to be the shape of a piece of bread! He’s a bit less flat than when I got him because hugging him squishes him out of shape. ^^; Hope I explained it, I know I didn’t quite have the best lighting for this picture haha.
Ahaha, yes I meant the butter part!! Aw that’s so cute now that you’ve completed my visuals! I showed the picture to Ken and asked him to guess what it is; he thought it was a ribbon! I think it’s so cute that the cushion creator even went down to the details and added a slab of butter onto Mr. Toasty!
*Sneaks in to give Mr. Toasty a gentle squeeze while looking forward to Calae’s upcoming posts!!*
Enjoyed this task and really found out many things to be grateful in life. Always been complaining for what I do not have in life but never grateful for things I do already have in life.
Identify three things that you tend to take for granted.
– My Parents and Grandparents. They have taken care of me all my life even right now and I had not done anything to achieve the amount of care they had given me.
– Singapore. Being in Singapore for 21 years, I never appreciated how much Singapore had done for us. Easily being one of the safest country, easy access to every part of Country, variety of food we have and friends of different race and religion.
– My Life. In the past, I blamed myself why life is such a miserable and meaningless thing to do.
Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your life.
1. Health – Grateful to have such a healthy life to be able to serve Singapore in NS
2. Food – Grateful for the affordable cost of food and varieties provided in Singapore.
3. Family – Grateful for all the care they had provided me.
4. Friends – Grateful to have them with me through happy and stressful moments
5. Gadgets – Grateful to have provided me so much for my studies and career.
6. Income – Grateful to have a stable income and be able to support a minor part of my family
7. Transport – Grateful to the consistency and buses
8. Cleaners – Grateful as without them, Singapore could never be as clean as it is.
9. National Service – Grateful that it allowed me to understand how much I took my family for granted.
10. Problems – Grateful that problems had given me an opportunity to learn and with my abilities to overcome it.
Identify ONE thing you can do today to express gratitude to any one item on your list.
– My Family. They have given me their best years of their life and now it is my responsibility to be spending time with hobbies they like, getting to know their life problems and taking them out for a family trip to express my gratitude for them.
This came at the right time for me. 3 things I’m grateful: my health, my intelligence, and a job where I help people better their life. Yesterday a coworker was fired and a lot of emotions came up for me. I felt very sad at the loss. I wonder about how the person is feeling and coping and also I will definitely miss them. Second, I feel overwhelmed because now I have to take on her workload along with what I have already and I am already overwhelmed with my workload. Also, I feel dissatisfied with where I am in my life currently as far as relationships, family, and a home. It is easy to get into fear and panic about what the future holds and if everything is going to work out okay. This challenge was in perfect timing because about 1-2 hours before I read this challenge I saw a disabled man leaving the bathroom. In that moment I realized that my disappoints at my lofty and ideal goals mean nothing if I did not have my health. Through all of the ups and downs in my life, my physical health has not failed me nor ever been a cause for concern. In that regard I can feel very fortunate, blessed, and taken care of. Second, I am blessed for my intelligence. Although I have felt abandoned and abused by others, my intelligence has kept me going, striving and achieving for a higher quality of life. Although other set backs have occurred, my intelligence is something that will always stay with me. Even if I have been naive in the past, I have learned and am constantly learning how to make healthier choices. Finally, even though my job has a high workload, I genuinely enjoy being able to impact others’ lives in the way that I do, whether they recognize it or not. My passion is to help others, and my job is to help people find a job after they finished a vocational school. I feel good everyday knowing I can truly make a difference in someone’s life. Finally I am grateful for reading this post right now, because although I haven’t started 1-4 I read this one at the right moment. I was just feeling very negative about my circumstances and this was a helpful way to reframe my thoughts and feelings. Thank you.
10 things I am grateful for: my health, my intelligence, my job, my cats, my studio apartment, my best friend, my 12 step program, my sponsor, God, nature, the ocean. I am going to send a message to my sponsor regarding my gratitude for her support during this emotional process.
“I”m grateful for everything in my life.”
10 Things I am grateful for:
1. Amazing Friends
2. Awesome Sisters
3. Co-Workers that keep me motivated.
4. Clients that inspire me to help them even more.
5. Technology that allows me to communicate across the world with friends.
6. Empathy for others to keep a good heart and head on my shoulders.
7. Freedoms that are still left that others do not have.
8. Books that I access and read to learn and grow my brain so freely.
9. An open mind that allows me to see so many things others do not.
10. Heart that forgives, sees the good where others cannot and continues to work despite the pains it has to endure.
Today I express gratitude for my amazing friends by continuing to keep their hopes and positive outlook on life alive through my words and actions everyday.
“I pause to think about everything I have and am grateful for in my life and recognize that they are gifts from God, and that not everyone in the world has these things so I am grateful for my blessings and pray that one day all will be as blessed as I am.”
— feeling inspired.
Identify three things that you tend to take for granted:
– I am grateful that I am alive, healthy and well.
– I am grateful for all the experiences that make up my life.
– I am grateful for having freedom of choice.
Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your
life:
1. I am grateful that I was born at a peaceful time in where I was born
and lived.
2. I am grateful that I am healthy and well, and am aware of the need to take care of my body.
3. I am aware that I was well cared for
growing up. People, education and experiences are more than I could have wished for growing up.
4. I am grateful that I have access to almost all of the education, activities and resources that I need.
5. I am grateful to have a few best friends who really have my best
interest in mind.
6. I am grateful to have access to kind and inspiring people
directly and indirectly, in person and through various sharing.
7. I am grateful for gaining knowledge of my religion after I have gained some experience in life, and that I choosing my religion was a free choice.
8. I am grateful for all the people who has taken time and effort to help me.
9. I am grateful for all the experiences that make up to my life so far. I have been a very fortunate person.
10. I am grateful that I am alive right now, and have the potential to contribute to the world.
Identify ONE thing you can do today to express gratitude to any one item on your list:
I will let my mother know that I am grateful for what she’s provided me.
“I’m grateful for everything in my life.”
Awesome list! Number seven on your list caught my eye, I think you’re so fortunate to have that choice and that knowledge. So many people I know (including myself) have parents that try to force their religion on their children, and the children struggle with understanding where they stand in term of religion because of it; I think it’s great that you acknowledge how fortunate you are to learn about it and accepting it for yourself!
Very grateful indeed. And this exercise is really good b/c we’re often too preoccupied that we don’t acknowledge the plus side of our lives anymore.
I really like that you feel grateful of the internet (and so do I). I saw an awesome sharing that I wallpaper-ed it for a while. Really puts things into perspective and for reflection. =)
Hi Mikey, that image is hilarious!!!
Yep .. reminds us not to forget pictures of dogs too. :)
Hello everybody,
This challenge is very different from the others and I am quite happy about that. I will go straight to the tasks.
3 things that I tend to take for granted:
1.) TIME of my life. It always seems like there will be another day, another tomorrow, and that the whole life is in front of me, but in fact, we never know… Time is one of those things that we can’t get back. That’s why it’s important to appreciate every second of the day.
2.) NATURE – the air I breathe, the food I eat, all the wonderful people, animals, plants, landscapes etc.
3.) COMFORT – my home, all the furniture, equipment, electronics, technology, senvies, supplies, utilities that make my life easier.
10 things I am most grateful for:
– My life. Being alive. Having this human experience.
– My health. Being young, strong, full of energy, pain free, maintaining my perfect weight and shape, good overall health and fitness.
– My family. My parents who gave me life. My Siblings. My husband. All my friends and relatives. Schoolmates and colleagues.
– My awareness. All my knowledge, abilities, intuition, and spiritual awakening.
– My teachers and life lessons. All the books, audio tapes, dvds that has helped me to become a creator of my life
– Beauty and all the artists and their artwork that fills this world with beauty and meaning and inspire me everyday. I am especially grateful for music. Can’t imagine my life without it.
– Mother Earth and all the generosity it has shown us. Nature with all its intelligence and patterns we can actually learn from.
– Comfort – everything human made that makes our lives carefree, easy and safe.
– Peace. Independence. Freedom. In my country and countries I have lived in.
– Love. I am grateful for all the love that exists in the world. Without it there would be no meaning to live. I am also grateful for all the right-brained, loving people around the globe who lives with their hearts.
I can express the gratitude today by sending my heartfelt thanks to you, Celes, for being our unique guide and doing this wonderful work of love. May your life be filled with all the blessings you have brought to us! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Santas Inspirations
One year my friend posted 365 days of pictures on her Facebook. This year she is doing 365 days of gratitude. Very Awesome. I am very greatful for many things but somtimes I take advatage of what is greatful in front of me. Three things I take advantage of is a husband who puts up with my negative thinking. Second, I say thanks to my sister but I feel like I take advantage of her listening to all my complaining. She also watchs my son for an hour 3 days out of the week. I would like to be more greatful that I have a stable job. Of course, im sure there is a lot more but those are the ones that I need to reflect on. Ill do all three. I will thank my husband over dinner for putting up with my wierd funks. I will give my sister a gratitude card i recieved at a running expo with some flowers. Last, I will thank my summer school admin. Three things I knowim greatful for is my God, my son, and my he
alth. A new thing that I have been trying on my long runs is each mile I pray for someone and mention something im greatful for. It takes my mind off of my negative thinking and towards a more positive thinking path..and it makes the run go by faster :) I am greatful for everything.
Things I’m taking for granted: I’ve probably been taking my job and the salary I get for granted. Somehow after college things have been easy. And I’ve been earning more than what I’d thought I would during anytime I was studying. So the idea of working and earning has started seeming easy. When I meet folks who are trying to meet the ends meet, who’ve been looking for a decent job for a long time, or when I just see someone who’s in a much more difficult job, I realize how grateful I should be. But that’s not the normal state.
I also take my health for granted I think. I’ve a fit and healthy body. I could just run for an hour without any breaks at any time. But only when I’m sick and I’m barely able to walk is when I realize the importance of my health. Only when my left thumb was fractured in an accident is when I realized how it’s connected to the rest of my body and its importance. Unfortunately (more often) it’s the absence that makes us realize something or someone’s importance. But fortunate would be those who can retain that realization.
10 things I’m grateful for:
1) My family
2) My lovely set of friends
3) My job
4) My home
5) This life
6) My health
7) Art – making and watching
8) The internet
9) Our earth
10) Trees
Today I’ve quite a bit of work to finish. I’ll probably need to work from morn till night. But I’ll do it gratefully. Instead of thinking about the potential time with friends and family that I’m missing out on, I’ll think of my job that has given me so much in life, and my company that has given me a wonderful atmosphere to work. And with that gratefulness I’ll work joyfully.
1. Three things I take for granted:
My personal daily yoga practice.
The food I eat.
My wonderful relationships.
2.Ten things I am grateful for in my life:
My home with my dad.
Meeting and getting to know Denes.
The blue sky today.
The time and space to do these affirmation tasks.
Being a yoga teacher.
All the personal development work I have put in over the past decade.
My job and healthy finances
My health
My family
My friends.
Celes for creating and hosting this 15-day challenge.
I am also grateful for the challenge and chance to push through my fear and move forward in my work and yoga.
3. One thing I can do to express gratitude:
Write a heartfelt note of thanks to my family, friends and Denes on Facebook.
Identify three things that you tend to take for granted.
-Planet Earth.
-An affordable place to life.
-My health. My Youth.
-My job.
-My friendship with a few people in my life.
-Yoga.
-Enough money to afford a few luxuries.
-Food on the table.
-Living in the United States.
Identify 10 things that you are grateful for in your life.
a. My brother Qfunn.
b. My other brothers
c. My sister and her husband.
d. My mom. Best mom evar.
e. My old reliable job.
f. Volleyball friends and meetup.
g. Meditation class.
h. My own room.
i. My friendship with Bastian.
j. My boss.
Identify ONE thing you can do today to express gratitude to any one item on your list.
I would like to express gratitude to my brother Qfunn. That man has made a lot of personal sacrifice to ensure that our mom and I could live with him. He offered to also take in our nephew. He’s always been very generous with his money, his time, and his energy. I just wish a good woman can see his positive traits and make him happy.
Say today’s affirmation.
I may not have very much in terms of money, but I am grateful I can afford the basic necessities along with a few luxuries. I am grateful to be healthy, with my mind intact. I am grateful to have a large close knit family, especially thankful of my brother Qfunn who has made some notable exercises for me and my mom.
“I’m grateful for everything in my life.”
altight this challenge is something that i strongly aware of but
i tend to forgot when i am troubleso this is something i feel bad about TT
1 things i take for granted (quite a lot actually)
– my body health
– the ppl i love around me
– the ground i stand on now
2 10 things i grateful
– my parents
– my vegetarian diet
– my friends
– my mentor
– my job
– my happy experince
– the food i eat
– able to wake up everyday
– got a place to sleep
– my alone time
3 1 thing to express gratitude
i am grateful that i have throughly rest alone in my house
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