As the beginning of the holiday season, November is a natural time to ponder gratitude and give thanks. The kids have been in school for a few months. And for most of us, the weather keeps us inside, near a warm fire. So we have time to recharge and reflect.
Implementing a gratitude practice is one of the most crucial habits in building a gratifying and successful life.
“If you aren’t grateful, you aren’t rich.” John Templeton.
All of my regular readers have numerous blessings and gifts in their lives. Wonderful and warm families. Your health. Financial security.
Yes, it’s easy to focus on what we lack—a newer, larger house, the new Porsche sitting in our neighbor’s driveway, or a portfolio of rental properties bringing in passive income.
Guess what? You will stay on that hamster wheel of desire unless you choose otherwise.
And the best method I’ve found is a regular gratitude practice.
It’s easy to be grateful for the blessings in our lives—education, money, and fun toys. But you knew I’d be pushing you a little bit.
Can you be grateful for the challenges and difficulties in your life? When you and your partner or spouse are not getting along? When you face a health challenge? Or any of the myriad ways life throws obstacles in our way?
For the last year, we’ve had a fantastic au pair living with us and helping care for our son. This past September, she left abruptly, right when my wife and I were going through an intense season at work.
Whew. It’s been a lot of juggling work responsibilities, asking for a ton of help, and a heaping amount of stress. And while it took some time, we’ve come to the place where we are grateful for this challenge. We are thankful to rally around each other. We are incredibly grateful for our community, which rallied for us.
Our character and integrity are built during these seasons of challenge and struggle. These are the times when we grow, learn, and become more extensive versions of ourselves.
While it may be difficult to be grateful in the heat and depths of our challenges, I encourage you to reflect on these times in your life.
What are the moments and times you are most grateful for? Or that you are most proud of?
I bet every one of you knows in your heart of hearts that it is those moments in the fire that forge our character. The struggle of medical school and residency—man, how many times I wanted to quit!
Or the challenges of toddler-aged kids. Or struggling in your marriage or relationship and coming out more robust and more in love on the other side.
Your life is built on these moments of struggle. I know that my life’s best and most worthwhile areas are also the most challenging. As humans, we need challenges to grow stronger.
I give heartfelt thanks and gratitude to each of you. Thank you for pushing me to write better and to grow in new ways this past year. Have a wonderful holiday!
