tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post8222436405038304864..comments2024-03-28T08:54:28.654+08:00Comments on Cresting The Hill: STEP #5 ON THE JOURNEY TO HAPPINESS ~ BE GRATEFUL Leannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-37483466225280302122016-07-21T19:58:16.631+08:002016-07-21T19:58:16.631+08:00That was a word picture that described the whole w...That was a word picture that described the whole wallowing thing down pat Nikki - when life sucks we have to stop ourselves making it worse by dwelling on it all. Even a small change in our focus and looking at things differently can be the beginning of a whole new outlook on life - you've certainly proved to be an amazing example of that!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-6974866319112096172016-07-21T19:56:23.024+08:002016-07-21T19:56:23.024+08:00Hi Debbie - I'm a positive kind of gal too - b...Hi Debbie - I'm a positive kind of gal too - but a dollop of gratitude here and there certainly makes life more upbeat :)Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-81901376253443935272016-07-18T23:17:39.147+08:002016-07-18T23:17:39.147+08:00This is the key. At least it was for me. When life...This is the key. At least it was for me. When life was spiraling downward, all I could see was the bad. All I could think about was the terrible things. I focused on them, lived in them, I even laid down and rolled around in them. Like a dog rolling in garbage. When I got up I was still covered in them. I wore them like a stench. It all changed when I began focusing on the good. I had to concentrate to think about 5 things I was grateful for. Soon I realized that while I was trying with all my might to find the good that it took up so much time and energy that the bad receeded. The more I thought about the good there wasn't much room for the bad. It was still there, but if I didn't focus on it it didn't seem as bad or overwhelming. I wasn't as anxious, I could relax and breathe. <br /><br />You are exactly right, we need to retrain our brains at some point in order to survive, to climb up the ladder and have the strength to climb a bit higher each day. Thanks for reminding me to always look for the good! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17064084924219498676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-74121472555974059512016-07-18T09:02:02.994+08:002016-07-18T09:02:02.994+08:00I'm always a positive person, but sometimes I ...I'm always a positive person, but sometimes I need to be reminded to be grateful for what I have. Thank you. And thanks for sharing at the BlDebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808535651561822721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-65027236102737473132016-07-16T11:31:35.365+08:002016-07-16T11:31:35.365+08:00There is no way an iced coffee is going to stay fu...There is no way an iced coffee is going to stay full on a Summers day Molly - you're right though if we think of the glass being half full because we've been enjoying it then it can't help but make you smile.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-13834041038525480672016-07-16T11:30:15.774+08:002016-07-16T11:30:15.774+08:00It's so easy to only see what you're missi...It's so easy to only see what you're missing out on - to turn it around and look at all the blessings lifts your spirits every time.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-61582797947279401572016-07-16T09:30:32.737+08:002016-07-16T09:30:32.737+08:00I like to see the good in a half full and a half e...I like to see the good in a half full and a half empty glass, Leanne. How are you going to enjoy that delicious drink of choice if you don't get it down to the halfway mark? A perpetually full glass would be so hard to maintain, especially if you were staring at iced coffee on a 90 degree day, right? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14664097336440373659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-53889397157351650372016-07-16T08:23:45.434+08:002016-07-16T08:23:45.434+08:00Yes, I think it is so important not to focus only ...Yes, I think it is so important not to focus only on what you don't have, or think others have, or are unhappy with - it's draining for you & everyone else. Positivity & appreciation can go along way.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13006727330831002627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-71778440837716881812016-07-15T10:54:32.773+08:002016-07-15T10:54:32.773+08:00Thanks so much Rica - it is definitely a skill you...Thanks so much Rica - it is definitely a skill you can work on - I've been a bit late with putting effort into it, but the more I focus on what I have rather than what I don't, the happier and more content I am with my life in general xLeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-69536125875153734122016-07-15T10:53:28.351+08:002016-07-15T10:53:28.351+08:00thanks Estelle - it's an easy lesson to forget...thanks Estelle - it's an easy lesson to forget if we get too caught up in how life isn't giving us all we'd hoped for.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-90284273752159912652016-07-15T10:51:15.553+08:002016-07-15T10:51:15.553+08:00I don't think it matters how you go about bein...I don't think it matters how you go about being grateful Suzanne - just being appreciative of the good things life has given us is enough to give us a boost and help keep the negativity at bay. I'm glad you found a way to thwart the family "legacy"!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-31029713117557411082016-07-15T09:55:11.940+08:002016-07-15T09:55:11.940+08:00What a great message! I continually have to reiter...What a great message! I continually have to reiterate this to my soul. Some of the most successful, resourceful, and responsible individuals I've known are those who continually take ownership of their lives and work to shift their focus when things look grim. It's a skill that requires practice for all of us! Thanks for this lovely post. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03751075644364053432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-48904949436960604812016-07-14T19:51:21.424+08:002016-07-14T19:51:21.424+08:00I completely agree that we need to count our bless...I completely agree that we need to count our blessings and be grateful for what we have in order to move forward in our lives.<br />EstelleEstelleSErasmushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13312777921382434774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-24946486855481369492016-07-14T14:13:05.810+08:002016-07-14T14:13:05.810+08:00Despite having inherited an over abundance of nega...Despite having inherited an over abundance of negativity from my father, for some reason, I always felt secure in the knowledge that I could depend on myself. (Now, that I'm older, I realize that some of that is simply luck.) I don't have an organized gratitude project or routine, but I often feel supremely grateful for how my life evolved. Suzanne Fluhr https://www.blogger.com/profile/15164389928331501665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-81408505785621582772016-07-14T10:22:24.261+08:002016-07-14T10:22:24.261+08:00thanks Doreen - gratitude has to put a smile on yo...thanks Doreen - gratitude has to put a smile on your face doesn't it?Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-6642897286878769262016-07-14T10:21:42.492+08:002016-07-14T10:21:42.492+08:00I agree Helene - often counselling and medication ...I agree Helene - often counselling and medication is the only answer when you're depressed, but for many of us, that haven't fallen that far down "the well" there is a lot we can do to help ourselves climb back up again.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-75111791631572753372016-07-14T10:20:40.799+08:002016-07-14T10:20:40.799+08:00Thanks Carol - I don't think gratitude "f...Thanks Carol - I don't think gratitude "fixes" depression either, but it helps if you are in the early stages of being down and miserable. What we focus on affects our mood and our outlook, that in turn lifts or drops our spirits. The worst end of this is depression and that's a serious issue, the early and middle stages can be helped by being more aware of how lucky we are and looking for ways to increase that feeling. Upbeat is what I'm aiming for wherever possible!Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-49231923067903186372016-07-14T10:18:12.884+08:002016-07-14T10:18:12.884+08:00Anna I know exactly what you're saying - I hav...Anna I know exactly what you're saying - I have been gently and firmly suggesting counselling and medication to that friend for months. She is very resistant, but I don't see her climbing out of the hole without it. I am surrounded by family members who are chronically low on seratonin and need medication to function. I hadn't realized that people might interpret this post to think that smiling and being grateful will solve being depressed - it certainly won't! I was trying to say that our perspective on life can slowly lead us into a downward spiral where we can feel like we're drowning - that's when intervention is going to be the answer without a doubt. Thanks for your insights xLeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-924393908284833622016-07-14T10:12:21.361+08:002016-07-14T10:12:21.361+08:00Thanks Laurie - I think we need to stop and apprec...Thanks Laurie - I think we need to stop and appreciate what we have. We take so much for granted and we can be so ungrateful at times - it's nice to turn that around and it certainly helps our happiness level.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-89410553943672637982016-07-14T10:11:06.298+08:002016-07-14T10:11:06.298+08:00Reminding ourselves of all that we have to be grat...Reminding ourselves of all that we have to be grateful for is such a blessing and it lifts us up - we need all the help we can get in that area Carla :)Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-39019080775692627712016-07-14T09:11:10.845+08:002016-07-14T09:11:10.845+08:00I love the way you told this story and I agree, ha...I love the way you told this story and I agree, having a grate full heart takes practice but it does make moving forward easier. Doreen McGettiganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11691803968607905576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-7582999332597072032016-07-14T02:18:23.951+08:002016-07-14T02:18:23.951+08:00Depression seems to take many forms and often can ...Depression seems to take many forms and often can be helped, but sometimes not. I think the right combination of therapy, self-help (yoga, exercises, e.g.) and sometimes medication works well for many but not all.Helene Bludmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506941982309828672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-65377210681057104972016-07-14T00:10:00.671+08:002016-07-14T00:10:00.671+08:00Gratitude is a way of life for me andI do think it...Gratitude is a way of life for me andI do think it is part of how I keep upbeat. I do think that gratitude and doing for others helps ease some depression. Therapists often assign people good works and volunteerism to help take the focus off the depressing stuff and on to helping others and being grateful. It's not a panacea for all cases but depression is a continuum and one size doesn't fit all. So glad it worked for you!<br />Carol<br />http://carolcassara.com/horrible-bosses/Middle-aged Diva (Carol)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01568652518759320329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-82474283779178243762016-07-13T23:50:18.439+08:002016-07-13T23:50:18.439+08:00I have such mixed feelings about this post. On the...I have such mixed feelings about this post. On the one hand every single thing you say is helpful and fabulous. I love that you made this trip and that you share what you learned. On the other hand (and this might just be my perspective as someone who suffers from major mental illness) I think it is dangerous to imply that mindset is a way to reverse depression. It can do wonders to help feelings of depression but very little for major chemical imbalances. I wonder about your friend in the welll...if she has been in therapy, tried medication. The feeling of drowning can be short term and helped by appreciating what you have in life. Or it can be epic and dangerous. It is important to tease out the differences. Anna Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05579173318715598713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4722898771124083282.post-33976005287903696912016-07-13T21:16:28.801+08:002016-07-13T21:16:28.801+08:00Gratitude and growth! Those are biggies for me to ...Gratitude and growth! Those are biggies for me to focus on! Happiness is packaged in so many different ways, but appreciating it will put the bow on top! Great reminders Leanne :)Laurie Oienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03730798426106243813noreply@blogger.com