Gratitude: Maintaining Perspective in An Uncertain World

First of all, can you believe that it is fall and this year is almost over? When I think of fall, I think of brisk temperatures, pumpkin pie, and all the trimmings of Thanksgiving dinner. This is always a special time of the year to reflect and to spend quality time with family. As a result, I thought it would be appropriate to talk to you about one of my favorite topics in the world and that is gratitude. I’ve written so much about gratitude over the years but it seems like I can never exhaust the subject. If you know anything about my life and journey, then you know that gratitude and the grace of God have made me the man that I am today. I hope these insights will inspire and empower you to cultivate a lifestyle of thanksgiving.

1. Do not rush your way through life. If you are not careful, you will rush your way through life and miss all of the beautiful moments that are happening all around you. Honestly, I have been guilty of this as well. My life is busy and my schedule can be very demanding. As a highly productive person, I am always task-oriented. My mind is just wired to be effective and to make progress. At the same time, I notice that if I am not intentional I will find myself living on autopilot. What exactly is autopilot? It is when you start living life unconsciously. You forget to slow down, savor moments, and just soak in the beauty of life. Never feel like you have to rush your way through life. Do not allow the demands of life to rob you of the beauty and simplicity of life. Take time for yourself and never forget that it is the simple things that make life meaningful. Sometimes you have to pause because life cannot always be enjoyed rushing and constantly in motion.
2. Never fall into cycles of complaining about your life. If you know me, then you know that the one thing that annoys me more than anything is a complaining person. As many of you know, my life and work are respected all around the world. I am known as a strategist and a solutionist. As a result, I have very little patience for hearing grumbling and complaining. Moreover, it is counterproductive to complain about things that you refuse to change. It does not take much effort to complain about your life and what you feel is not going right in your life. On the other hand, it takes great effort and skill to remain optimistic and hopeful when it feels like everything around you is contrary. Complaining is a downpayment on cycles of frustration, failure, and defeat. More importantly, complaining changes the structure of your brain to accommodate more limitations and restrictions. Complaining literally constricts the true power and potential of the mind. Decades ago, I made a decision to use my mind as a force for good. I have trained my mind to see possibilities where others see problems, breakthroughs where others see barriers, and growth where others only see stagnation.
3. You must choose to be grateful. Many people look at my life and assume that my journey has been easy. If you have followed my life and work, then you know that nothing could be further from the truth. I have faced immense challenges, pressures, and opposition on my journey to greatness. However, the thing that separates me from others is that I have made a decision to be grateful no matter what circumstances I may be facing in my life. This does not mean that everything has gone perfectly in my life. Nor does it mean that I am exempt from storms and tests. What it does mean is that I refuse to allow adversity to compromise my attitude of gratitude. From decades of lived experience, I have come to the conclusion that gratitude is not only an attitude but a life pillar. In other words, gratitude is a personal conviction and constitution that does not change even in turbulent times. You may not always be grateful for everything that is happening in your life. Yet you can always find something to be grateful for. Gratitude grounds us in eternal truth, anchors us in hope, and reminds us of how blessed we truly are. Gratitude brings perspective and it brings alignment.
4. Every person must find contentment in life. When I start talking about contentment, this is when so many people check out of the conversation. In a culture where materialism is king, it is difficult for most people to grasp a life where less is more. My work has brought me in contact with people from all walks of life. I’ve spoken with some of the most affluent and powerful people in the world. At the same time, I have spoken to individuals living in horrid conditions and yet they are some of the most grateful and fulfilled people in the world. Too many people have reduced fulfillment in life to what you possess. Personally, I have learned that fulfillment has everything to do with your perspective about what you possess. Contentment does not come from power, prestige, or possessions. Contentment in life comes from arriving at a place of peace. When I say arriving at a place of peace, I am talking about being at peace with God, being at peace with others, and ultimately being at peace with yourself. Contentment is when you discern the true abundance of your life. True abundance is not material things. True abundance is all the things in life that money cannot buy.