Gratitude Challenge: What I Learned

So out of all the happiness gurus, successful people, and lifestyle lovers, I’ve seen one common denominator. GRATITUDE. Over the years, I’ve continued to research what factors contribute to people being happy. Of course, we never know if what people tell us, is true. However, I wanted to see for myself, if this common thread would do anything for my level of happiness.

Why I FELT I Needed It

I had recently made a big, but temporary move, to a place I didn’t necessarily feel at home. However, I wanted to get through the experience with peace, well-being, and all in one piece. This particular move was for an internship. I had to move from Atlanta, Georgia (which I now love and call my home), back to my old home…CALI-FOR-NI-AYYYYEEEE…

Now I grew up in Los Angeles, so I have nothing against it. I consider it a beautiful place to live, full of culture and rich life experiences. The problem is...I feel like I’ve experienced the full extent of joy, of living there. I know what it’s like. The traffic. The weather. Downtown. It was a great experience as I grew up. I learned to drive there. I went to concerts. I did theater. I’ve been in some movies and tv shows. I’ve seen celebrities. I’ve dated rappers, actors, thugs, nerds, all of it. [yeah...I know]

Background

I enjoyed those times, but they were over. Now I’ve spent the last 5 years of my life in Georgia. There’s a peace about the trees and the beauty of the nature there, that particularly connects to my soul. I love driving down the beautiful streets of trees, with beautiful looking houses, malls, and apartment complexes. I particularly like the cheaper living option. It also speaks to my inner SLIGHTLY bougie side, as I enjoy the semi-luxurious living experience...lol. So it’s a good fit for me. The pace is a bit slow for my preference, but the economy makes up for it. I get to go on nature trails all the time with my dog, without spending a buttload of gas to drive an hour away, or have to get sand all in my butt and in my car for a beach trip. I love the access to the many different mini-cities in Atlanta that give you a different experience without having to drive all over tim-buck-tu…to get there.

On to Gratitude…

So I decided to move back with my parents for a semester or two, in order to take on an internship that was available at the right time. It would allow me to save, allow me to finish school, and give me some family bonding time, before I returned to my life in Georgia. BUT while I was here, I decided I needed a bout of gratitude to get me through my longing for my new home state. Staying with my parents in my old little kid room, was not the most ideal of cirumstances, since I’ve been on my own for quite some time. My own space has always been important to me and I needed help adjusting to being back in shared space with others (even if they are my loved ones).

The Challenge

I decided I’d give myself 30 days to come up with 5 things I am grateful for, every single day. This would help me take my mind off the discomfort of living in a place I didn’t prefer. This would help me appreciate my days more. && this would help me reach a better place of happiness…or so I've read. I had been practicing gratitude before for about a year or so, but it wasn’t as great of an effort as this. It wasn't accounted for, and it wasn’t concentrated. I felt, or rather I READ, that this would help me focus on the good things in life, rather than the disdain of the circumstances I don’t like.

The Results

I can agree that this certainly helped me focus on the good things in life. I went from I HATE L.A. , to...oh, it’s not that bad, to...oh, I remember what I loved about this place. I readjusted and went from crying about homesickness to fully enjoying my morning commutes (EVEN IN TRAFFIC).

Who would have thought that I could adjust my attitude so drastically, with a bit of concentrated effort? Paying attention to the little things that I’m grateful for, on a daily basis, caused me to truly appreciate life, and enjoy it so much more. No wonder the happiness gurus practice this. After a while, it becomes so natural that you begin to look at the up side of things with no effort at all.

I can truly say I enjoyed this exercise. The challenge was an adjustment at first, but now it’s a part of my everyday life. I can now say that I have gotten closer to true joy and happiness than I’ve ever experienced before. But don’t get me wrong, I still can’t wait to get back to Georgia 😊. Don’t.get.it.twisted.

Your Challenge

Hopefully, you’ve learned from an example or two, that gratitude can dramatically improve the joy in your life. For anyone who is looking to quickly improve their lives, I challenge you to try it. I challenge you to think of three to five DIFFERENT things to be grateful for on a daily basis. Be accountable about it too. Post it on facebook, discuss it with your partner, or do the challenge with your kids. Something about acknowledging your gratitude really forces you to apply it.

I challenge you to 30 days of gratitude! Invest a minute of your day to improve the span of your life. It takes so little time, but makes such a great difference.

With gratitude,

The [BOG].

#enjoyinglife #g #livingyourbestlife #howtobehappy #howtobehappier