How To Find Joy Through Gratitude

Gratitude is a critical life skill — an emotional superpower for navigating a treacherous world. Unfortunately, it’s a skill that we rarely practice, since it offers no direct line to tangible benefits like money and power. 

Instead, gratitude paves the way to much better rewards like stronger emotional fortitude and healthier interpersonal relationships. 

When we face adversity, it’s easy to complain. Here’s some shit I’ve complained about within the last few days:

• Social media

• The economy

• Politics

• My job

• My small town

• My finances

• My recent career failures

• Getting sick (bronchitis has been kicking my ass for the last five days)

However, by focusing on the shit I don’t like, I’m forgetting how awesome my life is:

• My dad isn’t dead

• I get to spend quality time with my partner almost every night

• I have a steady job that doesn’t sap my creative energy

• I haven’t smoked a cigarette in over a year

• My humble e-commerce store is steadily growing despite a global recession

• I have followers and fans — real people who are connecting with my work and filling my life with purpose

Quote of the Week

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” — Epicurus

Gratitude is a Choice

Here’s the thing about gratitude: it’s not really a feeling — it’s a decision. Gratitude is a key that unlocks our capacity for love and transforms our sorrow into joy. 

Often, opportunity is wrapped in adversity.

• Five days of illness have given me time at home to get some rest after working nonstop for the last 60 days (all that work probably contributed to me getting sick in the first place)

• The pandemic and resulting economic shakeup motivated a lot of people to diversify their incomes, study personal finance, and learn new skills

• A global recession will be millenials’ best opportunity ever to invest in assets

• Supply chain bottlenecks and breakdowns are incentivizing a transition back to local business and domestic infrastructure

• A painful breakup can lead to an explosion in personal growth

• Car problems can motivate you to drive less and walk more, which can help you save money, get some sun, and get in shape after over two years of pandemic life

• When a friend, family member, or coworker betrays you unexpectedly, you get the opportunity to part ways with them before they do even more damage later

Many of life’s most valuable lessons await on the other side of pain and loss. Fortunately, everything we lose makes us lighter.

We can transform any hardship into good fortune by simply shifting our perspective.

Question of the Week

What are you grateful for?

Live On Purpose // Die Without Regrets

Each Wednesday, I publish a 3-5 minute newsletter + video podcast that applies ancient wisdom to modern life.
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