Finding Balance
In order to be happier, we need to acknowledge that nobody else but us can change our thoughts and our behaviour. When we choose to pay a little more attention to the positive aspects in our life, and focus on those things, rather than focusing on the negative aspects that are out of our control, we are already making things better.
Adopting a positive attitude could start with simply making time each day to appreciate life, doing something we are passionate about, or that brings us pleasure. We need to live life one day at a time, and think about the habits that we have, and how we can change those habits, in order to adopt better ones and become a better person. When we are open to positive changes, we understand that happiness is about relationships, experiences and moments. If you want to find balance in life, you need to have your priorities in place, be aware of your limits, acknowledge them, and then look for ways to take a positive turn.
Spirituality is closely related to living a balanced life, and discovering a greater meaning in life, and inner peace is reached by gratitude and self acceptance. There are many things we can do in order to live a more spiritual, meaningful, life. By incorporating your positive strengths like kindness, originality, humour, optimism, curiosity, enthusiasm and generosity into your everyday life for example, you can reach new levels of optimism, happiness and productivity, but before your levels of contentment can improve, your choices and actions must improve.
For many people, gratitude is difficult, because life is difficult. But when they understand that is not about expressing gratitude only when they feel it, but giving thanks especially when they don’t feel like doing it, they find a powerful tool to improve their well-being and fight depression.
A gratitude journal is something that can help you heal and achieve spiritual balance. All you need is a notebook, a paper pad, or any kind of paper to write down several things you are grateful for. Since I started my gratitude journal, I’ve learned that my level of happiness is directly linked to how grateful I am. It's one thing to reflect upon gratitude, but writing it down is a very moving experience. When we write it down what makes our lives meaningful, we see that gratitude isn't about stuff, we realise that gratitude is an emotional experience.
This little exercise of acknowledging the good things in life, has the power to change your perspective. By putting pen to paper and reinforcing your own positive feelings, you confirm your emotions and change the way you feel.
Start a gratitude journal by:
Making a list of everything you will still care about in 5 years;
Writing about something positive that happened during your day, every day;
Thinking about 5 things you’re grateful for in the end of each day;
Thinking about the life lessons you’ve learned from your struggles;
Writing about your family memories and what makes you happy about having a family;
Writing about all the relationships you have in life that are worth being grateful for;
Remember that acceptance, gratitude, and happiness are attainable, and grateful people have less resentment and are happier in general. Living in balance and purity is about loving ourselves, practicing acceptance, taking care of our body and mind, living in the moment, trusting the Higher Power, and letting go of judgement. Spiritual balance is about how we are in our inner lives - our thoughts, emotions, beliefs and desires, and gratitude can balance it all. Dedicate some of your time to count your blessings, and I’m sure that you will discover infinite worth in yourself.
