Growing up I was a very selfish and negative individual.  I never set out to become selfish or negative, but that is still where I wound up.  Why is that?  The answer is simple.  We live in a selfish and negative world.  I did not have to set out to become selfish or negative.  I simply had to not be intentional about not becoming selfish and negative and the downstream current of the world just led me there.  Is this something you struggle with at all?  If so would you like to know what you can do about it?

Combatting selfishness and negativity is a simple thing to do.  The solution is not easy and it takes hard work (at least at first), but it is simple.  If we want to turn into more positive, loving people it requires us to develop a grateful spirit.

Developing a grateful spirit is something anyone can do, but unfortunately too few ever do.  It is an active decision any us can make that we just need to match with action.  For most of us it may start off thinking of easy surface level blessings we all take for granted in America.  We live in the richest nation on earth.  Even if you do not consider yourself wealthy let me ask you a few questions?

Do you have a roof over your head?

Do you have climate control in your home?

Do you have food to eat every day?

Do you have clean water to drink?

Do you have a computer?

Do you have a phone?

Do you have a car?

If you answered yes to any of those questions you are significantly wealthier than the majority of the world.  How can you not be grateful when you are so blessed?

This is a great starting point, but we all have SOOOO many more incredible things to be thankful for.  Think about the relationships in our lives.  Think about the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.  Think about the amazing grace God has shown us by sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  There are so many blessings we do not deserve, but we still benefit from them every day.  When we are mindful of the many blessings in our lives we become more patient, loving, and appreciative of others.

I have discovered a simple truth that greatly impacts all of our lives.

When we count our blessings and focus on all of the positive things in our lives we will reap more and more positivity in our lives.  If instead we focus on all of the negative things we will reap more and more negativity.

Do you like spending time with negative people?  I hope not.  No one enjoys spending time with negative people.  What you will find as you grow into a more positive person is that others will want to be around you more.  Since opportunities come from other people you will begin a positive cycle in your life of more and more things to be grateful for.

I want to invite you to join me in a simple challenge.  Can you start off your day by writing down just THREE things you are grateful for before you eat your breakfast in the morning?  Can you do this for just one week?  What I am willing to bet is you will instantly start smiling when you think of the many blessings you are thankful for.  You will probably notice you are in a better mood throughout the day when you begin your day in this manner.

Question: What are three things you are thankful for today?  Comment below