By Christie Varga
It's a wonder we make it through the day without breaking a bone! How many times have you looked down to see a new bruise and wondered where it came from? It's easy to dismiss it. Random bruises have become a part of life. We bump into things, it is what it is. Honestly, I'm shocked I've never broken an ankle wearing heels at night!
I easily ignore these daily unexplained bruises, but it's the emotional bruises that linger and cause more hurt. The bruises we give to ourselves through negative thoughts or when we allow other people's opinions of us and our vision hurt us.
The bruises that appear when we have to stop doing something we love for our own safety, or when the doctor tells us our vision is less since our last visit turns from bruises to scars. We carry these scars with us for life. But they are not visible to others.
It's at these times we need to change our thinking and find gratitude in our lives. We can't let these bruises and scars keep us from being happy. Creating a positive mindset with gratitude will make challenging times more manageable.
I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 13 and told I would never drive and would be blind by the time I was 40. (They were wrong about both of those!) But, I learned early on not to be held back by a disability. I developed a strong mindset before mindset was even a popular topic for personal development.
Knowing I have control over my own thoughts and not giving into the fear and sadness of what I have lost or could lose allows me to have a more fulfilling life. This is what I wish for every person who has a disability.
I want to share with you three ways to live a life of gratitude so when you're faced with challenges, you can handle them with grace.
Here are three tips for practicing gratitude daily and making your bruises and scars less evident.
- Daily Gratitude List -- Acknowledge three to five things you are thankful for daily.
- Select a journal that makes you smile to write your daily list.
- Make it special as you do it -- turn on a battery-operated candle, meditate before your journal, listen to your favorite relaxing music, use essential oils ...
- New to this? Make a list of simple things you are thankful for in your daily life. Examples -- a warm bed, a great cup of coffee, a friend, family member, a good audio book narrator ... With time and practice your list will grow.
- Then, take a moment and really FEEL the gratitude for this in your life. Do you love the feeling of how your warm bed gives you a big hug on cold mornings? How does it make you feel? Warm? Safe? Each day it will get easier to create your list.
- Express Thank You to Others.
Take a moment today to practice gratitude. It's something you can do no matter your level of vision. It only takes a few minutes, it's free, and you don't even have to move from where you are right now! This simple daily practice will change your life. It's easy to go through our days so focused on what's right in front of us: our to-do list, family's needs, getting through the day without any major issues. However, when we just focus on what needs to be done, we often forget to stop and see how others are helping us. Take time to intentionally say thank you to someone each day.- Did someone at the store help you find something? Look him or her in the eyes and truly thank them.
- Did a friend invite you for a walk? Go for the walk and thank them for the great idea.
- Being intentional with a daily thank you to someone actually makes you feel better.
- Flip the Thought -- Turn your frustration into celebration.
We all can get frustrated. I get annoyed every time I kick one of those wet floor signs and it crashes to the ground with thundering explosion. Seriously, how can something so small make so much noise?
But when we get frustrated, annoyed, embarrassed we can take that moment and turn it around. I'm thankful I kicked the sign and didn't fall over it.
I get frustrated when I can't drive myself. Then I think about all the crazy, crappy drivers on the road and celebrate that I don't have to be the one to navigate through them. I also celebrate our family doesn't have to pay for two car insurance plans, gas for two cars or ever have two car payments!
Find a way to turn your frustration into celebrations.