Gratitude Goes A Long Way

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here! 

In a world that often seems to focus on negativity and problems, it can be easy to forget about the positive things in our lives. However, cultivating a practice of gratitude can have a significant impact on our mental health and well-being.

Gratitude is the practice of acknowledging and appreciating the good things in our lives. This can range from small everyday blessings, like a sunny day or a kind word from a friend, to major accomplishments or milestones. 

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Research has shown that regularly practicing gratitude can have numerous benefits for our mental health, including:

1. Reducing Symptoms of Depression: Studies have found that people who regularly practice gratitude are less likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.
2. Improving Sleep: A gratitude practice has been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.
3. Increasing Resilience: When we focus on the good things in our lives, we become more resilient in the face of adversity. Gratitude can help us to maintain a positive outlook and cope more effectively with stress.
4. Boosting Positive Emotions: Regularly practicing gratitude can increase feelings of happiness, contentment, and overall well-being.
5. Strengthening Relationships: Expressing gratitude to others can strengthen our relationships and improve our social connections.

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There are many ways to cultivate a practice of gratitude. 

Some people keep a gratitude journal, writing down a few things they are grateful for each day. 

Others may express gratitude through prayer or meditation, or by simply taking a few moments each day to reflect on the good things in their lives. 

Whatever method you choose, incorporating gratitude into your daily routine can have a profound impact on your mental health and well-being.

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In conclusion, practicing gratitude is a simple but powerful tool for promoting mental health and well-being. 

By focusing on the positive things in our lives and expressing gratitude for them, we can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve our sleep, increase our resilience, boost positive emotions, and strengthen our relationships. 

So why not give it a try? Take a few moments each day to reflect on the good things in your life and express gratitude for them. You may be surprised at the positive impact it has on your mental health and overall well-being.

Till next time!

Life is a choice entirely. Well almost!

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here! 

It just occurred to me that life is almost entirely our choice.

No matter how good one’s life is, there is always something to complain about. No one would think their lives are perfect, at least most of the time anyway.

On the other end, no matter how bad one’s life is, there is always something to be grateful for.

Therefore, it is almost entirely our choice how we go about life.

There are people who have everything but never feel enough.

There are also people who have so little but feel so grateful and happy about what is going on around them.

It hard to say the former has a better life than the latter.

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How about me?

I find myself having a range within which I am constantly moving.

I do complain, especially on the financial side of things.

The opportunities I have missed are worth multiples of our total net-worth which we have worked so hard and saved so hard to accumulate and they are enough to put us well in financial freedom already.

At the same time, I do feel grateful.

While I lost precious opportunities, that is nothing like “terminal sentence” where I am denied to all subsequent opportunities. I am denied to some for sure, but luckily not all.

As a matter of fact, new opportunities never stop coming to me. For some, I would be denied to them; for some, I would let them go; for some, I would try my best to grab them. At the end of the day, maybe I am lucky to grab one or two.

That is something to be grateful for.

And people who trust me never stop helping me. And in the process, I get to know more great people and I would be working hard to earn their trust and prove my value to them.

Again, this is something to be grateful for.

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Therefore, I am constantly moving along the line on a day by day basis.

Luckily, in my opinion, the range is manageable as it never goes to the extreme.

But I do notice that things generally work out better if I am on the “Gratitude” side.

The other thing I try to do is not let the emotions affect my actions.

No matter where I am in the range, I try to maintain clear priorities and act on them.

This, however, does consume self-discipline and will power.

Therefore, all in all, it is beneficial to me to be on the “Gratitude” side.

However, I do not forcefully put myself on any side. I have learned to leave buffer in my life, including room for wastage of self-discipline and will power.

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In the end

No matter what lives we are leading now, there are always things to be grateful for and things to complain about.

It is almost entirely our choice how to go about life.

For most, that moves within a manageable range.

Things may generally work out better if we are on the “Gratitude” side.

However, do allow ourselves to come to the “Dark side” from time to time and even stay there for a bit. It is ok as long as we are not lost in it.

Most importantly, do not lose sight of our priorities. 

Till next time!

Milestone — real possibility to hit 40/40 goal next year

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Dear Readers,

Thank you for coming here!

An opportunity knocked and I took the risk.

So far, what I have seen is great beyond my expectation.

Challenges will come. I have been warned.

But I should have this month to prepare as much as possible.

I am going to really try and make it this time.

I am grateful for the opportunity.

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With this opportunity, there is real possibility that I will hit my 40/40 goal next year, 5 years earlier than my original plan.

But I need to prove I deserve it first. I need to make it.

This will be the absolute focus from now, in a sustainable way.

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So promises are made and stages are set.

To all my readers,

Thank you for staying with me until now! 

I really hope you will be there when I announce the achievement of the 40/40 goal, hopefully end of 2022 or beginning of 2023.

Thank you!

 

Till next time!