Have you ever been in a situation in which you’re feeling down and unloved?

Do you find it hard to get out of that negative mindset, and allow yourself to feel grateful for the little things in life?

It’s hard to be thankful for what you have when you are focusing on what you don’t have. I mean no one was ever grateful for being broke or not feeling good about themselves.

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about the things you are grateful for in life. Perhaps it’s because you’re too preoccupied with all your problems and worries, or maybe it’s simply because you’re one of those who always believe that things could be better.

We all want to live a fulfilling life, and it’s often hard to feel like we’re getting there. There are so many things that need to get done, and they never seem to add up.

But what if I told you that gratitude is one of the most important things that will help you get where you want to be?

Whether it’s in your relationships or your career, gratitude can help make everything feel more meaningful—and even more fun.

Here are 10 Ways To Cultivate Gratitude For A Gratifying Life:

1. When you’re feeling down, ask yourself, “What is one thing I have to be grateful for?”

This simple question will help you change your perspective and make you realize that there are plenty of things to be grateful for. You probably won’t want to use this question all the time, but it can be a great way to get out of a funk!

2. Ask yourself what you can do today to express gratitude for the blessings in your life—and then do those things!

It’s not just about feeling good—it’s also about helping others feel good too! When you’re grateful for your own blessings, you’ll be more likely to think of others who are less fortunate than you and how they could use a little help themselves.

3. Find something to be grateful for in each day’s troubles and challenges, even if it’s just that they have taught you something important about yourself or the world around you.

When you’re grateful for what you have, it gives you a sense of peace and contentment. And when you’re content, you feel like you have enough—enough money, enough friends, enough resources. That’s why gratitude is so important: it helps you focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have.

4. Seek out opportunities to spend time with people who make you feel grateful! You’ll be surprised how much having someone around who makes you feel loved can change your mood for the better.

Changing your environment is the best way to get out of a negative mindset. When you surround yourself with people who make you feel loved and cared for, it’s easier to shift your focus from what’s wrong in your life to what’s right!

5. Make an effort to be patient with yourself, especially when things aren’t going well; self-compassion is an important part of cultivating gratitude!

When things aren’t going well, it can be hard to be patient with yourself. But one of the best ways to cultivate gratitude is to be kind and understanding of yourself—even when you’re struggling.

There will be times when you feel like giving up, or that nothing is going right. You’ll feel like you’re not good enough. But the truth is, we all have days like that—and we all have a lot to be grateful for! You just need to take some time out of your day to remind yourself of all the wonderful things in your life.

6. Recognize that everyone has problems and difficulties in their lives, but no one has it worse than anyone else does—so don’t compare yourself to others!

Sometimes we get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. We see someone else’s success and think, “Wow, that’s really great!” But then we look at the other things in our lives and say, “Well… I could have done better.”

But what if we made a change? What if instead of focusing on what we don’t have or what we wish we had, we focused on what WE DO HAVE? What if instead of looking at other people’s accomplishments as measuring sticks for our own achievements, we saw them as inspiration to keep moving forward and make our own dreams come true?

7. Have a gratitude jar—just write down all the things that make you happy on slips of paper and put them in there! Then whenever you feel sad or stressed out, pull one out and read it!

The things that make us happy are always around us, but we don’t always see them. We get so caught up in our day-to-day lives that we forget to look around and appreciate the things that make us happy.

A gratitude jar is a great way to remind yourself of all the things in life that are good, and it’s also great for reminding yourself that there’s more to be thankful for than what’s going wrong.

8. Meditate on what makes you feel good in your life and use that feeling as a guide when making decisions about how to spend your time and energy each day.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that we often forget to stop, breathe, and reflect on what makes us feel good inside.

One of the best ways to find that spark is by meditating on it—sit quietly at home or wherever you feel comfortable, close your eyes, and focus on how it feels when you’re doing something you love. Whatever it is, try using that as a guide when making decisions about how to spend your time and energy each day.

9. Look for opportunities to help others, even if it’s just lending a hand with some chores or offering them advice on how to handle a situation they’re struggling with.

When you think about it, we all have the power to change the world. It’s not always easy, and we don’t always know how. But it can make all the difference when you do something nice for someone else, even when it’s hard or scary.

You don’t have to be rich or powerful or even an expert to help someone else with their problems. If you see someone struggling with something, try lending them a hand or offering them advice on how to handle a situation they’re struggling with.

You’ll be amazed at how much your simple gesture can mean to someone else—and how much it will mean for YOU too!

10. Smile more often! It sets off happy chemicals in the brain, which makes you more likely to notice the good things around you.

It’s true: smiling doesn’t just make you feel happier—it makes other people feel more optimistic. So when you smile at someone, they’re likely to smile back at you (and maybe even say something nice).

Studies have shown that smiling is linked to increased activity in the part of your brain that helps you to feel positive emotions. That means you’ll be more likely to notice and appreciate all the good things around you.

No matter how hard it can seem at times; you should never forget to be grateful for the things you have. Being thankful shows more self-respect, and acceptance of life in general, as it helps you recognize your blessings and appreciate the work you’ve done to achieve them. Whatever obstacles you go through – don’t lose sight of gratitude: it will help keep you grounded when times are tough, and lift up your spirit at the times that are good.

However, passion is not a person, place, or thing. Passion is simply energy. It’s what you feel when you are energized and excited about what you are doing. It’s what drives you. This feeling of energy is different for each and every one of us and no one can or should be telling you what you need to be doing to find your passion.

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
-Oprah Winfrey

How many times have you heard or been told to “follow your passion?” These days, I think it’s in almost every graduation address. What does it really mean, though? Is passion something you follow? If passion is energy then it’s not a person, a job, or a hobby, but a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm created inside you when you are engaged in a particular activity. It’s really about finding that feeling as to what awakens you inside.

I believe passion is not fixed, it is something that can grow and change over time. For example, I am passionate about playing golf. Was I always this way? No. I started playing from a young age and enjoyed going out with my friends and hitting the ball around. My energy came more from spending time with my friends than the game itself. When I was in my mid-twenties, I decided that I either needed to take the game a bit more seriously or give it up altogether. I decided to take the game more seriously and I signed up for golf school. As I began to develop my skills, I started to become more and more passionate about the game. Now, when I’m playing the game well, I’m hugely energized and absolutely love the game.

“If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.”
-Wanda Sykes

I am also passionate about travel. There is an energy I get from exploring new places, meeting new people, and learning new things. However, not everyone sees it this way. Instead of encouraging the growth of our passion, others often discourage us and try to limit our potential. There are also many reasons why I should avoid traveling if I let practicality or other’s ideas regarding travel get in my way.

Some would say it is a waste of money, others may tell me that I should spend my time at home, or that it’s not safe to travel to many of the countries that I travel to. I, however, have found great joy and passion from my interactions with others all over the world. I think I would die a slow death if I didn’t travel. Not traveling isn’t an option for me and at this stage of my life, my friends and family wouldn’t even consider telling me not to travel. It’s become a part of who I am to the very core of my soul.

“It is the soul’s duty to be loyal to its own desires. It must abandon itself to its master passion. “
-Rebecca West

You can’t think your way into your passion. Therefore; allowing yourself to decide your passion based on societal standards or what your parents want you to do, will only lead to frustration, apathy, and negativity. Instead, feel what drives your energy and enthusiasm, what is your inner compass telling you? This is what creates your passion in your life, and I can guarantee you that you will find joy, happiness, and a zest for life.

Whether your passion is berry farming, accounting, writing, singing, dancing, playing the banjo, digging really big holes, hunting for treasure, or reading thought-provoking books, you should pursue it. Don’t let anyone else tell you what is or is not worthy of your time or effort. Our passions are often what drive us the most in the world. They are not to be ignored but let off the chain and allowed to grow and evolve.

Some of the most well-known and influential people followed their passions which lead them to their high status. While that may not be a reason to pursue your passion, it is an undeniable possibility should you take the first, brave step and own yours.

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
-Albert Einstein

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, wanted to write and, while trying to raise her daughter with no money, she didn’t let her circumstances stop her. She had an idea for a book years beforehand and, even in her most struggling times, she pushed on and let her passion drive her

Simone Lucie Ernestine Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir was a French writer, existentialist philosopher, activist, feminist and social theorist. She never stopped fighting to become educated, even among unthinkable oppression, and she is one of the most well-known voices of feminist theory.

Passion is, in the simplest terms, what gives you happiness through what you do. It’s what makes it possible for you to talk endlessly about your accomplishments and goals. It is what gets you over those hurdles of self-doubt and the pesky gremlins many people face at one time or another. It’s the light in the darkness, the burst of “I’ve got this” in the most overwhelming of times, the vehemence of your resilience and inspiration.

So, what is owning your passion? It’s really about showing up in life, taking responsibility and finding that feeling inside of you that brings excitement and enthusiasm into your life. It’s about really caring about what you are doing. You need to push through your fears, insecurities, and limiting beliefs, so that others can feel your energy and the essence of you.

“It is obvious that we can no more explain a passion to a person who has never experienced it than we can explain light to the blind.”
-T. S. Eliot

I grew to have a love-hate relationship with travel. The annoyances of airports, delays, lost luggage, and security lines are all forgotten with the thrill of a new experience. Travel has shown me that anything is possible, and it has broadened my perspective on life as well as given me the gift of learning more about myself.

I’ve lived in a world of constant change. Growing up, life was very stable with very little change. We always had a summer vacation but we almost always traveled to the same place, we would go to visit my grandmother who lived in another city. However, as soon as I finished high school, I looked for that change and travel that I craved, and I moved away to attend university. Throughout the years, I’ve moved around, living and working internationally in three different countries, living in over 20 different homes all the while making new friends along the way. Travel and change has been a welcome constant for me.

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel- leaves marks on you.” –Anthony Bourdain

While living abroad, I was exposed to many ways of life, both in and outside the office as well as within the diverse regions I covered for work. This made it possible to get to know many people from every region of the world. While in Dubai, I was exposed to people from the Middle East, South Africa, India, Singapore, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The most difficult part of the job was learning and remembering names!

I love to see new cultures and see the people within different communities. One of my favorite places to go in a new city, country, or region is the local market. I love to watch people, to see what is being sold, watch for what people are buying, and observe how people interact. Is the market dominated by men or women? How are people dressed? What is the street food? How do they negotiate?

What I’ve Learned Along the Way:

Travel broadens your perspective of the world. It allows you to see first-hand what other countries and cultures endure. It shows how they thrive in different situations than we are accustom to. It also shows the beauty of difference, itself.

We travel to discover and learn more about ourselves. How we react and choose to change based on what we observe and experience, allows us to grow and evolve.
Travelling pushes you out of your comfort zone. It forces you to try new things, be it food, music, or even basic amenities.
It gives you confidence. Moving around and communicating in an unfamiliar place really pushes your boundaries. The more you do it, the easier it can become.

It can help you find new purpose and inspiration. Travelling isn’t just about seeing new cultures and lands, though. It is about truly experiencing them. The appreciation that grows inside of you can also spark inspiration and give you a new purpose in life.
Travel opens your mind. You can’t be close-minded and expect to get along with people when you are hoping for a warm welcome somewhere new. Everyone is different and those differences are more noticeable the further you travel from home.

It helps you become more tolerant of different cultures and people. Appreciation of how people live, work, love, and communicate will help your tolerance. It can be frustrating trying to be a part of such a different community, and it can be frustrating for that community to have you as part of it, too.
When you return home from travel, you arrive with a different perspective of your life. Nothing can make you more aware of your own life than leaving the normalcy of it.
I’ve had many epiphany moments when I traveled. Maybe it’s because I’ve slowed down and have had more time to reflect. Or, maybe because I’m more open.

“Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures” – Lovelle Brachmann

We travel not only for new experiences but to experience change. To get out of the mundane routine and experience the unfamiliar. When you travel, no day is the same. Travel heightens my intuition, especially when I don’t speak the language. I can often pick up the jest of the conversation by the tone, the speed, the expression, and the situation.

Once, when I was being dropped off at the airport in Istanbul by a friend and her new husband, they started to talk in Turkish. I interrupted and said, “no, don’t park, just drop me off at the curb.” Her husband turned to me and asked, “do you speak Turkish?” because he was surprised that I knew what they were talking about.

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself”. – Danny Kaye

Over the years, I’ve traveled with friends and I’ve traveled alone. They both teach you something about yourself. When I travel alone, I have the flexibility to do what I want to do and I’m more open to meeting new people. I also find myself planning less and simply going with the flow. I’m more in touch with my intuition as I only have to worry about myself.

When I travel with friends, I must be more open and flexible as to what everyone wants to do. You have a more fixed schedule for your plans, and you don’t meet as many new people along the way as you already have others to socialize with. However, the comfort of familiarity can make for a more relaxed experience.

When traveling alone you are more aware and only have yourself to rely on, which makes you more independent. I also find I will take more risks. When I’m alone, I’m more reflective as to where I’m at and where I want to go. It allows for more personal growth and development. However, when you travel with friends, it allows you to share your experience and grow together.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences”. – Eleanor Roosevelt

The Changing World

The world is changing and not just the seasons. There is so much change in our world, it is the only constant. Waves of change hit us every day. The need for it is being led more and more each day by technology, business, activists, and politicians alike. Being in the change is key not only for your future well-being, but for the world’s and for those around you.

It is hard, though. Human nature is to resist change. Accepting that things can’t stay the same means not knowing what is to come and stepping out of your comfort zone. How do you learn to grow and evolve within this change? To start, learning about who you are and the ways in which you can personally lead change, adapt to it, and embrace it is something you can do right now.

The quiz, “What is Your Archetype for Change?”, can help you learn about this and more. First, let’s talk about what an archetype is before we go any further learning about the different types.

An Archetype is, in short, a category in which people can fit based on behavior. Often, it is behavior that has been absorbed based on the collection of the same behaviors. It isn’t necessarily mimicking, but it is like absorbing a group of characteristics that enable certain actions and reactions. In this instance, it is going to be looked at in relation to change.

The Five Change Archetypes

First, let’s look at the 5 different types of change archetypes, along with examples of people who resemble these traits.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist’s purpose in life can be understood with the phrase “to make dreams come true.” To transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The Alchemist is successful when serving as a catalyst for change, turning problems into opportunities, reframing difficulties, empowering others, and creating win/win solutions for all. Examples of Alchemists are Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, and Harry Potter

The Nurture

Nurturers are driven to do the work that they care about, whether it is on a small scale or a larger one. They are moved by compassion and empathy and they are highly protective. Social change is something a nurturer will focus on. What they do must connect to their values which they want to give back to those they love, work with, and are surrounded by. A Nurturer cares about the communities they are associated with and they wish to better them as best they can.

Examples of Nurturers are Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and Princess Diana.

The Creator

The Creator’s purpose in life can be understood with the quote by George Bernard Shaw, “Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.” Your connectedness and sense of well-being as a person comes from your passion–you’re an artist at heart. The creator’s purpose in life is to see new ideas take shape and to see that visions are realized. A creator also drives change through re-imagination driven by a deep desire to make something different than it is. A creator is creative at problem-solving, able to see opportunities, has bursts of inspiration, and they love complexity. All contributors to driving change.

Examples of Creators are Andy Warhol and Martha Stewart

 
The Explorer

Naturally independent, the explorer can help others to feel free and able to be themselves instead of conforming. Seeking out new ideas is the focus of the explorer. They push boundaries and delight in discovering the unexpected. Searching for new experiences allows them to lead a more authentic life as they are constantly seeking self-realization. They not only explore the world and ideas, they are also exploring themselves. The ability to bring change through innovation and ambition is just one facet of the explorer. They are also able to do all they can to reach a goal once they’ve set their mind to it. A natural high achiever, they have unwavering optimism as they continue to succeed.

Examples of Explorers are: Richard Branson, Steve Irwin, Indiana Jones

The Maverick

The Maverick has an appreciation for the unconventional and thrives on making waves to upset the status quo and societal pressures and beliefs. They don’t conform to trends and are often breaking with convention and tradition, not wishing to be boxed into one stereotype. As an unconventional thinker, they often create new, cutting-edge ways of doing something. The maverick is driven to create change through diversity, disruption, challenging authority, and breaking the rules. The unique challenge they face is coming up with a creative and dynamic way of bringing about change and harnessing your power.

Examples of Mavericks are Bob Dylan and Madonna

Why is Change Needed?

As stated, the only constant in life is change. How we manage change will determine how satisfied we are in life. Even if we resist it, we can’t stop change from happening around us. It’s often tempting to try and avoid it and stay in our “comfort zone.” However, if we can find the courage to embrace and lead change, we are able to take control and manage our lives.

In Eastern thinking, the process of change and impermanence is an integral part of existence. All suffering in life is the result of ignorance of this basic reality. Therefore, embracing or leading change can provide you with many benefits including personal growth, being open to opportunities, problem-solving, flexibility, and promoting visionary thinking.

Every single person is different and will elicit change in their own way, or they may try to resist and avoid it. As an individual, you need to understand how you manage change. Understanding your change archetype is a great first step. Though being an alchemist, nurturer, creator, explorer, or maverick isn’t the most important thing to learn, it certainly is a wonderful start to your own changing world and self.