Think positively.

I was very pessimistic as a teenager. I tended to see everything negatively, and even when something good happened, I always noted how it could be better.

I didn’t make very good company, even for myself.

That changed when I fell in love and learned a new way of relating to the world. I learned to think positively and to ‘count my blessings’.

We know it’s a cliché, but the thing with positive thinking is that it works. It really does.

It changes our perspective and creates a sense of optimism. We notice things that we overlooked before – little things to be sure, but great multitudes of them.

And when we start to notice the little things, we build a sense of gratitude in ourselves, a sense of being blessed.

A Simple ‘Thank You’ Goes a Long Way

One of the best ways to create a positive attitude is to make a habit of saying “thanks”. If we look for opportunities to thank others (and our Creator), we will be rewarded with an overwhelming array of things for which to be grateful. A habit of thanks sharpens our awareness. It is also a great bonus for our relationships.

We all like to be appreciated and thanked. Nowhere is this truer than in marriage.

One of the most effective ways to deepen our bonding is to verbalise our gratitude to each other.

While here in Australia, we don’t officially celebrate Thanksgiving, I love the American tradition. It’s a timely reminder for us all, and we need not be constrained to a November date.

Take note of your blessings and thank those who are dear to you for the gift of their presence at any time of the year!

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Originally published at SmartLoving. Image via Adobe.