Realize....

"Count your blessings.
Once you realize
how valuable you are and how much you have going for you,
the smiles will return, the sun will break out,  the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended
for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence."
      - Og Mandino

The phrase "count your blessings" is an endangered phrase!

It is in severe jeopardy of becoming overused and a cliché and that would be a tremendous disservice to the world!!

Because to me this simple and eponymous phrase is the core element and cornerstone of what drives us on a daily basis.

Human history is riddled with story after story of regret and disappointment due to one's failure to live in the moment and to appreciate all their blessings - UNTIL they are taken from us or we lose them!

Sadly as humans we inevitably seem to focus predominantly on what we don't have as opposed to the laundry list of things we have going for us!

The only way to avoid this trap is to make gratitude and appreciation for all we have today a major part of our DAILY rituals and discipline.

I try to do this when I wrap up my day and I am about to drift off as well as the moment I awake!

There is no better way to end the old and start the new day than reflecting on ALL the blessings we have and enjoy in this world - and giving THANKS for all we have been given!

If we can do this regularly and make it part of our daily fabric, it is impossible to not see a change in our own attitude,  a change in the way we approach our own trials and storms!

It is a life changer! 

We all have way more going for us than we may think and the only way to understand this is to consistently give thanks and appreciate all the blessings we have been given -  and remember just how much worse any of our seemingly world-stopping issues could truly be!!!

Whatever battle you are waging,  whatever challenges you are currently facing - have FAITH that they will pass - because they most certainly will!!

Give thanks, suppress any fear or worry and replace it with FAITH, and appreciate all we have on a daily basis and your view on this world will certainly change for the better!

Give it a shot - all you have to lose is fear and worry!   :)

Happy Friday - Stay Strong!