The blessings we receive go unnoticed each day. We open our eyes and just walk into our day without a second thought. The act of having another day and being able to open your eyes is something that should have your attention. You should be grateful for another day regardless of your situation. Being blessed with another day has given you the ability to overcome challenges and change your whole life. This day can be the best and most influential day of all of your days, but it begins by giving thanks. The three ways I will talk about giving thanks in your life are to appreciate small things, embrace the good and bad, and welcome change as an opportunity. Giving thanks in these three areas can have a very impactful influence on how you approach your days.

The first area is to give thanks for the small things. These small things are really big things in reality, but oftentimes we take them for granted. Think about that breath you just took in. It was a wonderful breath. That breath gave you the air you needed to live. In reality, though, while we were taking in a new breath, someone was taking in their last breath. Be forever thankful for each moment you have on earth because those small breaths we take give us everything and more.

The next small thing to be grateful for is the ability to wake up each morning and have the freedom to make your own choices. Now, you can wake up and make a choice to put your best foot forward or get up and let the world take control. Be thankful and aware of that opportunity even if you do not take full advantage of it. Unfortunately, the days cannot freeze when we feel overwhelmed and want to take a break, so be sure that the small things are not bringing you down but rather raising you up.

The next area is to appreciate both the good and bad things in life. Regardless of the moments you have in your life, you should be 100% present in each moment. When it is great, when it is nice, and when it is bad—are you paying attention? The bad times serve a much greater purpose than to make you resent or hate. They are opportunities to develop resilience and overcome challenges. The bad times help you gauge your good times. How good can life be? The answer is—as good as you want it to be.

Being grateful for the good and bad things in life will give you balance and teach you how to overcome troubles quickly and more efficiently. Have you ever gotten a flat tire before? If it was your first flat, it might take you a bit more time to change the tire, but if this has happened to you before, then it is just a matter of doing it. Though the timing may have been bad, the good side would be if this has happened to you before, and now you have the knowledge and wisdom to change the tire quickly. The blow to the day will not be as severe because you are familiar with that uncomfortable situation and able to appreciate the comfortable times even more fully.

The third and last area I will speak on is the importance of seeing change as opportunity. This can apply to your relationships, career, or life in general. Sometimes, new or challenging situations can make us feel frustrated or resistant. Think of when Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter changes the layout, and you have to learn it all over again. The first week it is out, everyone is complaining about how bad it is and how it should have been left the same. The truth is that if we look at the old designs now, we would likely be dissatisfied with how outdated they seem today. So why are we against the power of change?

These new opportunities have the ability to offer us some type of improvement in our lives. Maybe we will develop a new hobby or find something to simplify and enhance a part of our daily routine. Being open to these opportunities allows you to fully let life in, instead of putting up barriers. Do you remember the movie with Jim Carey, Yes Man? The power of saying “yes” is real because it places you in new experiences that can transform your life.

Giving thanks is an area where you don’t have to change to start. The three steps I spoke about can be a great way to begin appreciating the blessings in your life. You can still do the old-fashioned way of giving thanks to those around you for their acts of kindness. On the other hand, giving thanks can be deeply personal, like acknowledging all the hard work you’ve put in, even without outside recognition.

You are the person who is in charge of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Don’t give that power to anyone else. You don’t need validation or help from others to thrive. You already have everything inside you to be amazing right now. The best thing that can happen to you is that you shine, and it is because of your own power of change, self-love, and hard work.

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts