Staying Positive through the Power of Gratitude:
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If you are facing some other challenge in your life, it can be difficult to maintain a positive attitude. But to be successful, a positive attitude is critical. There are many ways to combat the negativity around and inside us, but the power of gratitude is one of the most effective.

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness and success has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude's effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and even a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude's many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time and effort.

That's why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn't a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It's really about where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world and at times in our lives, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, music, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, cats, roses, our health, butterflies. What's on your list?