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Practice: Gratitude

If you often find yourself saying, “If I only had enough money to…” or “I wish we had their income so we could take a nice vacation,” you aren’t alone. It’s tough to find contentment when you’re constantly thinking about what you’d like to have. One way to view your money and life differently is to focus on the blessings you have right now.

Complete the three sentences below with what you value the most and focus on these daily:

• I’m most grateful for ____________
• I’m so thankful that _____________
• I love when ____________

It’s easy to lose sight of what makes us grateful when we shift our attention to what other people have. Here are some tips to help you focus on what you have to be thankful for.

• Limit your time on social media. Don’t spend all afternoon admiring those vacation pictures your friends post to Facebook and Instagram.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. You don’t know if a big income or a big loan is the reason your neighbors have a new convertible in their driveway. Comparing your lifestyle to someone else is unfair to everyone, especially you.
• Watch what you watch. There’s no shortage of “reality” TV programs that show rich families visiting tropical beaches and staying in mansions. The less you watch those over-the-top shows, the better.

Being grateful for what you have brings a new level of peace to your life.