Happy Friday everyone. Now, this is a bit of a personal post but I wanted to share with you all something that has pretty much taken over my life for the past few months. I’ve always struggled with feeling inadequate. Feeling like my worth and self-worth needed to be measured by things. By experiences. Always striving for more, more, more. And being a blogger can exacerbate that at times. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others. Compare your success/blogger mail/opportunities to someone else’s. And while I’m in an incredibly lucky position to be able to be able to do what I do as a hobby. It’s hard not to look at your success, however small it is, and not feel like you want more. Comparision really is the thief of joy.
But that’s not healthy. This idea that we’re never satisfied. That we’re never living in the moment, just always working to achieve more success or more money to spend on material items. Which is why gratitude really struck a chord with me. Now, this may sound like some new age hippy shizz to some. But bear with me. Gratitude simply means thankfulness. It means counting your blessings, noticing the simple pleasures and acknowledging everything that you receive in life. I find it’s shifted my focus from what my life lacks, to acknowledging how much I have.
So what’s changed over the last months to make me feel less inadequate and more grateful? Well, it’s pretty simple, but I kept a gratitude journal. Now those who have read about the Law of Attraction or about being grateful will be familiar with one of these. It’s probably the most common method of practicing gratitude. And all you have to do is write down every day a list of 10 things you are grateful for. Although I try and do this before work, realistically I do this in the evenings. And I try and change up the list every day. As when you think about it, there really are so many things to be grateful for.
And having done this for a few months now, I can honestly say I’ve never felt happier, calmer and more positive about life. Yes, there are times when I can still feel a little jealous, or inadequate and compare myself to others. But now I stop myself quicker. I don’t dwell on it. And I remind myself of how lucky I am, and how I really shouldn’t compare their chapter 17 with my chapter 5.
What do you think of the idea of practicing gratitude? Do you think gratitude can change your life?
As always thank you to Kaye for taking the pictures!
Outfit details from MissPap:
Top: MissPap
Bag: MissPap
Espadrilles: MissPap
Writing down daily what you are grateful for is a great idea. I think I’ll have to try it!
I’d like to start keeping a gratitude journal, I think it would help me feel more positive. I’m glad to hear it’s working for you xx
Ioanna
A gratitude journal is such a great idea! I really need to do this as I tend to focus on the negative which is a bad trait!
Aw I completely identify! I too go through periods where I constantly compare myself to others and it is not healthy. I like the sound of a gratitude journal x
We are ony human and I think alot of nt just bloggers but everyday people can relate. we always wanting more and to do more. we live in a world where we are surrounded and its hard to not want to compare. very open and honesy post. its good sometimes you celebrate even if only small milestones or even if its jusy something daft.
I agree that it is so valuable to sit down and be grateful for your life. Everything must be put into perspective but it is so hard not to compare yourself to others.
This is a lovely post Stephanie! I definitely need to try remember what I am grateful when I am struggling I think it will give me a boost of happiness! x
I love the idea of a gratitude journal and practising gratutude. It’s so easy to worry about what other people have got / done instead of concentration on what we’ve already got.
I completely agree with every word you said. As blogging is not my main job, I also get a bit uncomfortable but then again as you said, I shouldn’t compare my chapter 5 with others chapter 12. I don’t do journals but I do reflect on my life and see what I have which others don’t. And that is the cure to remove the negativity from life.
I really need to start writing a gratitude list – I think that would help me be more positive
I try to go through my kids ‘good days’ with them every night, I think I should start doing it for myself too. Love the bag as well!
This is such a great post, I love the idea of the journal. I have the same feelings as you, I have a lot of days where I feel inadequate, but it is important to take time out and reflect on how lucky we actually are and the things we do have x
I need to work on feeling gratitude in my life too as I think it would really help me. I just keep busy all… the… time and never stop to just live in the moment and be thankful. An inspiring read, this!
Great post! I think this is something that we should really put into practice. Gratitude can change our lives. We have a lot to be thankful for.
What a great post! I need to stop comparing myself to others as it does me no good.
So important to appreciate what we have and to be grateful for everything that has come our way!
That bag is gorgeous! I think gratitude is really important and it helps me when I am having a hard time to focus on all the things I am blessed with and what I have! Thanks for a thought provoking post.
I started a gratitude journal a few months ago but went through a bleak patch and stopped which is probably the worse thing to do. This has inspired me to dig it out and start using it againx
I have to agree with you and writing down what you are grateful each day is such a good idea. I am also loving your outfit, those shoes are so cute! xo
I think gratitude really can change your life. There is so much to be thankful for, yet many people seem to prefer to focus on the negative things rather than the positive. I’d rather be grateful for all the lovely things I have in my life instead of constantly thinking about all the stuff that doesn’t really matter 🙂
Louise x