Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Staying Positive with Simple Jewelry: Gratitude Bracelets

By Deanna Collins

With all of the ups and downs wreaking havoc in our lives, it's easy for problems in life to get us bogged down. There are two options available to us when times are rough. We let circumstances take over any motivation we have, and claim defeat before we even get started, or we can grasp the challenge by the hand and run with it. Even when the odds seem to be completely against us, with the help of a gratitude bracelet we can go one step further to a positive outlook.

Importance of Gratitude

It may seem like a small consolation when you consider there is always someone in a worse predicament than yourself. When life seems to be on a steady decline, recognize the areas in which you are blessed. By doing this you are taking a big, powerful step towards the beginning of a brand new positive outlook on life.

It can be hard to be detached and view situations objectively. A pessimistic attitude compounds the problem. As in depressive illness, things seem worse than they actually are. The worse things seem, the more likely we are to interpret subsequent events in our lives in negative terms. It becomes a downward spiral.

A pessimistic attitude can be appropriate in certain situations. Finding a balance and seeking for ways to keep perceptions and reactions in their rightful place is the key to ensuring misplaced optimism or denial does not evolve into situations as damaging as any negative attitude. The most important focus point regarding our experiences and the counterbalance is as important as gratitude itself.

And Just What Do I Have To Be Grateful For?

A large number of us barely scratch the surface when it comes to recognizing those things we should be grateful for. Many don't realize they are taking these positive things for granted, and sometimes forget to count their blessings. A good way to keep track of these positive aspects of our lives is by keeping a gratitude journal. Simply keeping a daily record of the things in life we should be grateful for, such as friends and family or celebration of a small stroke of luck has been proven to enhance happiness. Once the seeking out of positives in your life has been noted, it can easily amaze you at how many things you actually have to be grateful for.

How a Gratitude Bracelet Helps Maintain a Positive Attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude by using gratitude as a tool provides you with regular reinforcement. Even though we are using a gratitude journal as a tool to remind us on a daily basis what our blessings or what the positive things are in our lives, a gratitude bracelet can also be a tool to keep those positive thoughts in place. By stopping for a few seconds every time you put your bracelet on, take it off or even look at it you are providing yourself with a reminder of those many things you have to be happy about. Leave the reasons you have for discontent aside and just focus on the positives at these times.

The choice of your gratitude bracelet can be something to remind you in a general fashion all things positive in your life. You can, however, choose a bracelet that will have a specific, deeper meaning to it. Maybe its particular beads will serve as a reminder of all things positive and enriching in your life, such as health, people, nature or pets. Or maybe you will choose it because the particular color reminds you of some positive sentiments you feel when you look at it, such as the same color of a loved one's eyes or some sort of material which leaves you with that warm feeling you have had at some point in your life, and associate it with love and happiness..

The possibilities are endless. Once you have made the association, you will be reminded of the positive things in your life every time you see or touch it. Give a bracelet as a gift and the receiver will remember you, and other loved ones, with gratitude. A gratitude bracelet can remind you of all the beauty there is in the world. - 16651

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