being grateful – Daddy Brain

October 2, 2009

Being Grateful, Even When You’re Down

Sometimes the struggles of the day weigh me down.

From the time I leave the house until the time I get home I feel so isolated. My goals, so clearly defined, seem so far away from accomplishment — leaving me feeling like they may never manifest.

It’s important to remember that these are just feelings. Whether it is truth or not is up to me.

So it’s time to remind myself what I’m grateful for — to shift my focus off what I don’t have, to what I have been blessed with.

I am grateful for:
– My two healthy boys, Max & Joss, who love me even though I’m not perfect
– My beautiful wife, Kara, who believes in me even when I perceive things as hopeless
– Having a job to support my family
– My family in NY, including the handful of friends that have become brothers & sisters
– My home
– Grandma Frances
– Paul Chang
– The CD player in my car, which allows my 1.5 hour daily commute to be enlightening
– Bagels and Dunkin’ Donuts French vanilla coffee
– My boss
– The ability to run 3-miles and feel good (mentally and physically)
– Hope. For without it there would be no chance for improvement
– The gift that the Universe has given me to write and express myself
– My wife’s Italian wedding soup
– My cat
– My Moleskin notebook
– Ghostbusters (the original)
– Zig Ziglar
– The Sedona Method
– Slim-cut shirts and jeans
– My blog
– My laptop
– Honets Tea
– Depeche Mode

What are you grateful for? Do you let the important people in your life know how you feel?

I’ll never forget something Muhammad Ali once said, “what you are thinking about, you are becoming.” I’m doing my best to let go of my negative feelings. The more I think negative, the more it will creep into my reality.

Screw that! I’m thinking positive.

And remember, you are not alone…

December 20, 2008December 20, 2008

Today is My Birthday

Today, December 20th, is indeed my birthday.

I am now 40.

I am a lucky man. I receive the greatest gift of all every single day of the year — the gift of my family.

I am so grateful for my boys, my wife and yes my cat, too. Thank you Universe for this gift.

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My goal this year (and for decades to come) is to live in appreciation.

Thanks to all my readers for making this past year of blogging such a success. It has truly changed my life.

And remember, you are not alone…

December 2, 2008

Being Grateful Makes You Full of Greatness…

Thanksgiving week always brings about talk of what we’re thankful for in our lives.

Of course there are the basic answers like family, friends, food, a place to live, indoor toilets and any opportunity to eat massive amounts of pizza from NY.

The other day, as I tried to go beyond my usual list of things I’m grateful for, my thoughts turned into a question…

What are the results of being grateful vs. the results of being ungrateful? What are the different “side effects” or manifestations that occur on a physical, emotional and a cognitive level?

To clarify, when I say “ungrateful” I mean active complaining or ingratitude — in other words being negative.

“What you are thinking about, you are becoming.”
– Muhammad Ali

When we’re being ungrateful, we’re keeping in mind something that we’re not happy about — something negative, unwanted, bothersome or just plain annoying.

In this state of being, we get stuck in the mucky-muck of negativity. We use our energy dwelling on something we’re unhappy about instead of using that same energy to find solutions. And in doing so we help solidify what we’d really like to change.

When we’re grateful, the outcome is very different. We’re being positive, freeing up & refreshing our energy to move forward instead of holding ourselves back. Sure, there may be things we’re not happy about, but when we’re focusing on something positive, we’re letting go of being negative about something else.

I’m not saying to pretend to be grateful for something that just plain sucks. But why not think about something that doesn’t suck? Why not make a plan to make that particular issue less sucky, instead of just dwelling on it? Are humans so driven to misery that we can’t do this simple thing?

Muhammad Ali said it so beautifully. What we think leads to what we speak. What we speak leads to how we act, and in turn the reality we create.

There was a time when I was so unhappy with my job that I became physically ill and almost died. I was so ungrateful for everything good in my life that my personality became very negative, my soul spiritless. And in turn my body started failing me (I had Crohn’s Disease).

Getting sick turned out to be one the greatest gifts of my life. It woke me up (which was my body’s intention in the first place) and empowered me to make the changes I needed to make.

Although I am aware of the benefits of being grateful, that doesn’t mean I always am. It’s a constant battle to remain mindful about my thoughts (no pun intended).

I’d like to leave off with a question:

Can you allow yourself to be greatness? I’m not talking about ego here, but the greatness that comes with being grateful, positive and true to who you really are.

Anything is possible. The simple choice of being grateful just might change your life.

And remember, you are not alone…

June 13, 2008June 13, 2008

Every Day is Father’s Day

All the playing, meals, sleep-interrupted nights, sheer-and-utter exhaustion, frustration, triumphs, failures, fears, anxieties, hopes, dreams, depression, lack of control, joy, happiness, honor of being a parent, unconditional love, driving, cleaning, colds, more cleaning, bills, tripping over toys, buying more toys, poop, boogers, hugs, kisses, conversation, questions, silence, surprises, naps, even more poop, tantrums (from the boys AND me), regrettable raised voices, lost tempers, peace, lack of peace, reading, running, art, trips to Toys R Us…

All of this and more. Every moment is worth it. Every second. It’s all a precious gift from the Universe — a gift from my boys and my wife.

And no matter how bad something may seem, underneath it all I am the luckiest man on Earth.

Thank you boys, for being my sons. Thank you girls, for watching over us. And thank you Kara, my wife, for our family.

When I really think about it, every day is Father’s Day.

And remember, you are not alone…

I am now 40.

“What you are thinking about, you are becoming.” – Muhammad Ali

“What you are thinking about, you are becoming.”
– Muhammad Ali