Thankfulness

It’s Thanksgiving again.  What are you thankful for?  What are you doing to increase the likelihood of those things continuing or multiplying?  By focusing on things within our control, we generally see more positive results.  Focus on what you can be giving rather than what others should be giving.
If we take things for granted, minimizing the value of those things we feel entitled to, those things will tend to fade away and will no longer be part of our life.  Feed the continuation of special things by showing appreciation, both in words and actions.  For this feeding to work, we must focus on doing what the other appreciates, not giving that person what we appreciate.
Do you appreciate your health?  You will as you age and see it slipping away.  What are you doing to take care of your body and mind?  If we don’t stay attentive to our health needs, our body and mind turn to mush.  Use it or lose it.  It is much easier to maintain our health than to bring ourselves back from poor health.  It is also much easier to improve ourselves now, rather than wait for another 10 years of decline.
How about your relationships?  Are you thankful for what you experience?  Are you nurturing those special things by showing appreciation verbally and in action?  Do you reciprocate in kind?  Do you ask yourself what you can do to set the stage for something mutually special, or do you sit back and expect the other to initiate everything?  You’ll see more positive growth as a result of actions you take than from anything handed to you by others.  You’ll feel better about yourself if improvement is triggered by your actions rather than handed to you by others.
Before you go to sleep every night, ask yourself what you did today to let your loved ones know they are special.  If you haven’t done anything, do something before you sleep.   Our emotional connection is enhanced when we feel appreciated, so what are we doing to feed that in others?  Selfish people make lousy partners.
To discuss this or other issues, Dr. Levine can be reached at 661-877-8378.