As this new year rolls in and it’s currently 2025, I figured I’d share some ideas about gratitude and why I believe it to be joy.
Treat Every Day Like It’s Your Last
When I wake up in the morning, I’m simply thankful to have another day to live. I treat every morning like a miniature birth, and every night like a miniature death. By living this way, and treating each day like it is my last, I become abundantly grateful to open my eyes in the morning and have the ability to move, to walk, and to bask under the glory of the sun.
Your Thoughts Control Your Reality
When you start your day by recognizing the things you are grateful for, you feed your mind positive thoughts. These uplifting thoughts shape your perception of reality, focusing it on the most beautiful and joyful things in life. When you focus your attention on these things, it is inevitable that you will feel good inside. However, when we focus on the things that we lack, do not have, or desire, we may feel bad, anxious, or find ourselves uneasy.
The Moment
We have a past, and we have a future, but when you exist in the present moment, you exist outside the passage of time. I believe that through simple acts like walking in nature and recognizing the beautiful patterns of the trees, the leaves, the insects, the birds, and feeling the sensation of that crisp, cool breeze, you enter a flow state and become hyper-aware of your surroundings, sensations, and the present moment.
When you think about the word ‘present’ in the context of the present moment, is this not the ultimate gift?
On Christmas, we’re always eager for something, looking to receive or buy things, but what if the present moment was the ultimate gift in life?
How to Feel Pure Bliss
In this modern world, we often look toward the future. We think about the outcome, write down our goals, and strive to achieve what we deem success in life. While this can be beneficial for some, I find it very distracting. What if you were just simply detached from the outcome entirely and let go?
My ultimate goal and idea of success in life is to never miss another sunrise again.
As I stand here in the freezing cold this morning, looking out towards the Philadelphia skyline, I’m watching the sun peer above the horizon. When the sun comes up and the light fills the air, I can’t help but feel the sensation of pure bliss. Silence in a park, the light on my skin, the songs from the birds, and the colors in the sky never cease to make me smile. If you just let go, go slow, and let life flow toward you, bliss will follow.
I just hope that you can feel this sensation too.