Having gratitude is part of the philosophy of most motivational speakers and spiritual movements. Why? Because it amplifies success and creates a well of good fortune to draw from.

Try this experiment. Think of a negative situation in your life that happens over and over again. It could be dealing with a co-worker or traffic or the dishes - really anything. Decide in advance to create a story of why you are grateful about the situation - even if the story seems a bit artificial. This is just an experiment, after all.

The next time the event happens, apply your thoughts of gratitude to the event. Be creative - you will be surprised what you can come up with! By focusing on these thoughts, the event itself will actually seem different.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Have a Great Monday, Cheryl Deaner, LMFT#36764