I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. It was my first year of college and I was in my first full day of orientation with other freshmen like myself. Since it was Texas in August, the day was hot and long, and I was looking forward to it ending.
As the group and I were nearing the end of the day, I remember making a negative comment about the day to some of the new people I had met during orientation.
One of the girls who heard what I said, turned around and in a very rude and harsh tone said to me “You sure do complain a lot!”
I was stunned.
I had just met this girl earlier that day, and I couldn’t believe that she would have the nerve to tell me that in such a bold way. I remember thinking in my head…”She is so rude! Who gives her the right to speak to me that way?”
I couldn’t shake those words for the rest of the day. I don’t remember mentioning how I felt to anyone else or even my roommate. I was really upset at what she said, but those words stung pretty badly.
But she was RIGHT.
This was my first time away from the comforts of my home, and the environment that I grew up in. So now in the outside world, my constant complaining was met with the world that was ready to call me out on it.
I started to replay my day in my head and I realized that I had been complaining all throughout the day.
So on that day, I made a decision that I did not want to be THAT type of person anymore. I knew that I had to make a conscious effort to stop complaining.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t just make a decision and everything changed overnight. It was a consistent, mindful effort on my part to undo years and years of negative thinking and complaining.
But I look back at that day and realize it was one of the most pivotal turning points in my life. I believe that my life would have turned out very differently had I stayed on the path I was on.
I’ve learned that if we are looking for something to complain about, we will ALWAYS find it. But on the flip side, if we are looking for something to be thankful for, we will ALWAYS find it.
Scientists are now saying that being grateful and writing down what we are thankful for is so significant. They say that it actually changes the molecular structure of our brain and the signals our heart sends to our brain. They say that individuals who practice gratitude are happier and exhibit fewer health complaints than those who were not grateful.
The Bible has a lot to say about the subject. But one of my favorite scriptures about gratitude comes from Psalm 50.
“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” (Psalm 50:14-15, NLT)
Being grateful doesn’t mean your life will be free from trouble, heartbreak, or tragedy. But when we mindfully reflect on the goodness of God, we will see the sweet gifts that God gives us even in the midst of the difficulties.
I pray that gratefulness will not just be what we reflect on during the Thanksgiving holiday, but it would be something that we practice every day of the year.
This has made all the difference for me, and I pray that it will do the same for you.
~Vijoy
Photo by Freshh Connection on Unsplash
