Before bed each night, take time to think over your day.
When we have good days, we often find ourselves going over the details later, enjoying them a second and third time as we feel the joy we experienced. When we have bad days, we may find ourselves pouring over the details and struggles. To get a peaceful sleep, work on reframing those bad days by reviewing the gifts we received that day. Regardless of our day—good, bad, mediocre—remember the many blessings that were present.
Some days it's easier to think of gifts we've received. Other days, it’s harder, but when we do, we will find they are always there. Start by keeping it simple and be grateful for the fact that we have a roof over our head, nature, food, and our health. Then perhaps think of the gifts of forgiveness, tolerance and acceptance that we may have been present to that day. We can also always be grateful for the people in our lives who support us, no matter how bad our day was.
Reviewing the positive offerings in our lives helps us put our difficulties into perspective. This can be challenging and may require some practice before it feels authentic, but we’ve all had the experience of a disappointment or loss leading to a surprising gain. Just remembering this and trusting the give and take of life can help us to remember that sometimes the best gifts of all are the ones we don't recognize right away. The lessons we learn in the face of adversity are offerings in their own right, allowing us to count patience, wisdom, and fortitude alongside the other gifts of the day.
Make a daily practice of spending time before going to sleep each night to go over your day and see the joy and gratitude that surrounds you. Hopefully you’ll get your well deserved rest and wake afresh for a new day.
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