Be Grateful and Content

One of the best things you can do to improve your financial future, and your future as a whole is practice being grateful and content.

This is not something we are born with. It takes practice.

Open your eyes to those with less. Almost half the world—more than three billion people—live on less than $2.50 a day. According to wateraid.com, 663 million people live without clean water. 2.4 billion people don't have access to adequate sanitation (one in three of the world's population). More than 315,000 children die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. That's almost 900 children a day. 42.2 million Americans live in food insecure households, including 29.1 million adults and 13.1 million children.

You might think it's easy to be grateful when you are successful and you are making good money and you get to do the things that you want. "My life is tough right now, I don’t feel I have a lot to be grateful for!"

This is a valid point. When times are tough, being grateful and content is a hard task. I still encourage you to take some time to find things that you are grateful for. These are the things that will help you keep a positive attitude and will get you to where you want to go. One of the best things to be grateful for is the vision you have of the life that you want!

The benefits of being grateful and content:

• It makes us happier.
• It makes more people like us.
• Gratitude generates social capital. In two studies with 243 total participants, those who were 10% more grateful than average had 17.5% more social capital.
• Improves your relationships and your marriage.
• Deepens friendships.
• It makes you a better networker.
• It reduces materialism and always wanting or needing more.
• Stops you from focusing on what you don’t have.
• Reduces the feelings of envy.
• Improves sleep.
• Increases energy levels.
• It helps you maintain your health.
• It helps you bounce back after negative life events.

Start a journal. Take five minutes every day to write down what you're grateful for. According to happierhuman.com, this can increase your long-term well-being by more than 10%. That’s the same impact as doubling your income! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Count your blessings
• Today I am grateful for...
• What would make today great?
• What ONE thing must I accomplish today?
• Things I get to enjoy today...
• If I could do today over again, I’d…