I’m sure all of you have come across people in your life who are called “Debbie or Denny Downers”.  They are the Eeyore’s of life. The glass is always “half empty” or even completely empty. If you gave them $50, they would wish it to be $100. They are always waiting for the next shoe to drop.  In some cases, these people are afraid to be happy about something because they will be disappointed if it doesn’t turn out like they thought it should.  Some people suffer from depression which is a mood disorder that causes sadness and without help, people just don’t snap out of it. It is not a simple problem, but can be difficult to be around people who are always negative.  Maybe you are one of those people? What can be done to help this situation?

I recently read an article wherein Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph. D. who is a science director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California at Berkeley talked about “Expanding Gratitude” which is a project she is currently undertaking. She talks about this very issue and gives suggestions to help with this challenge. Her main suggestion was to begin small…baby steps if you will. She called it making your Yay List.

Scientifically, when we feel grateful for something or maintain an overall attitude of gratitude, the glucose and oxygen in our brain that might otherwise have fueled negative thought patterns instead get allocated toward pathways and regions that signal pleasure, which helps us feel happier and more alive.

This is not a difficult thing to do.  All it takes is recognizing one thing that is good in your life and why it’s happening and go from there. Then gradually add other things that are good. They don’t have to be huge items, just everyday things that we don’t even think about. It can be simple things like a sight, sound or a taste you savored today, someone who showed up for you, something that made you smile or learning some cool new thing. This is how you make your Yay List. Build from there to include other things in your life or the world around you. When you feel better, you tend to be more active, exercise more, eat healthier, get better sleep and make progress towards a goal. It is a win-win situation.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul wrote these words from Corinth to the young church of Thessalonica – In everything give thanks…GIVE THANKS with a grateful Heart.

We all have one thing in our lives we can be grateful for no matter what else is happening around us. That is God’s unconditional love for us which is all encompassing and never goes away. We can lean on God with everything in our lives, ask for and let Him do His good works and help us. Start your Yay List with this most wonderful gift of all. Thanks be to God!

Patty