It’s easy to let adverse experiences harden you as a person and darken your worldview, especially if you’ve been conditioned to expect negative things to happen in your life from a young age. As a result, it may seem counterintuitive to be thankful for these adverse experiences, but not only will this help you heal from them, it will also allow you to grow as a person. Here’s how.
It Releases a Weight
Buddhists have a saying: When you carry anger inside of you, it’s like you’re holding onto a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone else–only you get burned. All that staying bitter does is keep you locked in the same experiences that you’re trying to avoid. A victim mentality is understandable, perhaps even acceptable for a time, but it will only serve to hold you down in the long run. Even something as simple as a vocabulary change can help. Instead of thinking of yourself as a victim, think of yourself as a survivor – even better – think of yourself as thriving!
You Can Thrive
Adverse experiences don’t have to negatively color the rest of your life. Trauma is only temporary, and the wounds of the past can be healed. Without those adverse experiences, you would never have become the strong, intelligent, dynamic person you are today.
Feel free to download the SendThanks app and send a free thank you e-card or share your positive experiences and affirmations on our Thankful Feed!
