Have you heard of the saying, ‘A setback is a setup for a comeback’? There couldn’t be a saying more inspirational than that. Think about all the times that you have put in your best efforts and yet failed, think about all the things that you have lost and then understand that while such failures and losses can be extremely saddening, they can also be the starting point of something incredibly wonderful. The key lies in not giving way to despair when things seem to hit rock bottom; instead realize and be grateful that the only way to go now is UP.

Why is it Important to be Grateful?

Gratitude is the backbone of success and is extremely important in achieving goals. Setting goals is a very easy process, however achieving them can be an uphill climb with several pitfalls along the way. Most of us give up after a few falls. We stop focusing on our goals as we deem them too difficult. This is a defeatist attitude and can only lead to more failure and even more heart break. The only way to conquer all setbacks is by practicing gratitude.

Here’s how… Every time you get passed over for a promotion, be grateful for the fact that you have a job while millions of others don’t. An unexpected bonus of not getting that promotion is that you don’t have to put in those extra hours at work that are the legacy of any employee who gets a promotion. Think of the many ways you can spend that free time- you can spend quality AND quantity time with the kids; you have more hours to spend on any hobby; you have more time to romance your wife.

Being grateful to yourself and others can help you focus on the positive things in your life and if it does not seem so at the time; there are many! Treat every setback as a lesson. Every time you take up a challenge, understand that no matter what the result, there would be some minimum takeaway that you would achieve from it; if nothing else, you can consider it a lesson on how not to do things. Be grateful for such takeaways on all occasions and very soon you would not be scared to approach challenges and set high goals for yourself.

How to Generate the ‘Gratitude Attitude’ In Oneself?

It can be very difficult to feel grateful when you are truly down in the dumps. Thanking anyone when the whole world seems to be conspiring against you and doing everything possible to thwart your goals is no easy feat. However, with practice and perseverance it can be achieved.

Maintaining a daily gratitude list where you put in a minimum of 10 things that you are grateful for everyday for a month can prove a real eye opener. The key lies in not repeating oneself and in doing this faithfully with a lot of thought involved. Go through this book at the end of the month and you would be surprised at all the wonderful things that have happened to you in just one month which you were not even aware of. Such a collation of all the positive aspects of ones life can help one feel immensely grateful.

Feeling grateful for all that you have as opposed to complaining about all the things that you do not have can make you feel very content and ready to take up any challenge coming your way.