Looking for the good is not just a nice thing to do. It actually can make us feel better physically.

            Some years ago a friend gave me a needlework picture of a basket full of rabbits, and beneath the picture were the words, “Count Your Blessings.” Well, we all know rabbits multiply rapidly, and I love that picture because it reminds me that blessings multiply rapidly also when we take the time to look for them.

            However, today the talk I hear, and some of it, unfortunately coming out of my own mouth, so often involves what is wrong with our lives. And, certainly, if we want to look for them, they are many, many things we can find to complain about. Listening to the news these days is not a cheery prospect with talk of war, of violence, of financial hardship, even extreme weather situations. And, then, in our own families, often there are problems with children, with spouses or significant others, or ourselves. The problems can be financially related, school related, work related, health related, or relationship related. Indeed a long list of unpleasant things can turn even the most optimistic people into pessimists at times if they, and we, are not careful.

            Today more and more people are realizing, nevertheless, that blessings can and do multiply like rabbits if we take the time to stop focusing on the bad and start focusing on finding the good. I speak with experience on this because of having to learn how to find peace while coping with the mental illness of a family member. At first I certainly did not find much to be grateful for—if anything. The person did not deserve the illness, and the rest of the family did not deserve the chaos that it brought either. I became physically ill—exhaustion in addition to extreme sinus problems—as I tried to deal with the changed circumstances in our family.

            All I could see were problems, current ones, and worry over the future. The more I looked at the problems, the more physically drained I became. Then, finally, I remembered a phrase from the Bible—in all things give thanks. Well, at first I thought, right, what is there to give thanks about in this situation? But I decided how I had been thinking was not working so maybe it was worth trying something new.

            Each day I did try to think of things that were blessings, perhaps a phone call from a friend, perhaps time to read a favorite magazine, perhaps an uninterrupted time to enjoy a cup of coffee, perhaps a beautiful day. Gradually, I began to notice that I was not so tired, and my sinus problems lessened considerably. 

           Many people make it a practice to write down their blessings each day, but whether we write them or think them, the result is the same. We see that so much every day does go right; we tend to just take all of that for granted. When I teach classes, I often ask the participants to write down everything that went well the day before. For some this is a hard task because all they remember is what went wrong—washing machine failed to work, child had the flu, forgot an important engagement, for example. It is incredible how many good things do happen each day—even getting from point A to point B in the car without incident is a blessing. 

            As I take note of my blessings on a given day I find such things as getting an e-mail from a friend, or a phone call, or having the chance to watch a favorite television program, having clothes to wear, food to eat, a roof over my head, my computer, and the list could go on and on. Sure, I am not perfect at this; there are still days I wish I had new clothes, or different food, or my house had some different feature, for example, but I do try to catch myself when I begin to go there. I remember those rabbits. And the result is better physical health, more energy, and a feeling of peace.