TToT – Hypo Gratitude
Hypo-gratitude.
I had to check with Ivy to make sure I was getting the right term, but I think hypo-gratitude is what I have going on this week. It’s that week when you feel the forces of the universe stack against you. The dark clouds loom large and threaten at every moment to open a deluge on your head, blocking out the sun. Or something.
But when those weeks happen, it’s most important to look for the good in our lives and find a way around the blockers. And the truth is, even through the worst of storms, the sunlight still shines. It’s just more indirect.
So here we are…let’s get to it.
I am thankful for time and distance. The further removed you are from a point, the easier it is to see the full landscape. When life bears down on us, we tend to see the one thing that overwhelms. As we move further down the road, we see how small things are in comparison to the whole.
I am thankful for pain. Physical and emotional pain help us remember not to inflict the same on others. But pain, like many other things, is sometimes part of life. And as such, it’s something we have to learn to deal with, push through, and put in its proper place.
I am thankful for betrayal. People can betray us. Our own thoughts can betray us. Our bodies even betray us and sometimes knock us down. While difficult, sometimes we need these things to show us how to be more careful.
I am thankful for anger. A strange one, right? But think about it – anger is sometimes justified. Righteous anger, when properly focused, can lead to great change against what is wrong and unjust.
I am thankful for fear and anxiety. Our fears serve to remind us that we are not all-powerful and that life is not always easy. The things that frighten and challenge us are often the things that, once overcome, lead to the most rewards. Life is scary. And just like childhood monsters under the bed, we must find a way to face and manage our fears.
I am thankful for frustration. It often provides an impetus for action. If you have an itch, you scratch it. If something bothers you, change it.
I am thankful for setbacks. Sometimes a setback is an opportunity to think about the path we’re travelling. It we’ve dropped back a few steps in our journey, maybe it’s because there is an obstacle or an opportunity ahead that we need to consider.
Addendum: I guess I need a disclaimer here. While not my intent AT ALL it seems this post has folks thinking I’ve had a terrible week with loads of bad stuff. Not at all. This post stems from a period of reflection about a long train of events over a significant time period. I promise I’m fine. I promise it wasn’t all of that in one week. And I’ll add an extra thankful here that I have so many good friends checking in to make sure I’m OK.
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Your turn: Do you have weeks you feel hypo-gratitude? How do you turn it around? Do you think we have to turn it around? Do the challenges in life overwhelm and prevent you from seeing the good? Or does the good find a way to prevail?
What are you thankful for this week?
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Oh Lisa… this is just perfect. YES!!! I absolutely understand about all of these feelings, setbacks, struggles, and pain. You spinned them around beautifully, my friend. I do hope and pray you hang in there, and hold on, and keep looking at it all in this way. <3
Oh, yes, Chris, I’m fine. Hanging rather well. I just get my back up about things every now and again. Always try to remember that all things and all forces in life have purpose, even if we can’t see them at the moment.
Oh, Lisa, I can tell this was a tough week! And then I got you talking about tough things. But you’ve done an amazing job of finding some thankfuls in emotions that I rarely (If ever) think on with thankfulness. Anxiety? Never. Anger? Maybe sometimes. I think of those two as my besetting sins (think I might be pulling that term from Little Women or Anne of Green Gables). Too, too often they are too out of control to cause me to be very thankful.
Anxiety is a tough one – probably the toughest. Besetting sins…interesting. Now I have to think on that a bit. You make me think a lot.
As for the tough things we talked about, no worries. It was completely fine. Hope your travels have been safe!
Sorry your week was so awful. I know about those dark clouds and pain, anxiety and anger. To find gratitude there comes from a GOOD place deep within. Hope things get better for you.
You know, the week overall wasn’t awful so much as some specific moments. But yes, those darker emotions did jump up from below for a bit. Clark, right? I honestly think the writing of the post helped bring a sense of calm.
two words on your use and appreciation of the concept of ‘hypo-gratitude’:
damn!
nicely ….no, better yet, properly creatively done!
it must be in the air or simply a function of the time that has past with everyone participating in ‘the bloghop that Lizzi created’, but the sense of further development of the ideas and principles, uses and benefits of this here bloghop here is palpable, of late!
v cool
Thank you, Clark. It definitely makes a difference and I can’t imagine not being part of it anymore.
The live TToT was cool for the few minutes I got there. Stupid Internet connection was uncooperative. Next time, though, I’ll make it on time and with a better signal! We are doing it again, yes??
[…] her identity) I was happy to join in with Zoe, Val, Michelle, Kristi and Clark. Later joined by Lisa and then Joy. It was great to see some of the old crowd from Friday vid chats of old and absolutely […]
I’m sorry your week was tough but I admire you for looking to the brighter side of those negative emotions.
Thanks, Vanessa. That’s the way to do it, right?
Thinking of you often. 🙂
I know. Me, too, you. XO
thanks! :/
Hmmmm I’m impressed with the determination and fortitude it took you to write this. I’m not happy about what’s going on and I wish you hundreds of hugs and lots of good people around you while you weather this storm, my friend <3
Well by now we’ve already talked offline so you know that this was not a week from hell – rather a moment or two that prompted several more of reflection and processing about a long string of events. But you know what I always say. Everything that happens in life brings us to the moment we are in and the person we are today. It all fits somehow.
Now…what’s next?
Awesome perspective Lisa. That first one about time and distance is so true. It’s a perspective that has helped me through a lot of difficult, short-term situations. And it’s a crucial perspective for our children to learn early on. Thank you for your insights. Important stuff here.
Thank you, Julie. I think that removal from the immediacy of a situation certainly brings a bit of realization and clarity. “Oh, so THAT’S what that was about? OK, got it.” And yes, I think it’s a good thing to teach our children. Thanks for coming over!
I love your first thankful on the list, how the further removed you are from a point, the easier to see the landscape. I am finding that true, comparing the first part of my week to now. I still need to back away further to get that whole picture, but I’m seeing that it might just be possible. Might. No promises.
I’m glad to read your addendum and know that you haven’t had the crappy week that I thought you might have.
Yeah, it’s kind of like that whole “objects in the rearview mirror may appear closer than they are” concept. Time and distance bring a whole different perspective. And I’m glad your later week is better than earlier. Definitely. Might is OK. Go with it.
I felt like the addendum was necessary. 😀 I certainly didn’t mean to imply a week of such dark magnitude, but quite a few messages came through that made me realize it could read that way. I’m OK, really. 😀
I actually feel grateful that you took all of the negatives and gave them thankfuls this week. So often (too often?), I feel like I just “can’t even” given the thes of the thes. Should it be the’s? I don’t think so. Anyway. That you find a way to be thankful for frustration and pain and betrayal and anger??? That’s huge stuff there. Big, huge GIGANTIC stuff of thankful. I’m glad to have gotten this perspective tonight. So so much. Thank you!
Thank you, Kristi. Your words mean a lot. A lot.
Yeah, I think there is a lot of fruit to be borne of things like the ones you mention. I wish I could tell you where those thoughts came from, where the perspective shifted, but I can’t. Call it a moment of clarity, I guess!
This was beautifully worded Lisa. Even pain and fear and other negative emotions and feelings can serve their purpose. Couldn’t have said any of this better myself. Glad your entire week wasn’t bathed in these things though. Hope all turns out alright.
Yes, negative emotions have purpose. Life is all about balance. Without sadness, how would we understand and appreciate joy? I firmly believe, Kerry, that things always turn out just as they should.
Truth. Right here. Love this list, and believe this list. But, oh, I gotta say that I am still working on being able to muster up some gratitude for anxiety! It has been coming in waves lately. I am thankful to you for putting it in some sort of perspective for me because I haven’t been able to do that for myself.
Thank you, May. Your words mean a lot. Anxiety is a tough one, I’ll admit. We can work on that one together!
I love how you take the crap that is thrown at you, reflect on it and turn it into a positive. You have so much to teach the world.
Christina, what a wonderful thing to say. I don’t think I’d ever say that about myself. Thank you.
What a wonderful perspective! This post summed up ‘finding the silver linings’ in all things. I struggle with this more than anything else – seeing the potential in a situation that seems negative. Thank you for the reminder to find the linings!
Thanks, Pattie. I think most people probably struggle with seeing positive when all seems negative. It’s something worth continued practice!