Count on it.

I am grateful for another day to grow.

I am grateful that I slept through the night without fear for my safety;

that I was able to wake up next to my wife in a comfortable bed with clean sheets;

that my dog was snuggled up warmly between us;

that I easily arose without struggle or effort;

that I was able to take an extended hot shower with wonderfully fragrant shampoo;

that I had the opportunity to choose from a variety of different nicely folded underwear, socks, shirts, pants, belt and shoes;

that I was able to walk safely down my stairs;

that I could look out the window of my home and admire the early morning sunrise;

that I was able to collect my iPhone and iPad into my messenger bag and put on a warm sweater;

that I was able to walk out into a safe neighborhood and scrape the ice from the windows of my (adequate) car;

that I had enough gas to drive to my job (for which I am also grateful);

that I made it here safely;

that I had time during my commute to pray to a God who loves me more than I could ever possibly imagine or ever deserve and for having the faith to know that he hears me and actually cares on levels I don’t even have a capacity to understand;

that I was greeted with a smile by my coworkers and was able to pour and enjoy a free cup of hot coffee;

that I sat at my private desk and looked forward to doing something I am good at (and for even being good at it at all);

that today I will get paid for the work I have been blessed with and will be able to pay for the goods and services that allow for a privileged first-world life;

that I have been prompted to take inventory of these kinds of things and, despite certain struggles, disappointments, and challenging situations, that I have the day ahead of me in which to continue in gratitude;

that I have an opportunity to share encouragement with you and be encouraged by you.

Yep. There’s a lot to be grateful for—a lot of seemingly insignificant, unrelated puzzle pieces. When put together, however, they provide great perspective. I am able to be appreciative for both the things I do and do not have, for those things that are and are not, and that the scales are tipped in favor of overwhelming good.

Change your perspective. Take notice. Be grateful in all things and really do count your blessings—you’ll be amazed at how in doing so, negative circumstances and woe-is-me thinking lose their grip that tries to crush your spirit.