I have found that one of the greatest tools in times of trouble, tribulation, suffering, depression, angst, choose your favorite word of adversity; the most immediate and effective tool to help take the edge off is gratitude.  It won’t solve your problems but it will ease your mind for a moment as you consider all you have been blessed with.

I know that sometimes it’s hard to recognize or admit to ourselves that there’s much to be grateful for, but we all have more to be grateful for than we can imagine.  Think of all of the things we take for granted; if they were gone we sure would recognize them!

The next time you’re in the dumps and can’t think of a reason to smile, make a list, even a mental list of ten or twenty things you are grateful for.  It will ease your burden and help lighten your load so you can continue on and take a few more difficult steps through the darkness.  You’ll keep moving forward until you get your problems solved and can look back with wisdom and thankfulness.