Alexandra Plesa
Life can feel like a whirlwind, leaving little time to reflect on how lucky we are.
Maybe things aren’t going quite as you expected at the moment.
The world is a scary place, the cost of living has become insane, modern dating is a nightmare.
Whatever your reason for feeling down in the dumps may be, there’s nothing like a little perspective to brighten your mood.
On that note, if you can relate to these 8 things, your life is more fulfilled than you realize.
Replacing negativity with gratitude is always a good idea.
1) You have loved ones who would pick up if you called them at 3 AM
Life gets busy, and not everyone is available to hang out whenever you’d like.
I’m in my mid-thirties, none of my besties have kids, and we barely see each other.
Work alone can drain you, and chores can take up an entire weekend.
I get it, so I don’t get annoyed if my loved ones are flaky. Because, deep down, I know they’ll be there when it matters.
I can call them in the middle of the night and ask them to bail me out from a pickle, and I doubt they would even stop to throw a coat over their pajamas.
If you have someone you can rely on like that as well, you’re luckier than you realize.
2) You have a job you don’t actively hate
You don’t have to be passionate about your job to live a good life.
All you need is not to loathe it.
The idea that you must love your work in order to be happy has become increasingly popular in the last decade.
Besides, hustle culture will have you believe that professional fulfillment means losing yourself in constant and relentless work, often at the expense of personal well-being.
Guess what?
You don’t need to live to work; you can work to live.
But if you find a job you love, you won’t have to work a day in your life, you retort.
I am incredibly passionate about writing, which I do as a job, and I still have days when I would rather crawl under a rock and live with the roaches than put together a sentence.
Plus, every job has downsides. I have to deal with emails and invoices and client meetings, none of which bring me much joy.
Job satisfaction can come from sources beyond passion.
Security, a comfortable work environment, supportive colleagues, a reasonable work-life balance.
As long as your job doesn’t make *you* want to crawl under a rock and live with the roaches every single day, you’re doing alright.
3) You have a passion or a hobby
Okay, you may not be passionate about your job, but are you passionate about something?
Because that right there is a huge source of joy.
I’ve seen so many people on the internet lately complaining they don’t have hobbies that I’ve lost count.
I am very into reading and coloring.
A friend does puzzles and plans extravagant trips in her free time.
Another grows tomatoes on her balcony and goes on hikes every chance she gets.
A hobby is something you do purely for enjoyment, so you feel relaxed and content whenever you engage in it.
If you have one or more activities like that in your life, you’re doing better than most.
And if not, find something that makes you happy and is just for you. Fun examples off the top of my head:
- Roller-skating
- Recreating silly TikTok dances in front of the mirror
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Karaoke
- Baking
- Scrapbooking
It doesn’t have to be something you’re good at.
It just has to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
4) You have a room of your own
Do you have a house, apartment, or room where you can retreat when the world is too much?
Which you can decorate however you want, and where all your favorite stuff is?
That’s not nothing.
I currently live in the best apartment I’ve ever lived in. And while it’s not my dream home, I made it cozy and welcoming.
Whenever I feel down, I look around, and I’m filled with gratitude.
Because I’ve lived in a few dumps during my lifetime. There were times when I couldn’t afford more.
A space of your own is a secure environment where you can thrive, plan for the future, and build a meaningful life.
Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys this privilege.
Be glad that you’re one of the people who do.
5) You have cherished memories
Precious memories are a reflection of the positive aspects of your life’s journey.
You might not be at your best right now, but I bet there were times when you felt like you were on top of the world.
Reflecting on those moments might give you the motivation to put things in perspective.
Think back on the people who have influenced your life and the experiences that have shaped you.
Take a moment to appreciate past love and joy. Then, consider how far you’ve come.
It sounds cheesy, but this exercise does wonders for your outlook on life.
It reminds you that your path may have downs, but the ups eventually make up for it.
6) You have a (somewhat) healthy lifestyle
A somewhat healthy lifestyle entails maintaining a balanced diet, getting some exercise, and sleeping enough.
Are you checking all those three things off the list?
From someone battling a case of severe insomnia at the moment, you’re doing amazing.
There are numerous benefits to having a healthy lifestyle:
- It goes hand in hand with better mental health
- It contributes to maintaining your independence as you age
- It reduces the risk of chronic diseases and healthcare costs
- You experience greater vitality and are better at managing stress
If you have the financial means, time, and energy to take proper care of yourself, that’s not insignificant.
Think about it: you’re making yourself a priority.
In the grand scheme of things, that makes the difference between thriving and dragging yourself from one day to the next.
7) You have resilience
If you have resilience, your life is more fulfilled than you realize.
You’ve been through some stuff, and you survived. You’re still standing.
Not only that, but you know that you have what it takes to overcome obstacles or deal with heartache.
Furthermore, resilience fosters a sense of meaning.
When you respond to adversity with resilience, you develop a profound understanding of your values and priorities.
You no longer sweat the small stuff, and you can even inspire those around you to follow your lead.
Resilient people are less afraid of failure because they’ve already experienced hardship and managed to bounce back.
The fact that you’re one of them is worth celebrating, even if it was painful to make it this far.
8) You’re interested in growing
Wanting to grow means that you’re not content with stagnation or complacency.
Instead, you want to expand your horizons and become a better human.
In the long run, this will lead to a more enriching life.
Have you ever met someone so beaten by their circumstances that they lost interest in everything?
They no longer wanted to challenge themselves or had anything much to look forward to.
Those people were in desperate need of help.
And the fact that you’re not among them is nothing short of a gift.
Don’t lose track of that.
Final thoughts
A quote from The West Wing stuck with me: “The most costly disruptions always happen when something we take completely for granted stops working for a minute.”
It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of gratitude.
We sometimes fail to appreciate the value of things that are integral to our daily existence until we experience a disruption or loss.
Not today.
Count your blessings.
They’re likely more plentiful than you realize.
