4 Steps To A Happier Life



Finding A Heart of Gratitude-
4 Steps To A Happier Life
Brought to you by Nancy at Domesticraft and Dana Dapoppins 


1.Practice Gratitude Every Day 


There is actually an article on Web MD about how gratitude is good for your health, (Have we mentioned that yet?) I'm pretty certain a regular doctor would never prescribe gratitude  for dealing with stress.  Mostly when we go to the doctor, tell him about that overwhelmed feeling we have, he just hands out a pill.  At least the doctors I've visited have been ready to hand out a pill.   Although the concept of  living in thankfulness is a big part of most major religions, most of the writings I've come across note that it's not a natural or easy human condition.  We have to practice and learn gratitude.

 2. Be thankful for what you have

In my career as a nanny I have worked in many very nice homes.  Some of them were very, very nice, from kitchens big enough to live in, to home theaters, and bathrooms in every corner.  I didn't grow up in that kind of "nice," nor do I live in that kind of nice now.  My finances are a drop in the bucket compared to my employers.  I don't have a lot of "new" or "designer" or "top of the line" things in my home and sometimes (read often) it feels like my family struggles with the basics.

I watch my employers spend money on new things with no fear of the consequences, while I carefully count every dollar.

I had to learn a long time ago to control the urge to envy and feel jealously.

It would be so easy too.  They have nice things.  I want nice things.  They have house keepers.  I want a house keeper.

But going down that road would hurt me as a person more than it will ever affect them.  Seriously.  How can I care for someone else's children with love and laughter while feeling uncontrolled envy at all they posses?  I would be miserable and it would come out in everything I do.

And if I was always focused on what I don't have, I couldn't see what I Do have - and I would feel less. Not only poor in finances, but impoverished in spirit.

3.Give Stuff Away

Strangely, giving  some of what I do have makes me feel richer.  Blessing others makes me feel like I have spent more and in a good way.  Giving erases my lack, and puts me on level with the prosperous people I work for in a way that is hard to describe.  They can afford to give generously - and so can I, in my own way.


4.Reject the fear of Rejection

Giving isn't always easy.

To be honest there is this weird thing in me that worries what I have to offer will be rejected.  Even if I gift someone who is in hardship with a little gas money, a really ugly voice in my head will squeal, "That's not good enough!  You shouldn't even bother."

I don't know where that ridiculous, ugly voice comes from, but it is there every time I want to give something away.

My word for the year 2015 is fearless, and I am moving fearlessly forward.  I am ignoring that ugly, unreasonable voice.  Because once I get past the fear - the reward of blessing someone else in a tangible way drowns out that voice.

That being said.....

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

I am honored to host this weeks Gratitude Giveaway!



To be entered to win all you have to do is comment.  Every comment on every platform counts.  Visit This Post Here to Find a List of ALL our Social Media. (You can also find them in our sidebars) And you know what, if you comment on our Istagram profiles will give you an +2 entries!

This giveaway is brought to you by E-BAY.  I was just window shopping with I came across an auction for a bunch of 7 Gypsies items. I love how "alterable" 7 Gypsies is and so I wanted what I saw.

Of course!

There were a lot of great things in the auction.  All of which I could use, there were a couple things in the auction that  retail at over twenty five dollars. So I bid.

Okay, I bid a couple of times, until $25.00.

And I won.  Peoples.  My goodness.  I got a huge box in the mail.  I was sent multiples of almost everything.

 I'm Grateful for this unexpected bounty!








Nancy took such cute photos for her giveaway  here.  I'm still working on my staging.  How am I do'in Nancy?













So, here is some of the stuff the winner will get.  Most of the stuff.  Well, ALL of the stuff but there is a really good chance I will add more paper.  A pretty good chance I might add some other things from my craft hoard.  A really good chance I might throw in something I've made...

If I'm gonna send a box to someone I might as well send a BOX to someone. (U.S. only)

Now prove to me there is no reason to fear anyone would "reject" my giving away stuff and leave a comment!  Have you ever been afraid to give something away because of rejection?  What is your biggest obstacle to generosity?  Do you even like this kind of crafty giveaway?  Let me know!  Comment on my blog.  Nancy will be posting later this evening too, so comment at Domesticraft.blogspot.com.  Comment away and let us know you are enjoying this Gratitude Journey.







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27 comments

  1. I feel a special kinship with you for lots of reasons. I loved what you said about being a nanny and working for a family that has so much and the feelings it forces you to not just deal with but truly resolve in your heart. I love what you said because I love to give to. It just makes me so happy to give something to someone especially when they aren't expecting it.
    One of the very best gifts I have ever received was given to me because I gave it someone else.

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    1. Just g : Are you one of the awesome Nannies from Face book? I have a hard time connecting all the names together. Thank you very much for sharing this journey with us. I had to decided when I was a live in Nanny that I was not going live my life envying all the stuff the family I lived with had - Just to exhausting. And your right. I had to make a conscious decision to do that, and (sometimes still do!)

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  2. I so understand the "rejection" fear, have been there so often and yet it feels good to perform random acts of kindness so push on through the voice that says what I have done won't matter <3
    #theheartofgratitude

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    1. Susan I was trying to think of what keeps me from giving - and it was right there. It was that voice! And your right. Pushing through it is almost exhilarating!

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  3. I understand the fear of rejection. I just feel a lot of times that has just happened to me in different ways. I do remember when I was in college my friends and I had leftover thanksgiving food, so we thought let us go and find someone on the street and give them what we cooked. We found a man with a shopping cart walking around. So we gave him the warm food and he just gave us a look like he was not happy. Made me feel awful, because we just wanted to cheer someone up. But I guess you can't please everyone.

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    1. Robin M,

      I was telling this story on face book about wanting to give this homeless looking guy a new pair of shoes. The tennis shoes he had one were tore up and he had them on like slippers. He said, "These old things? I just wear them because they are comfortable!" I felt so silly - But I'm not going to stop giving stuff away! I've actually set some personal goals so I don't give up.

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  4. Wow, Dana!

    You have blown me away, again! Your heart is as big as the Grand Canyon! ♡

    Thank you for sharing, for putting yourself out there, for feeling vulnerable and insecure and then doing it anyway! You are my hero! ♡

    Anyone who would take the time to criticize this post (as an example), means they have read it and that means you have sown a seed of kindness and caring and generosity in them, that might not sprout for years or it might change their lives tomorrow! We don't know, it might . . . right?

    So we can't let fear of rejection or critisism rob us of the blessings we'll get or the good we could potentially do, the life we could change, or the heart that melts just a little even.♡

    Keep writing, Dana, and making your art! You've made a huge difference in my life (tears are coming, so sappy) You've got so much to share that so many people need to hear and see! You would be selfish if you didn't share AND that my sweet friend is something you are so NOT! ♡

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    1. I understand the fear of rejection, it's eating me up right now. Working through a prolonged health issue, and I don't know where I belong anymore.so the only thing I can do is move forward. Figuring it out as I go. I give things away freely as I am moved, it gives me greater pleasure than keeping it.

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    2. Dawn - Your art is so beautiful, fun, and has so much color! I am glad you keep moving forward and figuring it out. You have so much to offer in spite of your health, and some of it is because of your fortitude to just keep moving. I know there is a lot I can learn form you - and sharing your art is a bigger generosity than you know!

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    3. Nancy - I am so blessed to know you, spend time with you, and drink coffee with you! Girl! You make me laugh till tears comes out! Thank you so much for appreciating all that I have to share.

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  5. I completely understand that feeling. I am always my worst critic and am often way to hard on myself with wanting to be perfect. The problem is, I don't even know what perfect is so not sure why I push myself to be something I don't even know what it is.
    Thank you so much for your generousity of wanting to share such a fabulous gift. ❤️

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  6. What a lovely post about generosity and giving. Thank you for sharing so authentically!

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  7. How can I NOT comment on this post? I loved it. I understand what you are feeling because I have dealt with friends that have been in need and when I would offer something they would say "No, you don't have to do that". Or they would say "I can't take your money." The rejection would hurt my heart so badly... Now the thought of feeling that hurt is the biggest obstacle to my generosity? Most of the time I give in secret. (That Feels Great) I love this kind of crafty giveaway because I am introduced to new products. :) I am Loving this Gratitude Journey. I am Sew grateful to be a part of it :) Take care :) *Royal She aka Sajatha Teleports over to DomesticraftDotBlogspotDotCom*

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  8. What a wonderful giveaway! Thanks so much for the generous opportunity to win.

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  9. Beautifully written truths. Thank you for sharing this.

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  10. Beautifully written and so many thoughts I have had myself over the years! So many could learn from your words of wisdom too! Thanks for sharing and what a generous giveaway!

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  11. What a great post I loved it. I am so pleased to have found your blog it's always a good read. Yes please enter me into the give away and thanks for your generosity.

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  12. This is such a beautiful post...I love your spirit...your openness and your determination to live a life of gratitude. Gratitude always equates with abundance...the grateful heart is full and overflowing. And this giveaway is pretty darned amazing, too! Hugs!

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  13. Dana, what a haul! Just your precious heart to share is incentive for us ALL! Rejection is certainly a weight that could be drug around by anyone. The Lord really dealt with me on that one when a good friend of my husbands gave us an AMAZING monetary gift one time. It was all in the hands of the Lord! We were struggling financially, and I believe, when He says He is our provision, that comes in many forms and ways! So in essence He was providing for us through another! Now my first response was to send the gift back (I thought it was way too much) but the Lord impressed upon me that if I did that, I would be missing out on a blessing for our family, but I would also be taking that blessing away from my husband's friend!!! We are blessed because WE BLESS! I am sure that he wasn't doing that just to get something in return, but he definitely understood the principles of sowing and reaping! Your heart to bless another is a reminder of that for me! Bless you today and thanks for the opportunity! :)

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  14. A lovely post today! Lots to contemplate! Thank you for your generous giveaway!

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  15. Great post and perspective! Thank you.

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  16. I just have to comment, despite the fact I live in Finland - so not attending to the draw. Why I had to comment, is that You have One Beautiful Heart and Soul there Girl. Don't_You_ever_change. Sending you lots of positive energy to keep up the fearlessness <3

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  17. A beautiful and heartfelt post, Dana. Your generosity is recognized. You, in fact, are fearless, you just don't realize that yet.

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  18. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your post. Lately I have been weeding out things in my own craft stash. It feels good in two ways: 1. I am giving it to people who I know who can use it. 2. It is freeing me up on "stuff" I don't need. It's a win win for both. If I win, please send it to someone else for me. Better yet, don't add my name to the drawing. Thank you. ;)

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  19. Great four steps - love them!

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  20. This was a very inspiring post today! It started my day off RIGHT!
    I'd love to win this awesome giveaway...Thanks = )

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  21. I could not agree more; the more I give, the more it seems I have to give. I'd love to win this for a prize at the benefit I'm helping plan. Thanks!

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