Do this Daily to Create Greater Joy in Your Life

by Guillermo Vidal | Aug 10, 2020 | Aging Well

I will never again experience the level of emotional pain I suffered the day I saw my parents disappear into the Cuban horizon as the plane I was on sped towards Miami from Havana. Starting my American life as an orphan in a Colorado orphanage was rough. Yet, these events catapulted my life into the miracle of hope and opportunity it is today. When I reflect on this, the proof is irrefutable; even the most painful events taught me lessons that helped shape me into a better man.

My most recent life transition — ushered in by divorce, unemployment and a relocation to another state — opened the door for self-examination and discovery that has allowed me to create a more joyful life. I have never felt more comfortable inside my skin, nor more grateful for my life than I do today.

Take the time to reflect on your life, and you will find a similar pattern. Sure, you didn’t reach a place of gratitude right away, but eventually you found good emerged out of the worst of situations.

Paying gratitude forward

Our traditions demand that we withhold expressing gratitude until after we receive a gift from someone. When it comes to our life, however, we need time and perspective to define the gifts our…