On Being Grateful

Most everyone has encountered someone that lives with a perpetual victim mentality. If you're like me, it is difficult to spend large amounts of time with such people - they require inordinate amounts of attention and still feel like they've been neglected. They complain about not having things, then when they receive something, dismiss its significance because, after all, "It was way overdue and I deserved it." For a long time, I've pondered the possible reasons for this type of behavior, and though I don't understand it all, I think I may have found a root cause.

First, let's ponder Madame Blueberry. Veggie Tales can teach children a great deal, but I always get something out of the videos as well, and Madame Blueberry is one of my favorites. On Big Idea's website, they remind us that "being greedy makes you grumpy -- but a thankful heart is a happy heart!"

I think this strongly ties into the victim mentality we see in our culture. When we are thankful (or in my words, grateful), there is little room for grumpiness. People living with a victim mentality tend to see the worst in every situation. If something good happens, it isn't appreciated, but instead seen as a sign that bad things must be around the corner.

This goes along with my first blog about changing the way we see things - not seeing through critical (or judgmental, pitying, etc) eyes. If we really want to change the way we feel, we have to change the way we react, the way we perceive, the way we behave. As a friend of mine has heard me say repeatedly, the way you live your life is a choice. Circumstances may be good or bad, but you choose how you respond.

I made a choice several years ago to live in a grateful frame of mind, rather than suffer (and make others suffer) with my critical spirit.