What does gratitude mean? We all have various aspects of our life to feel grateful for; big or small, but there is a fine line between gratitude and toxic gratitude.
Many people associate gratitude with being thankful for loved ones, financial status, being in good health, and so on. Of course, it is important to cherish and be grateful for all of these things, however, the sentiment that there is no limit to what we can be grateful about, is not true.
Gratitude is about being thankful for what you have without having to compare yourself with someone else. For example, when you feel grateful for having a home, by comparing yourself to those without one, your real gratitude lies in the idea that there are people who are worse off than you. This type of toxic gratitude has been fed to us since we were children when our parents would compare our lives with that of others in less fortunate situations.
Many use a form of toxic gratitude to disregard their own experiences, also by comparing themselves to others. An example of this is when people say “other people have it worse’’. By excessively focussing on the positive, we end up silencing very valid emotions.
There are many ways you can feel grateful for what you have without having to compare yourself to someone else. You can start by accepting yourself and your flaws, as well as patting yourself on the back every time you finish a task. Additionally, you could treat yourself to some time off or buy food or flowers for yourself, your loved ones, or a stranger.
We must feel on our own accord, because of ourselves and not in comparison to others. Furthermore, we must allow ourselves to feel our emotions, however good or bad they may be.
Written by Savannah
Artwork by Delicia
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