I have never met a miserable person who had a thankful heart and who daily counted his blessings. Miserable people I have met in my life are those who spend their days grumbling about how bad things are or what is wrong with them or others. They daily nurse, curse, and rehearse their hurts. There is great joy in praise, and there is great misery in complaint. The happiest people I know are not people who do not have problems and difficulties. Everybody has problems, but the happiest people are those who choose to focus on their blessings and celebrate life as a gift every day. It is not the obstacles in your life that mess you up, it is the attitude you take toward those obstacles that get you messed up. You can live with a mountain on top of you or you can live on top of the mountain. Never forget, the mountain does not make that choice. You do. Remember a favorite quote of mine by Tim Hansel, “Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional.” Misery is a choice that you make and misery comes from grumbling. Joy comes from thanksgiving. Maybe that is why the Bible says, “Do everything without grumbling or complaining.”
– Dr. Tim Thompson