Gratitude.

We all have a picture in our heads of the way things are supposed to be. In our minds, there is always another reality about to take hold….

Our income is higher.

Our taxes are lower.

Our portfolios only get larger.

And the world around us always makes sense.

But that’s not actually how the world works, is it?

It often doesn’t make sense or behave as we want it to.

Many things haven’t worked out as I expected in the last couple of years.

I bet you have as well.

We can’t control what happens in the world.

We can’t control what markets do, or what tax laws get passed.

But we can control ourselves and our response.

There’s an idea that unmet expectations are the root of unhappiness.

When what we expect doesn’t come to pass, it makes us frustrated and unhappy.

Could the antidote to that frustration be gratitude?

I think so.

Gratitude for the blessings in your life.

Gratitude for the people who love you.

Gratitude for the roof over your head, the food in your fridge, and the wealth you’ve built.

Whenever I’m struggling with the world not meeting my expectations, I try to focus on gratitude to center my mind on what is going right in my life.

It helps me stay focused, stay balanced, and avoid making knee-jerk decisions or overreacting to what’s happening.

It also keeps me working toward my long-term goals instead of thinking too hard about short-term setbacks.

I think it’ll help you, too.