We are all winners of a lottery with incredibly steep odds just by virtue of the fact that we exist. While cultivating an attitude of gratitude for this blessing, and many others that are part and parcel of our daily lives, has been a crucial aspect of my recovery/stability/sobriety, and has lifted me out of the morass of self pity on many occasions, it is important that I acknowledge here that it is not a short term solution to clinical depression or other manifestations of a serious mental illness.
Nevertheless, gratitude has helped to save my life, and has helped to give me a life rather than mere survival.
A one in 400 trillion chance. Yet here we are! Wow!
JM
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
~ Dalai Lama
INSPIRATION AND EMOTIONAL COURAGE: MENTAL ILLNESS, ADDICTION, AND RECOVERY 