Article

Giving Thanks for Frustrations and Obstacles

Giving Thanks for Frustrations and Obstacles

There are many challenges in our world, on a large-scale and in our own personal lives. Gratitude makes us focus and turn our negatives into positives. We actually grow and learn from challenges. Some of the best things in life grew out of a negative circumstance. This Thanksgiving, consider this powerful emotion called gratitude.

November 16, 2023
Giving Thanks for Frustrations and Obstacles
Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

Life is filled with challenges: finding a job, paying for college, affording your retirement. While this may seem paradoxical, on Thanksgiving we should be thankful for frustrations and obstacles.

Often on Thanksgiving we think of the Pilgrims. The English colonialists were a grateful lot, but on religious days of thanksgiving, they focused on prayer, not feasting. Our concept of thanksgiving harkens back to the fall of 1621 when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians celebrated the colony’s first successful harvest.

Thanksgiving Holiday

William Sydney Porter, known by his pen name O. Henry, cherished Thanksgiving as uniquely an American institution. He wrote, “There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to ... Thanksgiving Day ... is the one day that is purely American.”

The feast may be at your house, the home of your adult children, the grandparents or in-laws house or just a gathering of friends. Aside from overeating, we revel in remembrances of blessings and the warmth of friendship and kinship. Giving thanks is a healthy exercise in gratitude, the essence of all Thanksgiving celebrations.

A prayer written by Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of Great Britain, is instructive: “I thank Him for all the defeats and failures that make leadership so difficult, because the hard things are the only ones worth doing, and because all genuine achievement involves taking risks, making mistakes, and never giving up.”

Learning through Experience

True leaders thrive on challenge. If you have challenges, with your family or at work, be grateful that you have a family and a job. Challenges are learning experiences. They make you stronger and a better person. If you are not challenged, life will be boring, and you will not grow. Challenges are energizing, viewed through a lens of gratitude.

Being grateful for your innate gifts and talents can help turn negatives into positives. Some of the best things in your life grew out of a negative circumstance.

Power in Gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful emotion, appreciation for what we have, not resentment for what we lack. In a consumer-oriented society, pop psychology and media messaging pushes us to focus on more, more, more. Is your glass half-full? Or half-empty?

This Thanksgiving, look at your vexing challenges and contemplate what you are learning, how you are growing, how you will be strengthened, how you will advance in character and wisdom.

The mosaic of humanity is filled with tales of both happiness and sorrow.  Shelter, food and life itself are blessings for which we should say a prayer of gratitude as we join those we love and care for at the table on November 23rd.

Gratitude makes you focus on what truly is important. That is the real Thanksgiving blessing.

Other content you may like

  • Market Volatility Can Trigger Your Loss Aversion

    Market Volatility Can Trigger Your Loss Aversion

    March 2, 2022
    At the foundation of your financial well-being lies your behavior. There is an entire field dedicated to study it – behavioral finance. Did the what-ifs of January’s volatility leave you feeling panicked? Your financial advisor is there to support your financial and emotional well-being, while keeping an eye on your long term investment strategy. Here are some ideas to help cure irrational investing behavior.
    Read this Article
  • Career Advancement vs Job Security

    April 6, 2024
    Changing jobs can be a difficult decision, but it can also be a great opportunity for growth and advancement in your career. However, when companies do layoffs, it can be a stressful and uncertain time for employees. Here are some ideas to think about when balancing the Pros and Cons of changing jobs.
    Read this Article
  • March Student of the Market

    Staying Calm Amid Historic Geopolitical Events

    March 29, 2022
    Here’s a quick look at how the history of major geopolitical events have affected market volatility along with stats on the market volatility of today and the importance of limiting downsize. This year we’ve seen the 2nd worst start of a year ever for bonds, reaching the top 10 of worst starts for stock returns in January and February. What can the history of other “worst starts” tell us?
    Read this Article
  • Charitable Ideas for What to Do With Your Money

    Charitable Ideas for What to Do With Your Money

    October 7, 2021
    Giving away some of your money is a great way to support the people and organizations you love. But there are smart ways to do it, minimizing your taxes and avoiding pitfalls along the way. This article is full of useful information. Learn from the great givers and let your advisor be your sounding board.
    Read this Article
  • The link you have selected is located on another server. The linked site contains information that has been created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of this organization. We do not endorse, approve, certify, or control any linked websites, their sponsors, or any of their policies, activities, products, or services. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained therein. Visitors to any linked websites should not use or rely on the information contained therein until they have consulted with an independent financial professional. Please click “Continue to Link” to leave this website and proceed to the selected site.
    phone-handset