Ok, I admit. This is not something I read in the Europe’s Journal of Psychology. Nor has it been proven by any scientific research or backed up by a team of well-known psychology experts.

What I am about to share with you is my own theory that was inspired and conceived during my last 9-hour flight from Italy to New York.

My argument and my conclusion is that the older we get, the more stubbornly we ignore everyday miracles that surround us.

Let’s take flying for example…

Can you remember your first trip on a plane? How did you feel, looking out of the window and watching how a huge airplane picks up speed and slowly takes off the ground, leaving behind the roof tops, long streamers of roads and the perfectly delineated squares of green and yellow fields.

I observed people around me today and all I saw was mild boredom and slight frustration about the plane being 45 minutes late. When did flying become just a convenient vehicle that allows us to get from point A to point B? Isn’t it a miracle that we are able to surmount the force of gravity and rise above the clouds?

When I was little I was practically glued to the window the whole time the plane flew, imagining that this is how the God sees the Earth. I felt powerful. I still do, when I distract myself from voracious “What time will they serve lunch?” thoughts and take a moment to glance out of the window on the frothy, ever-changing sea of white clouds floating below.

Now, getting back to my theory about us losing our ability to get amazed at little things…

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“Believe in your dreams and they may come true; believe in yourself and they will come true” – Author Unknown.

Do you believe in yourself and your abilities? Do you feel that you can achieve anything you put your mind to? Do you wake up every day feeling accomplished, confident and great about yourself?

I do not. Sometimes I have writer’s block and I doubt my ability to write anything worth reading. Sometimes I am not sure if I can live up to my goals. And sometimes I simply have a bad day and I doubt that I can do anything to improve it.
Maybe occasionally you have such days too, wishing that you appeared more confident around your colleagues, more outgoing at your friend’s party or more decisive in your actions.

If so, here are 10 Powerful Tips that will help you to boost your self-confidence and hush your negative self-talk whenever you need it:

1. Know your purpose.

When you know your intentions for the day, you have a good reason to feel good about yourself. Without purpose and not knowing what to do, you are likely to feel down. Usually, it gives way to boredom and ends in feeling unworthy because you don’t have anything to look forward to. But, but, but! If you plan and decide, you have a purpose. Pursuing it would be a meaningful act, achieving the same boosts your confidence all the more.

2. Surround yourself with wonderful people.

As much as grumpy, crabby people dampen the spirit, positive people heighten your self-esteem. They are those who would give you support, give you affirmations and help you see the brighter side of life. Yes, they are good source of laughter as well. Kind of like my friends who make me laugh after a really messy crying session.

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It is not hard to be thankful, when you are living in a contemporary mansion with a private swimming pool, surrounded by accomplished friends, loving family and all the luxuries money can buy. Or at least this is what many people like to think.

There is no doubt that it is easier to count your blessings when everything in your life is going smoothly, but I believe in two things:

1. A true sense of gratitude and well-being comes from the inside. It is a feeling that arises in the heart for no particular reason, just for the fact that the sun has risen or we are feeing alive. We can choose to feel this way no matter what the circumstances are.

2. Success and happiness starts with an attitude, not vice versa. Highly successful people do not become happy and grateful as soon as they make their first million dollars or see their face on a magazine cover. They think and feel successful long before they have any reasons to do so, and success always follows.

What if the same is true for gratitude?

When we are able to feel grateful for no reason, blessings will follow in abundance. This is what many success gurus talk about. Maybe it is time we start listening?

8 Thankful Quotes from ‘rich and famous’

1. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

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