Dear Aida,

Joy and gratitude are not emotions that appear when life becomes perfect.
They are practices, orientations, disciplines of attention.
And they are two of the most powerful forces available to you — not because they make life easier, but because they make life fuller.

Most people believe joy is something that happens to them, an outcome of fortunate circumstances.
They think gratitude is something you feel after something goes right.
But this is backwards.
Joy and gratitude do not follow a meaningful life;
they create one.

Every day offers you a choice:
to look through the lens of scarcity, fear, and comparison,
or through the lens of abundance, presence, and appreciation.

The world you see depends on the lens you choose.