I Breathe Deeply and I'm Grateful for Everything I've Overcome

I'm grateful for everything that I've experienced, even for all the things I've overcome and left behind.
I Breathe Deeply and I'm Grateful for Everything I've Overcome
Valeria Sabater

Written and verified by the psychologist Valeria Sabater.

Last update: 15 November, 2021

I’m grateful for everything I’ve overcome, as I’ve created a bridge of learning and valuable experiences. Therefore, I take a deep breath and look to the future without fear because, behind me, are chapters that were already written and pages that have been turned in order to create better stories.

All of us have left many experiences behind us, some good and some bad. A Chinese proverb says that, before being a dragon, you have to suffer like an ant. The truth is that, in contrast to what you may believe, you don’t have to suffer in order to be happy or to understand life. But, even so, you can’t deny that the difficult situations you’ve experienced have given you valuable lessons in life.

Self-improvement is one of the best-known areas in psychology and the one the humanist school has focused on above all others. In this regard, humanistic psychology integrates existentialism in order to show us that people are dynamic and changing.

Thus, when “destiny” presents you with an unexpected setback, and you’re forced to face this difficulty, it’s your responsibility to react. You have to know how to decide, reflect on what’s happening around you, and awaken your potential. In this process of inevitable crises, you must never abandon your values.

A woman who's saying I'm grateful.

I’m grateful for everything I’ve overcome

Rollo May, one of the most outstanding existentialist psychologists of the 20th century, said that it’s an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when they’ve lost their way.

Indeed, some situations take you by surprise. Sometimes, unforeseen moments shake the ground beneath your feet. In those moments, fear takes over and you act unwisely, hurriedly, and instinctively. This is because it’s difficult to face those vital Gordian knots if your mind isn’t clear and your inner being is as chaotic as what’s around you.

In the midst of such circumstances, it’s best to train yourself to reflect and stay calm and in tune with your values and needs.

But we first need to clarify what self-improvement really is. We’re not just talking about facing obstacles, overcoming difficulties, or trying to solve problems. It’s much more than that.

Self-improvement is, above all, learning. It’s knowing how to activate your own resources in difficult times and take advantage of the circumstances that occur in your life. It’s about being open and receptive and choosing change rather than fear and progress rather than inactivity and stagnation.

My decisions allowed me to get to where I am now

I take a deep breath and appreciate everything I’ve overcome because I like who I am at this very moment. I accept where I am now because it’s the place I want to be. Yes, yesterday was difficult and had its consequences, but all growth implies transformation, psychological change, and waves of emotions.

Dr. Michael Ungar, a family therapist and professor at Dalhousie University in Canada, is one of the leading experts in the field of resilience.

In his book Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success, he explains that, sometimes, things have to happen on the outside in order to activate the inner potential of resilience.

All personal growth and development, according to this expert, involves the activation of this dimension. In order to do this, you should know that this skill is like a dance. It’s something dynamic that transforms you and, in turn, surrounds you.

What are we trying to say here? This means that being grateful for everything you’ve overcome and the things you’ve dared to change, as they didn’t make you happy.

It means realizing that you’ve also changed. Now, you’re a more assertive person, someone who decides more wisely and without fear. Likewise, you also know what you want every step of the way.

A woman with a butterfly.

I’m grateful for everything I’ve overcome and I look forward to the future

I look forward to tomorrow, without fear. Not because I think that “destiny” will always bring me happiness but because I know that I now have better resources to face what’s coming. Thus, I face the future without anxiety

I’m grateful for everything I’ve been able to overcome because, now, I face the world with a smile. Now, I look to the horizon and set new dreams and goals every day.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.