A few days ago I was listening to a conversation about the difference between being grateful and being at peace. There are times were people like to play on words, semantics. However, I chose to give them some more thought. Is there a difference?
I think back to my last job, saying I was unhappy is putting it sweetly. It affected me so much that I wrote the post, Why I Stopped Faking the Employment Enjoyment. I have heard all the comments before like, “you should just be grateful for what you got.” So what do you do when “what you got” is painful and toxic to your mental and physical health. Where does the line get drawn when it comes to sitting in gratitude versus sitting in peace.
So, What is the Difference Between Being Grateful and Being at Peace
Here is what I think.
It is my belief that to attract the things we want, remaining in a place of gratitude is key. Be thankful for our encounters and blessings that we receive. Ultimately, everything is sent your way to help you grow, nudging you closer to your desires. If we cannot be grateful, we unintentionally attract the things that we find hard to be thankful for. What you let your mind dwell on is powerful and guides you to the experiences you have. Being grateful can sound like being at peace, but not entirely so. When the things you have disrupt you being at peace, some decisions need to be made.
In my opinion, being grateful requires having a heart to see the beauty in what is and appreciating things for what they are. Being at peace is having the discernment to see things for what they are and know what does and does not serve your best interest and being okay with the decision you have to make to maintain sanity. You can be at peace and grateful at the same time, with the same thing. It is also possible to not be grateful about an unpeaceful situation and to move away to find your peace.
Both ideas can live under the same roof, however, they will not always coexist. That doesn’t make for a terrible person. To me it just means that you are becoming more aware of yourself and what you need to continue this journey called life.
What is your idea of the difference between being grateful and being at peace?
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25 Comments
Tasheena
March 9, 2020 at 7:43 pmI really enjoyed reading this post. I actually really never thought of the two. It’s so important to become aware of ones self.
melissa chapman
March 9, 2020 at 7:43 pmSuch interesting food for thought and I am in the middle of some personal issues right now. I have always been at piece and I am always grateful for the life I have been given.
Amber Myers
March 9, 2020 at 8:16 pmI love this! I know I always try to be as grateful as I can for what I do have. And I know I like my area and headspace to be peaceful.
Joy
March 9, 2020 at 11:05 pmBeing at peace means it is well with your soul. Grateful is looking at your situation and finding the silver lining. I may not have this but I’m grateful for this. However, when you are peace you relinquish control. It’s an act of surrender.
Christy Irene
March 10, 2020 at 5:24 pmI like that. “It is well with your soul.” There is something beautiful about set your intentions for your soul to be at peace. A true surrender indeed. Thank you for visiting and joining the conversation. ❤️
Lisa Martin
March 10, 2020 at 2:16 amSometimes it’s hard to know the difference. I try to remind myself so often to be grateful instead of complaining about the little things. Thank you for the reminder.
Christy Irene
March 10, 2020 at 5:25 pmLisa, I need daily reminders. It is so easy for me to deal with something out of our comfort zone and complain.
Rosemary
March 10, 2020 at 4:46 amGreat question and you mentioned, both live under the same roof. I’m grateful for things or experiences, while at peace in my heart regardless of things or experiences. Will ponder this more!
Christy Irene
March 10, 2020 at 5:26 pmIt definitely made me ponder Rosemary! Thank you for joining the convo.
Chef Dennis
March 10, 2020 at 10:34 amIt would be definitely a great thing to both live a life of being grateful and being at peace at the same time. Let’s all be thankful in every little blessings we have,.
Christy Irene
March 10, 2020 at 5:26 pmYes, This is something that I aim to achieve daily.
Catalina
March 10, 2020 at 11:41 amYes, we need to be grateful! We feel better and this is really the key for a better life!
Christy Irene
March 10, 2020 at 5:27 pmI wholeheartedly agree!
Lynndee
March 10, 2020 at 12:40 pmI have always believed that there is always something to be grateful for. And I made choices in the past that I never regretted. I never looked back and I’m totally at peace.
Christy Irene
March 10, 2020 at 5:27 pmWhat a great way to navigate life!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
March 10, 2020 at 2:16 pmWow, what a beautifully-written, thought-provoking post. I really love this. I try to be grateful as much as possible. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of taking things for granted.
Christy Irene
March 10, 2020 at 5:27 pmSo easy to fall into the trap of expectation. Thank you for joining the conversation.
Brittany Strawbridge
March 10, 2020 at 5:51 pmI loved this post, I have never thought about that before. When I feel at peace I feel as though I can take a deep breath and surrender my anxieties and fears. Gratitude shows up in being thankful for the circumstance I am put in front of.
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
March 10, 2020 at 7:29 pmIt might be a subtle difference, but it is there. I wish more of us could be at peace.
Amy H
March 11, 2020 at 2:36 amI never really took the time to think of a difference between being grateful and being at peace. I almost always just intertwine them into the same.
rika
March 11, 2020 at 3:39 amI think both being grateful and being at peace are important. I do think that it’s hard to feel at peace without being grateful.
Lizzie Lau
March 11, 2020 at 5:34 amI agree that there’s a difference between being at peace and being grateful. I am filled with gratitude, but I struggle a little with peace.
Barbara Ritzman
March 11, 2020 at 11:50 pmGreat insight. I always thought of being at peace to be best. While many can be grateful, so still complain as they are not at peace with something.
Melissa
March 13, 2020 at 3:41 pmI agree. If it is toxic get out. We have a short time to live on this earth. Let’s enjoy every minute.
Rose Ann Sales
March 16, 2020 at 5:02 amWow,such a great post you have here. I never think so much of the difference but it’s nice to be both of it.