Jen Zamzow, PhD

Finding meaning and purpose in a world of hurry and hustle

Do We Need to Do More Than Count Our Blessings?

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Count your blessings
 

We often think that the key to gratitude is counting our blessings. When we’re feeling down, we’re told to focus on the good things in our life—our family and friends, the roof over our heads, the food in our bellies. Counting our blessings is supposed to help us feel more grateful for them.

But research suggests that it’s not just thinking about the good things in our lives that matters; how we think about our blessings can make a big difference.

We need to do more than just count our blessings; we also need to be surprised by them.

Why is this?

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Can Relying LESS on Willpower Help Us Overcome Temptation?

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Maybe you know the feeling. You plan to eat healthy, but by the end of the day you find yourself hiding in the pantry sneaking your kids’ leftover Halloween candy. Or you sit down on the couch and tell yourself you’re only going to watch one episode of Parenthood, but by the time you’ve almost convinced yourself that it’s 1:00 in the morning and you really should go to bed, Netflix has already started the next episode.

Why are we so bad at following through with our plans?

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Hi there!

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Welcome friend! My name is Jen and I’m glad you’re here.

Here’s the thing about me. There are a lot of things I struggle with—managing work/life balance, trying to raise kids with character, experiencing mom guilt, building genuine relationships, maintaining healthy habits, figuring out what my purpose is.

I think there are a lot of people out there who share these struggles, and I think we can all benefit when we come together to share our unique stories and perspectives.

First, there is a lot we can learn from each other. Hearing different points of view can help us think about things in a new way. When we start open conversations, we gain new insights about ourselves, about others, and about the world.

Second, I think there is a lot to be gained from simply knowing that you are not alone in your struggles. A community, even an online community, can give us a sense of shared humanity, a sense that we’re all in this together.

I want this to be a place where you can come to be encouraged, inspired, and challenged. I want this to be a place where conversations are started about life—relationships, parenting, faith and doubt, decision making, focus, purpose.

So let’s start a conversation. I hope you join us!