Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

-Melody Beattie, author

Be thankful for what you have: I know, I know, it’s old news, nothing new, nothing we haven’t heard before. We’ve been told to count our blessings, look at what we have instead of what we have not, stop trying to keep up with the Joneses – the whole nine yards.

And these trite sayings get so old. But as old as they may be, they are still so true.

It’s no secret that when we begin to look around at the overabundance of things we’ve been blessed with, our thankfulness goes into overdrive and that leads to greater joy in our lives. But how many of you have looked inside yourself to see what you’ve been gifted with and were thankful for that?

How many of you are using your gifts for good? How many of you are using your talents to build others up for a positive impact in this world? Are you thankful for your gifts? Or are you squandering them?

Reasons run amuck for not using our gifts: fear, laziness, unknowing, lack of motivation or just plain apathy. Whether you’re lazy, fearful, apathetic or just naïve about what you’ve been gifted with, it’s time to break out of that prison and start making a difference in this world.

If you’re not using your attributes to make a positive influence, then you are simply in bondage to whatever is holding you back. It’s time to break those chains and be free to live.

If fear has its grip on you because you have no self-confidence, let me tell you right here and now: You were given that gift for a reason. Stop fearing and start using! You were not given a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and a sound mind.

If you’re in bondage to your own laziness, it’s never too late to get up and get going on using your gifts to make a difference in someone else’s life. Use it or lose it!

If you just have no idea what kind of gift you’ve been given, then it’s time to take inventory of what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at doing and what gets you all worked up and passionate. Undoubtedly, that is where you’ll find your talents.

Don’t wait. Lives are waiting to be in impacted by you. Not your neighbor, not your brother, not your cousin – you. There are things that only you can do, that are designed for you to make an impact.

Take your gifts and talents and go make a difference … and then just see how that freedom affects you, your attitude and the world around you. No more bondage, no more chains on you – you are free to live!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.