Get the right perspective. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He's so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and thought, "He's so big I can't miss."
A canny Main farmer was approached by a stranger one day and asked how much he thought his prize Jersey cow was worth. The farmer thought for a moment, looked the stranger over, then said: "Are you the tax assessor, or has she been killed by your car?"
Remember the hard times so you can appreciate the good times.
You can always look around and see people who seem to have it easier than you do, people who don't seem to have the same challenges or the same problems that you have. You can see people who appear lucky or who seem to have been born in the right place or the right time, or you can look around yourself and notice many, many people who seem to be worse off than yourself.
If you take the time to put your situation in perspective with others around you, is it easier to be grateful for what you have? I know it helps me.
Perspective makes all the difference in how we handle life. Without perspective, small problems seem insurmountable, and we ignore warning signs. But with perspective, hard situations don't overwhelm, and we can find our way to thankfulness instead of despair.
Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts, and no one to thank. Christina Rossetti
To God Be the Glory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtenFJ6x75k&feature=related