The Gift Of Gratitude: Brie Benfell
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” — Helen Keller
Gratitude is a gift — the gift to see stars instead of a dark sky, the gift to find joy in a hopeless place, the gift to turn crisis into opportunity. Our team has decided to call this festive period “The Season of Gratitude” because we’d like for you to remember this year not for the bad, but for the good we still have in spite of the bad. It is our wish that you enter a brand new year with your eyes and heart on open doors. And gratitude is your key.
To start the ball rolling, we invited three women — Andrea Chong, Brie Benfell and Jade Seah — to tell us what gratitude means to them, and a few things they’re grateful for this year.
Brie Benfell
Actress / Model / Voice-over artist / Singer / Host / Podcast Host / Entrepreneur
A short introduction of yourself.
Brie Benfell: Hello, my name is Brie Benfell. In a nutshell I am an entrepreneur, actress, model, host and a mummy to Theadora. I have just launched The Anjea Way which is a project I’ve been working hard on for an entire year. The Anjea Way is an online programme for pre/postnatal mamas. It covers everything you need to know throughout your journey into motherhood. I am so very proud of it and hope to empower mamas globally. I love to share motherhood honestly and candidly on my socials and truly love to meet mamas online. So find me @briebenfell and let’s be friends!
What is “gratitude” to you?
BB: Gratitude is something I practice on a daily basis. To me, it is the key to happiness. I love this quote and have it saved on my phone: “A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles". I urge you to write down the things in life you are most grateful for when you wake up every morning or just before going to bed, and you will have the biggest smile on your face.
What are some things you are thankful for?
BB: My cup runneth over with everything I am thankful for in life. Most importantly I am thankful for my angel, my daughter who is our little miracle. I am forever and always thankful for my husband. We have had a challenging two years unable to see family. Having had my entire pregnancy, giving birth, and our daughter's first year-and-a-half of life without our family and closest friends has been very trying, but somehow we have come out stronger. Every day of my life I am grateful for our health, and this might sound weird to some but I thank my body every day before bed and the universe/God/our guardian angels for guiding us and keeping us all happy, healthy, and safe.
How do you think one can have an attitude of gratitude?
BB: Gratitude shifts your mindset so, first, your mindset must shift to make it a daily habit to be grateful and thankful for everything you appreciate in life. Appreciate everything! I appreciate my morning walks with my daughter to the Botanic Gardens every morning. It brings so much peace and joy, and has helped with my anxiety over the past couple of years. It truly is the little things. Surround yourself with gratitude mindset-focused people. It will forever keep you inspired, and you'll feel happier and more positive.
How will you be celebrating the festive season this year?
BB: We are so blessed to be able to finally travel to the UK this Christmas. My parents will meet our daughter, their first grandchild for the first time. As I said, this has been a very difficult time for me and my mental health. Becoming a mother is a whirlwind and having done this without the people I love the most has been extremely tough. It is going to be a Christmas miracle, and I think tears will be flowing the entire time. All my love goes out to everyone in similar situations, and I hope you are able to have your miracle, too.
A message or quote you want to leave for the readers this festive season.
BB: “What a precious privilege it is to be alive. To breathe, To Think, To enjoy, To love.”
“The more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. What you focus on expands. When you focus on the goodness in life, you create more of it.”
Read more from Andrea Chong and Jade Seah.
We would like to thank Andrea, Brie and Jade for joining us for The Season of Gratitude Campaign to share what “gratitude” means to them and what it looked like this year. #TheSeasonOfGratitude #byndartisan
(Photos courtesy of interviewees.)