being thankful

Muslims would say alhamdulillah to show that they are being thankful to Allah. Whereas the Arabic meaning of alhamdulillah is 'all praise to Allah', it conveys thankfulness while at the same time praising Him for the things bestowed upon the person uttering it.

Being thankful can be viewed as an aspect of positive thinking.
My wife doesn't cook for me, but she mops the floor (and take care of the kids and I, drives herself to work, help me support the family, etc.). Alhamdulillah, I am thankful for that.
My kids are hyperactive and most of the times uncontrollable - they are creative and goes out of the box. Alhamdulillah, and I am sure they would grow and be good people some day.
My work doesn't pay as much, but there are lots of valuable knowledge that i could pick up everywhere. Alhamdulillah, I know that in life, knowledge pays much better than salary.
Looking at myself, I am thankful that I'm blissfully normal.
Alhamdulillah.

I attended a teambuilding course with MESB a few years ago at Rompin, Pahang. the instructor is a psychiatrist, and he talked to us about being thankful and the effect of it to our brain (endocrine system).

The opposite of being thankful is self-pity. Avoid this. It is as sure as being negative. Much worse, it makes you feel miserable. And if it is a habit, your life would go to a downward spiral into a state where no one else can help you - being miserable all your life, all the time.
Examples of self-pity: of course i cannot afford a car, my salary is too small. My salary is too small because the company i'm working for is stingy. And it can go on and on and on.
Not too difficult to find the negative side of things, really.

Being thankful would trigger the release of endorphin. The effect is a high feeling (as taking morphine). At least, the physical element of morphine and endorphin is the same.
Other ways to trigger endorphin release is by exercising - just when we are breaking sweat. That's why some people would feel uneasy if they don't get their dose (not exercising). For some, they crave to exercise. Same thing to me, either way.
However, endorphin release through exercising gives only temporary effect.
To have a longer lasting effect of this feel good hormone is to simply be thankful.
It's quite easy really to do it, once we start practicing to be grateful of what we already have.

From Al Quran Kareem, Surah Ibrahim Verse 7:

And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you But if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed."

So let's be thankful (grateful), for Allah will add more favours to us insyaAllah.
Have a constant dose of endorphin.