Being thankful isn't always easy. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget how blessed we are. I have written about Gratitude Journals and how to keep one, but this is more than just journaling. This is a mindset. It's great to keep a gratitude journal, but we need to translate that to our everyday life, and not just pages in a journal.
Photo by Ann on Unsplash
Why Gratitude is Important
In today's world, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget to be grateful for the good things we have. All you have to do is turn on the news to see the tragedy and chaos around us. Gratitude is important because it helps us appreciate the blessings we have instead of taking them for granted and it helps us to focus on the good, and not the bad going on around us. Most importantly being grateful is one way we can express to God how thankful we are.
When we're grateful, we're more likely to be happy and satisfied with what we have. We're also more likely to be kind and generous to others. Additionally, gratitude has been linked with better physical health, including a stronger immune system and lower blood pressure.
In a previous post, I showed you how to create a gratitude journal. This post will be more in-depth about using a gratitude journal and translating that into your daily life.
How to Cultivate More Gratitude in Your Life
So how can you cultivate more gratitude in your life?
- Keep a gratitude journal and write down things you're thankful for each day.
- You can also practice prayer, and being thankful to God, express thanks to others, or perform acts of kindness.
- Start by taking some time each day to reflect on the things you're grateful for.
- Don't dwell on past hurts. Dwelling on past hurts will stop you from finding things to be grateful for in your daily life.
The more you focus on being thankful, the more positive changes you'll see in your life.
The Power of a Thankful Heart
The Bible talks often of being thankful. In Philippians 4:6 Paul says “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And verse 7 goes on to say, And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. If we take the time to be thankful God says His peace that passes all understanding will guard our hearts and minds. Isn't that great? We simply show our gratitude and God will give us His peace! I say that's a win-win!
It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget to stop and be thankful for what we have. But simply being thankful can have a positive impact on your emotional and physical well-being. Studies have shown that expressing gratitude can lead to a host of health benefits, including improved sleep, reduced stress levels, and even a strengthened immune system. So if you're looking for a way to boost your health this Thanksgiving season and all year long, start by cultivating a thankful heart.
Here are some tips on how to do just that:
- Make a List: Each day, take a few minutes to write down things you're thankful for in a journal or on a piece of paper. It can be anything from the sun shining to your favorite coffee mug. Just focusing on the positive things in your life will help shift your mindset to one of gratitude.
- Say Thank You Often: Whenever someone does something nice for you, make sure to express your appreciation. Whether it's a friend holding the door open or a co-worker lending a helping hand, take the time to say thank you and let them know how much their act of kindness meant to you.
- Focus on Others: God doesn't teach us to be self-centered. He wants us to be involved in helping others first. The more we focus on others the more we will see His blessings in our lives.
How to Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the simplest and most powerful things we can do to improve our lives. It has been scientifically shown to increase our happiness, health, and well-being. Practicing gratitude is easy and only takes a few minutes each day. Here are four simple steps to start practicing gratitude:
- Keep a Gratitude Journal: A gratitude journal is simply a place where you write down things you’re grateful for. This could be things like your health, your family, your friends, your job, etc. Anything that brings you happiness and joy can be included in your journal. Taking just a few minutes each day to think about the things you’re thankful for can make a big impact on your overall happiness.
- Write Thank-You Notes: Write thank-you notes to people who have done something nice for you or who have made a positive impact in your life. These don’t have to be long or complicated – just a quick note expressing your appreciation can mean a lot to someone else and it will make you feel good too.
- Pay It Forward: One of the best ways to practice gratitude is to “pay it forward” by doing something nice for someone else with no expectation of anything in return. This could be something as simple as holding the door open for someone, paying for someone’s coffee, or lending a helping hand when someone.
- Thank God Daily: Every day not just writing it down, but praying and thanking Him for all of his blessings. Even little things that seem insignificant, thank Him for them! He gives us all things, and all good things come from Him. (James 1:17)
Can't Find Something to be Thankful For? Consider These Options
If you're feeling uninspired by the things in your life that you usually find thankful for, it's totally understandable. With so much negativity in the world, it can be hard to remember all of the good things we have going for us. But being thankful is important! It's a great way to focus on the positive and remind ourselves of what really matters.
So if you're struggling to come up with something to be thankful for, consider these options:
- Your Health: This is always a good place to start. Even if you're not feeling your best, there are probably many people who would love to trade places with you. So be thankful for your good health!
- Your Family and Friends: These are the people who love and support you, no matter what. They're always there for you, even when times are tough. So make sure to let them know how grateful you are for their presence in your life.
- Your Home: Whether it's a cozy apartment or a huge house, having a place to call your own is a blessing. It's a safe haven where you can relax and feel comfortable. So be thankful that you have a roof over your head!
- Your job: Even if it's not your dream job, having steady employment is a gift. It allows you to support yourself and live a relatively comfortable life. So be thankful that you have gainful employment.
Being Thankful
Being thankful is not just something we should do during the Thanksgiving holiday, but it is something we should try to do every day. In today's world, it can be easy to get caught up in the negative and forget all of the things that we have to be thankful for. But if we take a step back and remember all of the good in our lives, we will realize just how lucky we are. So next time you find yourself feeling down or stressed, take a moment to think about all of the things you are thankful for — I guarantee it will make you feel better.