As I reflect on Thanksgiving day, I began to think on all that I am grateful for during this season. Then I realize that I don’t take enough time to truly reflect on my life and enjoy the bountiful of blessings that surround me. I think that I really do good job at expressing gratitude to people, whether it be through words or gifts. However, I must admit that I am usually too focused on the business of life and too busy to really admire and express my gratitude for the harvest of blessings that I have been fortunate to receive. This is not about boasting are bragging for me but truly about expressing authentic gratitude on a daily basis.
There are studies that show that living a life of gratitude has mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. Having a mindset of gratitude also makes you a happier person. Instead of focusing on negative things and having a negative attitude, you naturally began to think positively. This may seem like just a small task to complete but I think it can be a very rewarding task and produce more peace in your life. The greatest reward of gratitude for me will be the positive environment that will be produced from a living a life of gratitude, such as reaping what you think and say. Proverbs 23:7
So how will I apply this to my life? I want to be more conscious and aware of how blessed I am, to maintain a positive attitude on a daily basis and live a life of gratitude. Here are a few ways that I or even you can practice a life of gratitude:
- Keep a journal, writing 5 things you are grateful for from the previous week.
- Keep a journal, in which you reflect on one thing you are grateful for daily.
- Demonstrate acts of gratitude.
- Express gratefulness to God for at least one thing every day.
- Write about experiences, both good and bad, and focus on something to be thankful for in the outcome of the situation.
I think that I will at least commit to #4 and I am going to start a Gratitude Journal and commit to doing a combination of #1,2,3, & 5 for at least a year. I look forward to sharing my results with you, periodically. Stay tuned.
