“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie
Too often, our hearts weigh heavy with feelings of dissatisfaction. We feel dissatisfied with our incomes, our clothes, our cars, our struggles. We chase material possessions and bigger homes.
Sometimes, the easiest way to feel more satisfaction is to stop comparing what we have to others, and to instead practice wanting what we already have. After all, to be upset over what we don’t have is to waste what we already do.
Practicing gratitude is one of the simple things in life we take for granted. It takes effort, intentionality, and a refusal to be influenced by marketers bent on sowing dissatisfaction in our lives.
But giving thanks can start as small as being grateful for your shelter, your food, or your friends and family.
This week, make a list of 5 things you are grateful for every evening before bed. Repeat the same things if you’d like, or think of new things daily.
By practicing gratitude, dissatisfaction will disappear and be replaced with joy and humility.
Lindsay says
Amen brother!
Pam Mason says
I live in a western country. I am grateful every day to be able to have control over how I live. Yes there is poverty but nothing compared to many countries in the world.
Shelby says
I believe there’s a fine line between between being continuously grateful and complacent. I know people who are downright irresponsible for themselves and , for example, their spouse or children, yet expect to be accepted as themselves for being a grateful appreciative person.
Judy says
If I ever feel dissatisfied… I think of those who suffer from abuse, disease, homelessness —etc. Then I think “Really?!” I gripe over what??? So ashamed—
So blessed!
amk says
Yes! A gratitude journal has served me well several times over the last ten years. I am again keeping one and it makes a difference to say thank you to God for the little things, the big things and even the hard things. It does take practice. :)
OFG says
What a beautiful reminder to feel grateful for all that we have right now. Especially in this season of Black Friday and Cyber Monday when we are so often told we don’t have enough and need to spend.