“Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.” —William Law.
Thankfulness absolutely matters.
- A thankful heart breeds contentment. It appreciates the many gifts of life itself.
- A thankful heart promotes optimism. Optimism leads to enthusiasm and determination.
- A thankful heart brings healthy attentiveness. It finds time to slow down and count blessings.
- A thankful heart shifts the focus of attention from ourselves to others. It understands that our lives have been enriched by them.
- A thankful heart is more likely to help others. It humbly realizes it has benefited from others and as a result, is more apt to notice needs.
- A thankful heart attracts generous people and faithful friends.
- Studies have found that gratitude results in better physical health and mental awareness.
- Gratitude heightens enjoyment of the good seasons of life. And provides strength to make it through the difficult ones.
Unfortunately, gratitude can be finicky. There are seasons of life where gratitude is easy.
When your home is warm… when you are eating a delicious meal… when your child’s report card is impressive… when everything is lining up exactly as you envisioned, it’s really easy to be thankful.
But other times, it remains elusive. When the storms of life hit—as they always do—thankfulness doesn’t come so quickly.
It is hard to be thankful when your world is crashing down. And yet, those are the days we need it most—those are the seasons of life when its strength, optimism, and perspective carry us through.
But when thankfulness is most needed, it is often the most distant.
This reality is because we have mistakenly begun to consider gratitude an emotion of the heart, as just another response to our circumstance. When things are going well, it’s easy to respond with a thankful heart. But in the seasons where things are difficult, thankfulness never even enters our mind.
We would fare better if we learned to consider gratitude a discipline of the heart—one that requires attention and consistent practice.
Gratitude requires practice when it’s easy and even more practice when it’s difficult. And the more we train ourselves to that end, the more we are able to access it when we most require it.
Some helpful thoughts to spur us on in this new discipline of the heart may include: scheduling 5-minute periods of thoughtful thanksgiving each day, intentionally finding gratitude in simple joys, reflecting on the past (particularly if your current season of life is a stormy one), keeping a gratitude journal (on-paper or on-line), expressing thankfulness during life’s little inconveniences (red lights, doctor waits), or seeking the perfection of each day.
This can become a truly life-altering designation. Gratitude is, after all, a discipline, not an emotion.
ren says
Thankful for healthy children, and loviig man in my life. Struggling w a teenagers attitude, but w partner to share burden, so much easier to bear. I’m truly blessed woman.
Tamara Swerline says
Oh I so needed to read this today. I will be having my first chemo treatment today. I choose life. I choose joy. I choose grace. I choose gratitude.
Diane says
Hi Tamara,
Through your fear, will come the strength to face each treatment.
It is a journey of strength, hold on.it will be ok. I am a survivor of 15yrs…will pray every day for your healing.” Diane
Lorna Allen says
Terrific post – it is easy to become complacent and take things for granted in our daily lives. When gratitude becomes a discipline than it can be a comfort to us when times are tough.
With gratitude…..
Adan Carrillo says
Thanks for changing the way I look at life and my circumstances. Your blog and this type of posts have truly made a difference in the way I approach life everyday. Sure, I still need practice but I certainly have a better attitude towards life in general than I did even a year ago.
Kaylin Lydia says
To live with gratitude is one of the best choices anyone can make. I try to view it as a lifestyle I incorporate into my daily living. Thank you for this post.
Maria del Corral says
Joshua, I have really benefitted from your insight this year. I just want to to express my admiration and gratitude. THANK YOU! I love minimalism, a simple life, being present, and being grateful.
Merry Christmas!
María
Dogwod says
As I read this HUGELY EMPOWERING and WISE piece on gratitude I can’t help but recall being admonished to “Guard our hearts for it is the wellspring of life.”
Proverbs 4:23-26 instructs believers to “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”
With what I see rampant in today’s population, people being: offended, complaining, negative perspectives, arguments, anger, self centeredness, self righteousness, bitterness, harboring unforgiveness, it’s obvious most aren’t guarding their hearts. They are not operating under gratitude. The results are obvious. There is no comparison: joy, faith, hope, love, wisdom, kindness, generousity, OR darkness/depresssion, fear, excessive pride, lack, ungratefulness, despair, hate…DO NOT be fooled! DO NOT accept a cheap counterfit that leads to destruction.
Ponder the results of a thankful heart and gratitude as given above. I like those results rather than the results of being unthankful and ungrateful. FIND PLACE ALWAYS FOR GRATITUDE.
Christine says
Beautiful! I am printing this off so that I may read it daily and then begin to live and love by these words.
Thank you!
Alice says
So true! 1st list is the Fruits of the Spirit, 2nd list is the Fruits of Satan, his Character. People are not very much aware there are at all times 2 opposite forces in the world, have been since Adam & Eve.
I also will read it daily on my PC as a daily reminder to live a joyful daily life.
Meg says
Gratitude is such an important discipline.
A couple of years ago I started a photographing gratitude journal on my Facebook page. Every Sunday I would post seven photos of things that I was grateful for that week. This kept me thinking all week about gratitude and made me focus on the joy in every day. Often I had to choose from more than seven things at the end of the week.
Now I’ve been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and my gratitude discipline in my greatest weapon. I’m staying positive and using everything I’ve learnt to help me fight this battle.
Your words are a constant source of inspiration to me. Thank you so much for sharing them.
PSky says
Your idea of a photography gratitude journal is superb!! I’m a dabbling photographer wannabe! – And this is a great way to practice AND improve my outlook! Thank you for sharing that! I would love to use your idea, if that’s ok?
I have had multiple family members who have had to battle breast cancer – I would say “good luck” in your battle, but I don’t believe in “luck” – so I will say God-speed to you! May your journey be deep and rich!
Dísa says
Thank you for changing my life. Hugs from Iceland
Cris Bianco says
ok! I´m grateful for your words! (hugs from Brazil)