“Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic.” —John Henry Jowet
Gratitude matters.
A grateful heart is a contented heart. A contented heart is a simple heart. And a simple heart leads to a simplified life.
Gratitude opens the door to simplicity. A person who is grateful for the things they own will care for them, enjoy them, and waste less energy seeking more. They will experience fulfillment in the gifts they already possess rather than looking outside themselves for more.
But we live in a culture that preaches discontent. A consumer culture will always attack gratitude—if they can sow discontent in our lives, they can sell us their new product line or latest version with new improvements.
In contrast, those who can find gratitude in their current existence will be less influenced by those empty promises.
How can we find gratitude in a world that seeks to destroy it?
1. Intentionally choose it. Gratitude will never be a result of your next purchase, success, or accomplishment. It is available in your heart right now. And you will never find gratitude in life until you intentionally decide to choose it.
2. Count your blessings. A new day, a warm bed, a loving spouse, a child in your life, a unique personality, or a special talent… You have wonderful things in your life already. Gratitude quickly sets in when we begin to spend a quiet moment each day remembering them. This practice alone has the potential to change your heart and life immeasurably.
3. Stop focusing on what you don’t have. Too many people never realize gratitude because they spend so much mental energy focused on what they don’t have. Throw away catalogs and advertisements that inevitably promise you more fulfillment and joy in life. Those things are not sold in stores—never have been, never will be.
4. Embrace humility. Humility is an essential ingredient in gratitude. A humble heart finds satisfaction in the gifts it already possesses and demands less from others and life. Remember that no matter what your accomplishments, your life contains no more inherent value than the person sitting next to you… no matter where you may be sitting.
5. Open your eyes to those with less. Almost half the world, over three billion people, live on less than $2.50 a day. 1.1 billion people have inadequate access to clean water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. Let those facts sink in for just a moment—and slowly allow gratitude and a desire to become part of the solution to take their place.
6. Find gratitude in difficulty. It is easy to be grateful when things are going well. It can be more difficult during the trials of life: death, disease, rejection, or failure. The truth is that no one is exempt from the trials of life, but good can always be found in even the worst of times. And embracing gratitude during those trials may be the one thing that gets you through them.
In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy. And that gratefulness always leads to a satisfied, simplified life.
Dorothy says
I belong to a FB group “100 Days of Gratitude” & have been posting there for over 1100 days. Adopting an attitude of gratitude has dramatically changed my life.
Thank you for this fabulous article. I have shared it with the group.
Ken metzger says
When I was diagnosed at age 46 with tongue cancer (non tobacco user) with a less than 50% survival rate my doctor told me to go home and write down 5 reasons I really wanted to live because if the treatment didn’t kill me the cancer probably would . I went home and wrote down my 5 reasons I really wanted to live and realized there was not one THING on the list!
I am grateful to God that Je has helped me to get my priorities right ! Family , friends , good health , freedom to worship , and so many more non- things arey reason to be grateful today and every day
Ken Metzger
Hanna says
Thank you for sharing these tips to a grateful heart. I would like to ask if I’m allowed to copy this article and print and frame it to hang in my home as a reminder. Also I would like to give (not sell) to some people I know who needs it too as a reminder.
Of course I am grateful for the article even if my request is not granted :)
Leah says
I’ve been unemployed for 6 months and feeling pretty low lately. Looking at family and friends with envious eyes because of their successes in life and comparing my failures to them. I’ve been losing sight of what truly matters in my life, and to me during this incredibly trying journey I am on right now. I have to say these articles are very enlightening and grounding. I have so many blessings in my life. I just need to see them. With open clear eyes. Be happy for those more fortunate and thankful my eyes open each morning. Thank you for helping me see that.
Marcela says
I admire this blog sooo much <3
Faith says
I loved reading this. I am on a visit home with my in laws while husband is deployed. They want me to get radio in my old car for trip home. I told them I have made my selflern to go without music in the car. Some feel this is strange considering I have the money to get a new car. I have learned to listen and think more when go on long trips. I dont always need what every one else has. Less has become more to me. Have I lost my mind? Is not having music in the that strange? I would ride a bike every day if I could take it on lon trips.
kris says
My husband does the same, and he travels a lot. I’m learning to have silence more while driving, but I do get bored.
spicycat says
I found a great Gratitude app on the iPhone. While I’m still getting in the habit of using it every day, I’m already reaping the benefits. It’s a great reminder that no matter how ordinary the day may have been, there are many, many things to be grateful for.
Marge says
Android has a gratitude app as well. Love it being able to write down my gratitudes at any time day or night.
Katie says
Just what I needed. I wish I read it sooner. Love your positive, simple approach to life, Joshua. Thank you for this.
Louis Jean-Richard says
Discover a man who found profound words conveying a message sympathetic to yours.
http://lj.ljr.ch/en/quotati1.html
Sheri says
“Yet, we live in a culture that preaches discontent. A consumer culture will always attack gratitude. If they can sow seeds of discontent in our lives, they can sell us on their new product line or latest version with new improvements.”
You are so right!!
If we can learn this lesson, the world will be a much happier, more contented place. Great article!