Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. This can be expressed through words and actions but it is also a state of mind.

When I was young, our church used to have a time for testimonies before the main service began. This was a time designated for people to verbally express their thanks for what God had done for them.  I remember the older “mothers” of the church would boldly testify and give thanks. “First giving honor to God!” they would shout out. “I just want to thank God for waking me up this morning in my right mind and starting me on my way.” What a simple yet profound statement.

How often do we take for granted the fact that tomorrow is not promised to us. Yet, every night we lay down in our beds, close our eyes and drift off to sleep–becoming effectively dead to the world.  Then, by some miracle, we wake up hours later fully alive, fully aware and rested. What a blessing! Yet, some how in the hustle and bustle of life we forget these small blessings.

1. Gratitude is a good choice

No matter what is going on in your life you can choose to be grateful. It may take you a moment to realize it but  there is always something to be thankful for. If you are reading this message you have something to be grateful for.  Your eyes are working and you’re alive at this moment. You can choose to thank God for those things. Did you have a meal today? More than one meal? Choose to say thank you.

Of course, it is easy to be grateful in situations where you receive a gift or a prize, but what about the times when things aren’t going our way? Those are the times when we have to make a conscious choice despite what we are feeling. It may be hard at first but it starts with saying, “I am thankful for…” Once you start it it is hard not to finish it with something good. It could be the smallest thing but you do have a choice and choosing gratitude is ALWAYS a good choice. I can’t think of one instance where choosing to be grateful was the wrong choice. Can you?

2. Choosing gratitude will keep you connected to the present

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Think about how much time we waste focusing on what could have been. Maybe it’s the career moves you wish you had made or the woman you wish you would have dated or the decisions that you regret. For me, it’s the touchdown I almost scored in high school ( I still have dreams about playing in “the big game”). It’s also the relationships I failed at. I also think about the weaknesses and flaws I didn’t overcome in time to save my marriage.

Or maybe we prefer to spend our time reminiscing on better days… Like the time your team beat the three-time state champions– despite the fact that you were the underdog. Or maybe you think about the times you succeeded in making your family truly happy, or the time you completely rocked that presentation at your job.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with looking back to celebrate or to learn from our past mistakes, often it can become a trap for us. We can get stuck there. But the fact is, there is nothing that can be changed about the past. It is what it is. We can, however, be thankful now for the lessons we learned from the things we’ve gone through both good and bad.

Likewise, fantasizing about the future can be just as much of a stumbling block. How much time do you spend dreaming about the new job you wish you had… which would enable you to get the new house… and new car you wish you had? How much time to we spend worrying about what might happen in the future?

Yet, the future cannot come any sooner than the next moment and dwelling upon it causes us to miss the now. You see, all we actually have in our possession is right now… and now… and now. Thus, by choosing gratitude, we stop and look at what we have right here and right now, at this very moment. We turn our gaze from what was or what could be to what is. So…Looking around you, what things can you be thankful for at this very moment?

3. Gratitude and discontent can not coincide

 To put it simply, when you choose to be grateful, you are in that moment choosing to reject ungratefulness. It’s a lot like an hour glass. You can set it on one end and let the sands of gratefulness pour out or you can flip it and let the negativity and discontent flow. Which ever you choose, the sand can only go one way at a time, not both. Thus, it is up to you to choose gratefulness and then take the appropriate action.

If you choose gratitude, it will be very hard to maintain your discontent. In my opinion, the best medicine is to respond to immediately to the things that are causing discontent with a points of gratitude related to that very situation. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar gives a great talk about how to do that here.

4. Overt gratitude is contagious

“The more you are grateful for what you have the more you will have to be grateful for.”   Zig Ziglar

When you choose to be overtly grateful, it will change your whole atmosphere and affect everyone in it.  Let’s face it, every likes to be appreciated for they have done no matter how small.  Even if you may be feeling unappreciated you can still appreciate others. So why not choose to be the person that starts a thankfulness chain reaction in your home or at your job?   If you begin to thank the people in your life it will create a continuing chain of thankfulness in others. Try it this week.

5. Gratitude is good for you

The healthiest of all human emotions is gratitude ~ Hans Selye

Research shows that those with grateful attitudes  “…reported fewer health complaints and even spent more time exercising… the also reported lower stress level and quicker recovery from effects of being exposed to negative emotions. (http://thepositivitycompany.com/research/gratitude-research/). In addition to that check out this list of  benefits grateful people experienced compiled from the research of Dr. Robert Emmons.

Physical
• Stronger immune systems
• Less bothered by aches and pains
• Lower blood pressure
• Exercise more and take better care of their health
• Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking

Psychological
• Higher levels of positive emotions
• More alert, alive, and awake
• More joy and pleasure
• More optimism and happiness

Social
• More helpful, generous, and compassionate
• More forgiving
• More outgoing
• Feel less lonely and isolated.

(Emmons, Robert, PhD. “Why Gratitude Is Good.” Greater Good. N.p., 16 Nov. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.) You can read the entire article here.

Final thoughts

After reading this post, you may come to realize that you haven’t been choosing to be grateful. That’s okay. The good news is that you can start being grateful right now. As long as you are alive, you can choose to be thankful and in doing so, you will see even the negative things in your life things change– or appear to change. Yet in actuality the things may not be changing at all. When you choose an attitude of gratitude your perception of things will change. The more places you choose gratitude through your day, the more things you will find to be thankful for and that will change your atmosphere.

Questions to consider:

What are you thankful for?

Are there people or things that you have taken for granted?

What ways do you show your gratitude?

Think of something you consider negative in your life. Can you think of something positive about that situation?

Feel free comment below!

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• gratefulness
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