Becoming more grateful will change your life. Practicing gratitude increases positive emotions, reduces depression, improves relationships and builds resilience. Everyone has something to be grateful for, and we can always become more grateful.
Sometimes it’s easy to be grateful and sometimes it’s more challenging. We go through difficult times and pain has a way of blinding us to the good. When life is difficult it takes more effort to be grateful. But it’s worth the effort.
If you’ll practice becoming more grateful when times are happy it will be easier when life is hard.
Gratitude is built on the inside of us. If you’ll take the time to become more grateful you can experience positive change in your life that will amaze you.
To become more grateful you need to answer these 3 questions.
- What way are you seeing?
- What way are you feeding your soul?
- What way are you acting?
The WAY You’re Seeing
Adjust Your Vision and Pay Attention
Being grateful is taking notice of good things in our lives. Robert Emmons calls it an affirmation of goodness. This one thing changed the course of my life.
In my book Emerging With Wings I share my wake-up call.
My daughter’s question – apparently I was very verbally negative regarding my growing up to my daughter. One day she retorted a question to me that rattled me to action and rightfully so. She said to me “Didn’t anything good ever happen to you?” Wow – interesting question. I asked myself again and again. I was trapped in the negative. I went looking for good and found some. She helped me have a better attitude in addressing the truth. (Chapter 12 / Puzzle Pieces)
Sometimes we need something to grab our attention like my daughter’s question grabbed mine. Don’t let it be some sickness or accident to get your attention.
Take a pause and look inside.
What are you looking at?
If you wrestle with a negative attitude and tend to complain take a look at where your focus is.
I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude. – Brene Brown
Are you focused on the negative like I was? Adjust your vision. Look for the good. I promise you’ll find some.
Focus on the Good to Become More Grateful
Are you taking the good things for granted? Count your blessings. Pay attention. Don’t wait until something is gone to learn how much it meant to you.
Don’t it always seem to go – That you don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone.
They paved paradise – And they put up a parking lot.
– Joni Mitchell — Big Yellow Taxi
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The WAY You’re Feeding Your Soul
Feed on Good Things
A soul that feeds on good things will be a grateful soul. We’re surrounded by input we have no control over. Some may be good and some may not be.
Feed your mind good, positive and constructive thoughts. These things flow into your emotions, decisions and identity.
The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts. – Marcus Aurelius
The Saying is True: Garbage in Garbage Out
When we feed on negativity or even comparison our soul is eating garbage. The only thing I’m grateful about garbage is that every week mine gets picked up and taken away.
Have you been feeding on garbage? What does that look like for you?
Mental garbage can be television, social media, radio, any reading material or even listening to someone complain or gossip.
It’s up to you to decide. It takes paying attention to be intentional in what you feed your soul. Choosing good mental food will make you become more grateful.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8
The WAY You’re Acting
Do Something
Becoming more grateful is a choice. Act out that choice by expressing it. Speak up. Say thank you. Make a phone call or a personal visit. With all the technology in the world today a personal touch is felt the deepest. A grateful soul always wants to share.
Silent gratitude isn’t very much to anyone. – Gertrude Stein
You can also act out your choice to be more grateful through expressing it to yourself.
Start a gratitude journal and write something every day.
Or start a good things jar like I did this year.
Every morning I write at least 1 good thing I’m grateful for from the previous day.
At the end of the year I’m going to read them all and start it over again.
The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by taking time to notice and reflect upon the things they’re thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. (Source)
- What way are you seeing?
- What way are you feeding your soul?
- What way are you acting?
Your Turn
- How did you answer the 3 questions?
- Where do you want to start in becoming more grateful?
Danielle Bernock is an encourager, author and blogger. She takes great pleasure in helping others realize their value and potential. After breaking free from the wounds of her own childhood trauma she champions the inner healing of others. Her first book Emerging With Wings: A True Story of Lies, Pain, And The LOVE that Heals continues to change lives. Visit Danielle at her website where she connects people to the Love that heals. For a free gift from Danielle click here.
Thank you for letting me share my words, Shayne. It’s an honor.
The honor and pleasure are all mine, Danielle, I’ll publish you anytime!